GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (1/9–13)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers Hack the Pentagon, NSA's controversial intelligence authority, Silicon Valley firm's protest against NGA contract for software, FAA's $2.3 billion engineering contract awards, and FAA's NOTAM system overview.

Cyber

NextGov – Hackers to Get a Crack at Systems Running the Pentagon in New Bug Bounty

• "The Defense Department is planning the third iteration of its Hack the Pentagon program with a focus on identifying vulnerabilities in the operational technologies that keep the iconic building and grounds running."

CyberScoop – NSA director urges Congress to renew controversial intelligence authority

• "NSA Director and head of U.S. Cyber Command Gen. Paul Nakasone said in remarks on Thursday that intelligence authorities up for renewal later this year have played a key role in protecting the United States against cyberattacks."

NGA

FedNewsNet – Silicon Valley firm sues spy agency over software contract

• "Nearly seven years after Palantir forced the Army to consider buying its software instead of developing a bespoke system, a Silicon Valley firm is again taking the Defense Department to court over allegedly ignoring commercial products."

FAA

FedScoop – FAA awards 15 prime contracts as part of $2.3B systems engineering procurement

• "The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded prime contracts to 15 federal contractors as part of a landmark technical services support contract. The agency selected five large companies and an additional 10 small companies to take up lead spots on the $2.3 billion procurement."

ARSTechnica – An aviation expert explains how the FAA’s critical NOTAM safety system works

• "Aviation is full of acronyms, and Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, is one acronym that pilots learn early on in their training. A NOTAM is quite simply a message that is disseminated to flight crews of every aircraft in the US."

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