In the midst of all the ongoing heartbreak to watch in Afghanistan, employees in national security also still need to continue to address the safety concerns from the global pandemic. As the Pfizer vaccine made it through the rounds to get FDA approval, the Pentagon confirms plans to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for its military members. However, defense contractors and federal employees will also need to continue to watch updated guidance on mask and vaccine mandates. While the White House is encouraging more organizations to mandate the vaccine for its employees, only contractors on-site at federal buildings will need to ensure that they are following the proper vaccine, masking, and testing protocols. And just in case you want to try to lie about your vaccine status, keep in mind that a decision to lie can cause issues for clearance holders.
Contract Opportunities to Watch
| Dignari, LLC |
Dignari, LLC (Dignari), a Small Business Administration (SBA) Certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), announced it has been competitively awarded a single-award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Support Services. Estimated at $99 million over five years with the opportunity to exceed the estimated value, the BPA is a Strategic Sourcing vehicle and will be utilized across DHS and its various Components and Offices. Under the BPA, Dignari will provide a full range of services to support the mission needs of DHS. “I’m so proud of our team on winning this strategic vehicle which expands upon our support to DHS. We are thankful to DHS for their continued confidence in our team,” said Gena Alexa, Dignari Founder and CEO. “As a company founded by subject matter experts in delivering mission critical programs, having supported DHS since inception, we look forward to applying our core capabilities in program strategy, emerging technology, human-centered design and data analytics to advance DHS mission needs while strengthening information and physical security.” DHS and its Components will have access to a wide-range of services under this BPA including Program and Project Management support; Program Operations and Engineering Support; Program Operations and Technical Support; Special Studies, Databases, Reports and Documentation Support; Business and Systems Architecture Support; Engineering and Technical Support; Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Program Support; Software Development and Implementation Support; Systems Operations and Maintenance; and Information Technology Infrastructure and Virtualization/Cloud Development, Migration and Maintenance. Dignari has a proven history delivering program strategy, emerging technology, human-centered design and data analytics for DHS and its Components and will leverage specializations in digital identity, biometrics, internet of things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, mobility, automation and user experience to advance DHS’s mission. |
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Key Employer in the Cleared Industry
| KPMG | People who thrive at KPMG Federal Advisory are individuals who push their colleagues outside their comfort zones and drive others to success. Ready to push yourself to new limits? Find your next career at KPMG.
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Cleared Job of the Week
| Program Manager | Program Managers (PM) are not just merely senior level project managers. Often, PMs oversee and coordinate multiple projects. The PM’s projects will sometimes be within one program that has one overall contract with multiple projects and budgets. Other times, PMs manage multiple projects within one subject area for an organization or government agency. PM positions vary depending on whether the work is for a contractor or for the government.
Education can range from undergraduate to advanced degrees. Some PMs have broad education backgrounds (think business degrees), but in agencies where the PM needs subject matter expertise, it is better to have a degree or training in that specific subject. Cleared veterans are often well-suited to a career as a PM. Their ability to work under pressure and oversee multiple projects and a host of people make them well-qualified for PM careers within the DoD. And don’t forget about the getting PMP certified – that can go a long way in increasing earning potential and growing your current skill set. |
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Growth Opportunities
WeWork, one of the leading global flexible space providers, was awarded a Flexible Coworking Services (FCS) contract by the The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the federal agency responsible for providing a workplace to government employees. Under the FCS contract, WeWork will be able to provide flexible solutions for the new hybrid world of work to government agencies and employees. The GSA awarded WeWork the contract alongside four other pre-approved contractors.
The federal government is the nation’s largest occupier of office space and did not have an established coworking acquisition vehicle until award of this contract. The FCS contract is yet another example of how Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way people work, with all industries having to rethink their approach to the workplace. Under the FCS contract, federal agencies will be able to acquire a variety of coworking solutions to help meet agency office space requirements.
“WeWork is honored to have been awarded the General Service Administration’s new coworking contract, allowing us to help federal employees adjust to a new hybrid world of work. The pandemic has fundamentally changed how work is approached, and now government agencies will have a tool to help employees succeed while saving costs,” said WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani. “The workplace of the future requires flexibility, and GSA should be applauded for innovating.”
In its solicitation for Flexible Coworking Services, the GSA noted, “Working beyond the confines of traditional government offices has become more common. Government employees are now commonly equipped with technological tools to work from anywhere…This shift in capability has resulted in greater flexibility and mission response across the Federal Government. GSA is seeking nationwide Flexible Coworking Services (FCS) solutions that provide federal employees with flexible workspace solutions in order to occupy only the space needed in order to meet their missions and promote a responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”
The FCS contract consists of one base year and four, one-year renewal options.
