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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: October 13, 2023
How to quantify risk to your information so you can manage it better
(Federal News Network) You can’t manage what you can’t measure. That’s the idea behind a professional association known as the Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) Institute. The group seeks to advance quantitative measurement and management of risk to information, including in federal organizations. To learn more about what information keepers need to know, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with the founder of the FAIR Institute, Nick Sanna. Read More
The FAR council goes big into proposing new cybersecurity rules
(Federal News Network) Almost everything the government buys in the future could look like cybersecurity with some other product attached, if new proposed rules from the Federal Acquisition Regulation council take effect early next year. That’s more a matter of when than if. Attorney Townsend Bourne, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, has read the proposed rules and joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin for this discussion. Read More
Marine Corps Begins Search for AI Chatbot to Support GEOINT Data System
(ExecutiveGov) Marine Corps Systems Command has begun requesting information on potential industry sources capable of developing an artificial intelligence chatbot program for the service branch’s integrated tactical data system. A notice posted Thursday on SAM.gov states that MCSC is looking for an AI chatbot capability that uses natural language processing to receive and parse requests and output textual responses for the Distributed Common Ground/Surface System-Marine Corps Geospatial Intelligence Program. Read More
New rule sets stage for banning risky technologies from government supply chains
(Federal News Network) Federal contractors will need to closely monitor a government acquisition website for directives that ban products and services due to security concerns, similar to the Huawei ban, under a new rule published this month and set to go into effect in early December. The Defense Department, the General Services Administration and NASA published an interim rule last week laying out how contractors will need to comply with orders from the Federal Acquisition Security Council. The council was created as part of the SECURE Technology Act of 2018. It has the authority to issue recommendations for removing or excluding products and services from federal supply chains. Read More
The Army doesn’t know where a lot of its excess arms and gear are
(Government Executive) The U.S. Army has warehouses packed with weapons its soldiers no longer need. But the service doesn’t know where they all are, nor what condition they’re in. Now, amid increased demand from U.S. allies and partners, Army leaders are pushing for an updated database of those stored weapons. “Sometimes we don’t really know where all of our excess equipment is,” Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo said Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Army annual conference in Washington. “We have a lot of it, and it’s accumulated over time.” Not all of it is needed, and the service is working to rid itself of superfluous weapons and other equipment, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. Read More
The Delicate Dynamics of Challenging a Superior
(MIT Sloan Management Review) The act of challenging a superior necessitates more than just raising one’s voice; it involves understanding, navigating, and engaging in the subtle yet complex dance of power dynamics, diplomacy, and mutual respect. Approaching someone above you in the professional hierarchy requires a delicate balance and a deep understanding of both the person and the situation. For those keen on maintaining professional decorum and growing in their roles, this guide can help ensure that your challenging conversations are both constructive and respectful. Read More
Potentially catastrophic’ solar storm identified in ancient tree rings
(Space.com) Earth was hit by the largest-ever detected solar storm 14,300 years ago, ancient tree rings reveal. If a storm of a similar magnitude hit our planet today, it could have potentially catastrophic effects on our modern technological society. The powerful solar storm was identified by an international team of scientists studying ancient tree rings preserved in the eroded banks of the Drouzet River, near Gap, in the Southern French Alps. By studying ancient tree rings, the team found an unprecedented spike in radiocarbon levels that occurred 14,300 years ago. Read More
ICEAA’s NewsBrief is a collection of articles relevant to the cost estimating and analysis community that is delivered weekly to current ICEAA members. To advertise in NewsBrief, contact iceaa@iceaaonline.org.