Tag Archives: Arlington

Ready or Not CMMC is Here

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Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) sets security standards for contractors working with the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure the data they interact with is protected. The standards have been in place since the introduction of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) in 2015, and now, 10 years later, a more formalized compliance process is being implemented.

Starting October 1, 2025, the CMMC clause will start to be used in DoD contracts. This clause requires contractors to align their security practices with the CMMC level required by the contract. While contractors have been required to meet rigorous security standards for some time, whether they did was determined primarily through self-attestation. This roll-out introduces the need for third-party validation of compliance claims, ensuring the security of the defense supply chain. Continue reading →

Out-of-this-World Geospatial Benefits

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The applications of geospatial data are expanding beyond its original use for mapping. With mandates for government agencies to become increasingly data-driven, the ability to tie location data into planning has become a valuable asset. Integrating geospatial data into planning and operations helps agencies meet broad goals of efficiency, transparency, and preparedness.

Government Efficiency

Utilizing geospatial technology in conjunction with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and cameras, agencies can automate field inspections. This means capturing changes in infrastructure (a crack in a bridge support, a building constructed without a permit, a leak in a water line) and passing on important information to the people who inspect and fix these assets. While a traditional on-site inspection can take 30-50 minutes (not counting travel time), If the bulk of the assessment is completed before arriving onsite, inspectors can spend less time there, examining only the captured changes or most critical elements of the assessment. Continue reading →

Streamlining Government with a Back-to-Basics Approach

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Building efficiencies into government requires more than adopting new technologies that automate processes. It also involves updating how the government procures those technologies, as well as other goods and services. Several Executive Orders (EOs) have addressed improving the procurement process across government. In response, some recent updates and guidance show progress is being made in revisiting the requirements companies must meet to sell to the government.

OneGov

The General Services Administration (GSA) was created as a centralized function for the administration of government. This included managing procurement, office space, supplies, and records. Over time, these functions have migrated back into individual agencies for a variety of reasons, a key one being (ironically enough) efficiency. Many agencies started their own contracting vehicles and took on more procurement activity because they felt they could better serve the needs of their workforce and missions themselves. In some cases, this was true, but the spread of responsibility led to great duplication in effort and weakened the government's buying power. Continue reading →

How to Win at AI

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The Administration's overarching AI guidance, Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan, was developed to ensure the United States maintains a competitive edge in AI technology development and deployment. The plan and accompanying Executive Orders (EO) focus on three core priorities:

  • Building AI-ready infrastructure
  • Establishing and promoting a U.S.-technology export regime
  • Defining "bias" in models to ensure use of unbiased large language models in government

This plan follows a January executive order that pledged delivery of an AI Action Plan within six months. Continue reading →

Next Generation Procurement Reform

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The White House recently released a pair of Executive Orders (EOs) that aim to streamline the way the government acquires products and services. The complexity and inefficiency of government procurement has long been decried by industry and government officials alike. Numerous steps have been taken to simplify processes and open access to businesses that can provide the innovative solutions the government needs. These latest EOs focus on reforming the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), the two guiding principles of federal procurement.

Common Sense FAR

The "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement" EO highlights the fact that the federal government is the world's largest buyer, spending nearly $1 trillion on procurement contracts each year. However, the provisions that guide that buying are cumbersome and, in many cases, outdated. The FAR is 2,000-plus pages containing 3,000-plus directives. The EO seeks to overhaul the FAR with plain English and eliminate nearly all non-statutory and duplicative regulations. Continue reading →