Government Cybersecurity: Big Advancements in a Short Time, But Still More Work to be Done
October 1, 2013
This month marks the 10th anniversary of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is hosted by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With a theme of “Our Shared Responsibility,” the NCSA and DHS are reinforcing how everyone, from agencies to citizens, need to have shared accountability when it comes to protecting assets in cyberspace. Over the past several years, the importance of effective cyber security has risen to the top of government priorities. Thanks to the proliferation of social networking, cloud computing and mobile solutions, there are many more vulnerable points for hackers to access and steal ... Read moreWeekly News Kick Off: Government Shutdown Uncertainty Abounds; Defense CEOs Take to the Hill; and Army Awards $4 Billion Contract
September 30, 2013
Welcome to the Weekly News Kick Off post from the FedPulse blog. Government shutdown uncertainty is dominating the news cycle – with many contractors not knowing whether to show up to work tomorrow. In addition, the CEOs of a number defense contractors have taken to Capitol Hill to fight the sequester. Meanwhile, amidst all of this uncertainty, the U.S. Army awarded a $4 billion contract to develop a communications and transmission system. Be sure to check out this and much more in the latest Weekly News Kick Off. Happy Monday. Agencies Notifying Employees of Shutdown Effects With a partial government shutdown expected ... Read moreQ&A: Charles De Sanno, Executive Director, Systems Engineering for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Discusses Mobility
September 26, 2013
Federal Technology Insider recently ran a series of insightful Q&As with Charles De Sanno, Executive Director, Systems Engineering for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), about the agency’s mobility strategy. The VA takes a very forward-thinking approach to implementing mobility and BYOD strategies, which can serve as roadmap for any agency. In addition, these insights also provide the contracting community with a window into the government’s current mobility needs. Be sure to check out part one of three of the Q&A with Mr. De Sanno here. Read moreQ&A: Mark Brown, President of BrownIT, Discusses Growth Opportunities for Contractors in Health IT
September 25, 2013
With the health IT arena expanding everyday, there are plenty of opportunities for contractors and other IT providers to provide new solutions to the marketplace. In addition, it is often the smaller companies who are paving the way for innovation and creating the solutions that enhance overall patient care. The FedPulse team had the unique opportunity to speak with Mark Brown, President of BrownIT, about this and much more. BrownIT is building a solid name for itself by creating solutions that improve the quality of healthcare through innovation. FedPulse: Can you please tell us about BrownIT? Brown: BrownIT is a provider of information ... Read moreNew Study: Government Event Cancellations and Travel Restrictions Negatively Impacting Innovation and Collaboration
September 24, 2013
Both industry and government believe that event cancellations and federal travel restrictions are negatively impacting innovation and collaboration, which will adversely impact government contractors’ ability to influence and service government customers. This is one of the key findings of a Market Connections, Inc. and Boscobel Marketing Communications, Inc. PulsePoll™, which was released today. Focusing on current and future plans regarding event attendance in light of federal budget cuts and travel restrictions, 161 government contractors and 383 federal government employees across civilian, defense and independent agencies responded to the survey. Government employees are attending fewer events: Nearly 72% of agency respondents are attending fewer ... Read moreWeekly News Kick Off: House Passes GOP Spending Plan; Defense Leaders Speak Out Against Sequestration; and Fluor Wins $1.5 Billion DOE Contract
September 23, 2013
Welcome to the Weekly News Kick Off post from the FedPulse blog. The House has passed a short-term spending plan, which would fund the government through mid-December, and senior military leaders are reinforcing the negative impact of today’s budget uncertainty. In the middle of all of this, Fluor just won a $1.5 billion Department of Energy contract, and many other contractors announced big wins. Be sure to check out this and much more in the latest Weekly News Kick Off. Happy Monday. House Passes GOP Spending Plan that Defunds Obamacare The House passed a short-term spending plan last Friday morning that would ... Read moreThe Impact of LPTA Procurements on Government Contracts and Solutions
September 20, 2013
Market Connections and Centurion Research Solutions are excited to bring the results of a unique research study on the implications of LPTA procurement for both government and contractors. The past year has been one of tremendous uncertainty within the federal government. The total impact on procurement policies and agency budgets is still unknown. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements have been a hot topic in the federal government contracting industry for the past two years, leaving contractors lamenting that LPTA is stifling innovation, driving down prices and, at times, being used for the wrong types of federal procurements. To gauge the impact ... Read moreSequestration and Funding Battles Loom as Government 2014 Fiscal Year Approaches
September 19, 2013
The House Appropriations Committee has prepared a 2-½ month funding bill to keep the federal government open for business from October 1st through December 15th. However, the nonprofit research group Bipartisan Policy Center warned that the nation could run out of borrowing power no later than November 5th. The short-term continuing resolution measure allows the Department of Defense to spend at fiscal 2013 levels, but it prohibits starting new weapons programs or increasing the rate of production. Without a long-term solution to the budget, agencies and contractors’ future decision-making power will continue to be handcuffed. In other words, Congress continues to put ... Read moreOvercoming BD “Nightmares” to Win More Contracts
September 18, 2013
The government contracting arena is highly complex and the path to winning new projects is often fraught with major roadblocks. Knowing these roadblocks in advance and developing a BD strategy that enables your company to clear the hurdles is a critical first step. A recent white paper from Centurion Research Solutions, aptly titled, “Tales from the Crypt: Business Development Horror Stories And What They Can Teach Us,” showcases some key, and quite painful, lessons learned by contractors seeking to grow their businesses. Some of these stories include smaller contractors being short-changed by larger primes when it comes to collectively bidding on a project. ... Read moreQ&A: Tony Smeraglinolo, CEO of Engility, Discusses the Power of People, Processes and Cost-Effectiveness
September 17, 2013
In July 2012, Engility officially spun off from L-3 Communications as an independent company that provides specialized engineering, technical and training services to multiple Federal departments and agencies the Department of Defense (DoD), federal civilian agencies, as well as foreign governments. With 7,800 employees, Engility is a significant contractor who has streamlined its business processes, while focusing on attracting and retaining key talent, which has allowed it to be a cost-effective solution for the government. Engility is so unique that some of its customers have actually used the verb “Engilitize” to describe its overall processes and outcomes-driven approach. The FedPulse editorial team ... Read more