The week has been challenging to watch for so many in national security. One of the key considerations for officials with removing troops and contractors from Afghanistan is keeping sensitive data protected. The DoD Inspector General advised management recently on the policies and contingency plans that need to be in place in the midst of the chaos.
“[T]he purpose of the management advisory is to assist U.S. military, civilian, and contractor personnel responsible for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan with proper handling of equipment containing sensitive information and satisfying the requirements to retain administrative records,” a spokesperson from the office told Nextgov on Monday.
The IG advisory details weaknesses or items not properly accounted for.
“Units did not clear the sensitive data from four navigation systems and a counter radio‑controlled improvised explosive device system,” officials wrote.
“As of July 5, 2021, the U.S. military had transferred, disposed of, or retrograded nearly 90 percent of the billions of dollars of its equipment previously located across multiple bases in Afghanistan. This included equipment used by the military, along with equipment provided by the U.S. government to contractors in support of military operations,” officials wrote. “Maintaining equipment records for transfers, disposals, and retrograde for Afghanistan is critical.”
Contract Opportunities to Watch
| Leidos | Leidos was awarded the Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services 2 (FILMSS 2) contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide program, science, engineering, operations and project management support at the agency’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, CA. The single award cost-plus fixed-fee and indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract holds an approximate value of $270 million. It includes a two-year base period and three one-year options.
“For decades, Ames has accelerated scientific discovery through global research and collaboration,” said Jim Moos, Leidos Civil Group president. “As a company founded and fueled by science, we are pleased to continue supporting critical research missions that will advance human exploration in deep space.” As the FILMSS 2 prime contractor, Leidos will perform essential activities that enable Ames’ high-end research. This support will include program management, mission implementation, instrument development and collaborative technology advancement for Ames’ virtual institutes. Leidos will also provide assistance to multiple research disciplines, including life sciences, astrobiology, aeronautics and lunar sampling. Ames is one of ten NASA field centers. Among other core areas of expertise, the center conducts astrobiology and life science research while ensuring space missions remain cost-effective. Ames leverages virtual institutes that bring scientists together from across the globe to virtually collaborate on world-class research and development for NASA. The Leidos team will leverage the expertise of its vast portfolio to support this research. These assets include Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., which serves as the technical support contractor for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, and the Leidos Innovations Center (LInC). The LlnC operates out of Dynetics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos, as the company’s research and development arm for advanced technologies. |
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Key Employer in the Cleared Industry
| Frontier Technology, Inc. | FTI embraces change, encourages out-of-the-box thinking, and empowers employees to help shape the future. Join their team.
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Cleared Job of the Week
| Defense Forensics | What kind of positions can one do in defense forensics? Defense forensic analysts examine current threats, including IEDs, and can help commanders on the ground to identify threats and terrorist networks. Called ‘forensic exploitation,’ forensics specialists for the DoD perform a variety of tasks. They are a pivotal role in supporting intelligence assets. Even with military assets returning from overseas missions, the need for defense forensic analysts both at home and abroad remains. From their home base outside of Atlanta, Georgia, defense forensics specialists can deploy to locations across the globe, using science to keep Americans safe.Forensic science is a growing, but highly niche field, and therefore there remain a relatively small number of openings. Add the word cyber to forensics on the other hand, and you have an incredibly high-demand field, particularly for the federal government. CISA is looking for a few good cyber forensics analysts. If you prefer to keep your analysis digital, you can investigate cyber incidents and vulnerabilities – think of it as cyber sleuthing at its most cutting-edge. |
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Growth Opportunities
Analytics company, Novetta, is now a part of the Accenture Federal Services (AFS) family. Novetta applies insights and disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber, cloud, and information exploitation to transform how defense, intelligence, and law enforcement organizations use data to better meet their missions and empower their workforces.
With the acquisition, AFS adds a new National Security portfolio to its business to be led by Novetta President and CEO Tiffanny Gates. This portfolio will provide the highly specialized, mission solutions that clients turn to for expertise in the converging domains of analytics, intelligence expertise, cloud engineering, and cyber.
“I’m tremendously excited about my role as senior managing director of this new segment of Accenture Federal Services’ business,” said Tiffanny Gates. “Our disruptive technologies combined with Accenture Federal Services’ ability to deliver federal innovation at scale are highly complementary and will play a major role in meeting our clients’ mission needs.”
The acquisition adds approximately 1,300 people, including software developers, data scientists, and specialists in machine learning, cyber, cloud, and information exploitation to AFS’ 11,000 person workforce.
“Our combined company brings the scale and power of Accenture Federal Services’ digital capabilities together with Novetta’s ability to solve the government’s toughest mission challenges with precision,” said Accenture Federal Services CEO, John Goodman. “We look forward to delivering the next-generation of solutions that today’s missions and times demand.”
