GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (10/25–29)
This week's Weekly Debrief covers DoD's commercial buying challenges, Space Force teaming with SpaceWERX, GSA's cloud efforts, DoJ's commitment to protect cyber-fraud whistleblowers, cyber a top priority at State, and Coast Guard's plans to convert law enforcement and safety databases into mobile applications.
Defense
"One of the many questions that will face the Biden administration this year is how to improve defense acquisition. A central challenge has been the inability of the Department of Defense to attract non-traditional suppliers, who often make most of their revenue in the commercial sector."
"The U.S. Space Force has signed a research agreement with venture capital firm Embedded Ventures to explore whether it can use venture capital practices to accelerate innovation with SpaceWERX, the service’s new effort to attract industry startups."
GSA
"The General Services Administration is facing new scrutiny over two separate cloud computing issues. Two industry associations are raising concerns about specific cloud ideas that GSA is either considering or discussing."
Cyber
"The Department of Justice will use all available resources to ensure whistleblowers that come forward to report cybersecurity failures at federal contractors are protected, according to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco"
"The State Department is working with Congress to create a new bureau for cyberspace and digital policy as part of a general push to bring American diplomacy into the 21st century. 'We have a major stake in shaping the digital revolution that's happening around us and making sure that it serves our people, protects our interests, boosts our competitiveness and upholds our values,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.'"
Coast Guard
"The U.S. Coast Guard wants to convert its safety and law enforcement database to mobile applications. Vice Adm. Scott Buschman, the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for operations, said modernizing the military service's 20-year old Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement system (MISLE) to be more mobile will help operators in the field be more efficient."
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