Front Burner
Veterans Affairs Exploring Ownership of Intellectual Property
Washington Technology reports that the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) wants to retain the code and intellectual property created when companies customize commercially-available software for the agency, particularly for Software as a Service customizations.
Intel Agencies Adopting ‘AI-First’ Approach
According to MeriTalk, intelligence community (IC) leadership discussed an “AI-First IC” strategy at an Intelligence and National Security Summit that makes the emerging technology an immediate priority for exploration, experimentation, and adoption by the IC.
White House Puts National Cyber Strategy into Practice with Implementation Plan
Last Thursday, the White House released their implementation plan for the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which outlines 65 initiatives that will be conducted across 18 agencies to respond to cyberthreats, reports Federal News Network.
How NIST is Helping to Guide the Government Conversation on AI
According to NextGov, as AI continues to grow in prominence, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing a baseline for AI policy to support the creation of Federal and international standards.
Is GSA’s Alliant 3 Vehicle Tilted too Much to Small, Very Large Contractors?
According to Federal News Network, as the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Alliant 3 multiple award contract continues its planning phase, there are growing industry concerns that medium-sized firms will struggle to participate in the vehicle.
Congressional Update
House Passes FY24 NDAA 219-210, Senate Vote Next Week
Last Thursday, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act passed the House by a vote of 219-210, sending the bill to the Senate who will begin their voting process this week, reports MeriTalk.
Establishing International Tech Standards is ‘The Issue of Our Time,’ Lawmaker Says
According to NextGov, Senator Mark Warner spoke at the German Marshall Fund, a non-profit public policy organization, and said that technology competition with the People’s Republic of China makes the establishment of international tech standards “the issue of our time” as he called for tax incentives to encourage companies to participate in standards development.
SBA IG Sticks With $200B Fraud Estimate, Says Agency ‘Mistaken’
Testifying before Congress, Small Business Administration (SBA) Inspector General (IG) Mike Ware pushed back on the SBA’s estimate of $36 billion in fraud for COVID-19 pandemic assistance loan programs, insisting that the IG’s estimate of $200 billion is correct and reflects data that SBA does not have, reports MeriTalk.
VA Opposed to New Electronic Health Record Requirements, but Open to More Major Acquisition Review
Last week, during separate hearings of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs panel, VA officials pushed back on additional requirements for the rollout of the Electronic Health Records modernization, stating that new certification requirements would limit managerial flexibility and create a significant operational burden for the VA. However, officials stated that further acquisition review would be welcomed, reports GovExec.
House Oversight Panel Votes to Overturn Biden Contracting Policies and Cut Funding for Unauthorized Programs
GovExec reports that the House Oversight and Accountability Committee advanced several bills regarding Federal contracting including the Fair and Open Competition Act, which would remove the requirement that Federal construction contractors enter into pre-hire collective bargaining agreements called project labor agreements, and the Mission Not Emissions Act, which would prohibit requirements that contractors disclose greenhouse gas emissions or climate-related economic risks and would prohibit mandates for contractors to develop emission reduction goals.
Regulatory Tracker
The Coalition’s Regulatory Tracker
As a service to our members, the Coalition is also offering a Regulatory Tracker that lists open FAR and DFARS cases relevant to the Federal procurement community, including synopses and status descriptions. For questions or comments regarding the Tracker, please e-mail Joseph Snyderwine at JSnyderwine@thecgp.org.
Click here to download and view the Tracker.