GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (5/30–6/3)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers an Interior draft RFP for cloud services, CMMC, Pentagon AI, Space Force's offensive-defensive weapons mix, and how DoD will manage inflation in contracts.

Interior

FCW – Interior issues draft cloud RFP valued at up to $1B

• "The Interior Department is again going big on cloud computing. The department, through its U.S. Geological Survey, has issued a draft request for proposals for DOI-wide cloud services worth up to $1 billion through a single-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. Individual task orders would be issued under the Cloud Hosting Solutions III contract for a variety of cloud services while empowering DOI bureaus."

Cyber

FedScoop – DOD exploring requirements for managed service providers under CMMC

• "The Department of Defense has created a new framework of cybersecurity requirements and certifications contractors must achieve under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). But what about the DOD contractors that mostly outsource their IT and cybersecurity to managed service providers?"

FedNewsNet – Cyber insurance is no longer the answer; look to NIST 800-171 and CMMC 2.0 to mitigate cyber risk

• "As the cyber threat to both the public and private sectors continues to grow, many contractors in the Defense Industrial Base have looked to cyber insurance as the easiest path to mitigating that risk. This has become increasingly difficult as both the threat and the nature of cyber insurance itself continue to evolve. This leaves contractors with what seems like a choice: Either focus on what feels like a distinct set of cyber regulations and requirements, or expand their aperture to think about mitigating risk. However, the reality is that these two choices may have more overlap than most people realize."

Defense

NextGov – Pentagon Launches ‘Third Wave’ AI Initiative to Help Warfighting Effort

• "A key research and development agency within the Department of Defense is launching a new program specifically focused on advancing algorithmic processing within Defense’s artificial intelligence projects."

BreakingDefense – New ‘strategic space review’ to shape Space Force offensive-defensive weapons mix

• "The Pentagon and the Intelligence Community are in “the middle” of a “space strategic review” due to the White House in “the late June/July timeframe,” according to Lt. Gen. Bill Liquori, the Space Force’s head of strategy, plans and requirements."

GovExec – Here's How the Pentagon Plans to Manage Inflation Costs in Contracts

• "The Defense Department knows cost increases due to inflation may begin to affect contracts. But, according to recent guidance, defense contracting officers are urged to "limit the scope" when using clauses for pay adjustments."

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