GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (2/21–25)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers NOAA's request regarding space-based objects, voluntary CMMC assessments, record settlement for small business fraud, US and NATO air forces mobilize, malware targeting defense contractors, and updates to the FAR for small business issues.

NOAA

NextGov – Spotting Space-Based Objects Could Require Commercial Help, Per NOAA Request

• "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants details on existing or impending commercial sensors and tracking services that will be available to monitor Earth-orbiting objects between now and 2030."

CMMC

FedNewsNet – CMMC Accreditation Body looks ahead to voluntary assessments, growing ‘ecosystem’

• "The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is at least months away from showing up as a requirement in defense contracts, but the CMMC Accreditation Body is gearing up for voluntary assessments and is also looking to recruit more cybersecurity assessors."

Justice

Justice.gov – Government Contractor Agrees to Pay Record $48.5 Million to Resolve Claims Related to Fraudulent Procurement of Small Business Contracts Intended for Service-Disabled Veterans

• "TriMark USA, LLC of Mansfield, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $48.5 million to resolve allegations that its subsidiaries, TriMark Gill Marketing and TriMark Gill Group, Inc. (collectively, TriMark), improperly manipulated federal small business set-aside contracts around the country, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and Carla B. Freedman, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York."

Defense

DefenseNews – US, NATO air forces mobilize as war comes to Europe

• "American and NATO air forces are bolstering their stance in Eastern Europe after Russia launched its opening gambit in a far-reaching invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. The scope and speed of Russia’s military reach into the country has prompted Western officials to quickly decide on next steps, after weeks of vowing not to send reinforcements into Ukraine itself."

BleepingComputer – US defense contractors hit by stealthy SockDetour Windows backdoor

• "A new custom malware dubbed SockDetour found on systems belonging to US defense contractors has been used as a backup backdoor to maintain access to compromised networks. The malicious payload was spotted by Unit 42 security researchers, who believe that its operators kept the backdoor under the radar for a long time as it has been used in the wild since at least July 2019."

Small Business

FCW – FAR proposal looks to implement key small business regulatory changes

• "A proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation would officially implement several significant changes to Small Business Administration regulations setting certain small business size standards and expanding grounds for protests in awards made to companies by socioeconomic status."

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