News

REGIONAL NEWS

The Department of the Air Force awarded an Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program to Northrop Grumman on Sept. 8. The contract award of $13.3 billion is an investment in enhancing the United States’ nuclear deterrence, as it is the cornerstone of national security policy and fundamental in continued protection for the U.S. and its allies. Read more.

COVID-19

• Resources for Connecting Industry Capabilities to Requirements in Support of COVID-19 Response
• Practical Advice for Uncertain Times - Surviving COVID-19
• Manufacturing  Changes & Medical Supply Donation in response to COVID-19
• Network Resources
• State Resources
• Raising the Roofs...and Floors: Acquisition Thresholds in the Time of Emergency

WOSB UPDATES

WILL YOU BE WOSB READY?

Becoming certified for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contractring Program means your business is eligible to compete for contracts that are set aside for WOSBs and economically disadvantaged WOSBs and sole-source federal contracts within eligible industries. Learn more about the process and steps.

SBA ISSUES NEW REGULATIONS FOR WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS FEDERAL CONTRACTING PROGRAM

The U.S. Small Business Administration published Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program regulations that will provide a free, online certification and eligibility application process for women-owned small businesses and economically-disadvantaged women-owned small businesses. The timeline for implementation of changes to SBA’s WOSB program has been delayed to accommodate those affected by the current pandemic. Learn more. 

CYBERSECURITY

CMMC AUDITORS ABOUT TO WRAP UP TRAINING

Highly anticipated audits related to the Pentagon’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification process are inching closer, with auditors assigned to evaluate companies expected to complete their training by the end of September, according to the official spearheading the initiative. Read more.

DOD FOCUSES ON MINIMIZING CYBER THREATS TO DEPARTMENT, CONTRACTORS

Cyber threats against the United States and the Defense Department are very real, and efforts related to the department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, released earlier this year, are underway to mitigate risks as they relate to both the department and contractors. Read more.

CMMC REGULATIONS ON THE WAY DESPITE PANDEMIC

The Defense Department’s new high-profile cybersecurity regulations are on schedule for implementation this year despite potential setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Katie Arrington, chief information security officer at the office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said the Pentagon will begin rolling out the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification version 1.0 rules this year. Read more.

NEW CMMC RULES FOR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS TO COME IN NOVEMBER

Defense contractors should expect to see new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification version 1.0 requirements in requests for proposals released in November, Katie Arrington, chief information security officer in the office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said May 11. Read more.

BETA.SAM NEWS

CHANGE FROM DUNS TO UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER DELAYED

The IAE has shifted the UEI transition date from December 2020 to a future, to-be-determined date. Learn more. 

FPDS REPORTS FUNCTIONS COMPLETE INTEGRATION INTO BETA.SAM.GOV ON OCT 17

IAE is pleased to announce that the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) reports functions will complete migration into beta.SAM.gov on October 17, 2020. This transition follows a successful soft launch and agile iterative improvement process that began in March 2020. Learn more.

NEW FUNCTIONALITY ON THE WAY FOR FEDBIZOPPS REPLACEMENT

The transition from the standalone Federal Business Opportunities—better known as FedBizOpps or FBO—was a rough one for users of the federal contracting website. But program managers at the General Services Administration say they’re working through the problems and plan to launch new capabilities in the near future. Read more.

There is also a helpful video on How to Drill in Reports.