As we close out 2012, it appears that the Feds will be making an early New Year’s resolution – proactive reformation of their network security and monitoring. According to a spokesman at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a Request for Proposal (RFP) for continuous monitoring of IT assets and data will be put out by the department in the near future. The application of a secure, total Business Service Management (BSM) solution, while currently only at DHS, is being planned to spread across the entire government.

In the wake of the Open Government Directive issued by President Obama in December of 2009, agencies have been working to take specific actions to implement the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration. However, do we want our National Security Agency (NSA) being transparent about all of their defense tactics and cyber plans?

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) unveiled on November 27, 2012 a dashboard that consolidates all Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) spending from 2004 through present date. The data that is shown is all of the non-classified data on federal IT purchases that have been purchased using task orders under the various GWACs. The dashboard also allows searches on small business specific contracting vehicles like 8(a)STARS; 8(a) STARS II; Alliant; Alliant SB; and VETS GWAC programs.

In late 2011, the HUBZone eligibility of thousands of firms was wiped away as a result of the 2010 decennial census, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every 10 years, which re-designated many areas previously considered HUBZone due to changes in economic data. The impacts of the census were significant, decreasing the number of designated HUBZone organizations from over 9,200 to approximately 5,200 - over a 40% drop. HUBZone areas typically exhibit high unemployment and lower average income, which is why the U.S. Federal government has created the program. The idea is to incentivize contracting with businesses that operate and to create jobs in communities with statistically proven economic needs. To qualify for the program, 35% of an organization’s workforce must reside within the designated HUBZone area. In fiscal year 2011, the Federal government spent $9.9 billion on HUBZone businesses (roughly 2.35% of its overall contract dollars). While the number is impressive, only a third of agencies that receive an SBA procurement scorecard actually met their 3% percent HUBZone contracting goal. For agencies that are struggling to meet their goals, an exodus of decertified firms from the program can have far reaching implications. To help these agencies, the SBA has begun to conduct outreach to HUBZone areas in order to identify organizations that could potentially qualify. Indeed, this “spring and early summer, the SBA initiated a HUBZone recruitment plan at its 68 district offices nationwide and will repeat that recruitment plan next year.” The recruitment plan is designed to educated small businesses about the benefits of the program and to help them through the certification process. Additionally, a pilot program has been established during evening office hours twice a month so that HUBZone organizations can call for general assistance.

With sequestration looming just over the horizon, IT companies are competing now more than ever for contracting opportunities. The anticipated funding cuts, which are set to take place in January 2013, have many contractors panicking. As a result, we suggest the following tips: “1) Making the most of stretched 2012 opportunities; 2) Determining what’s possible under 2013 plans; and 3) finding out what carries into 2014 coupled with brand new initiatives in the upcoming 2014 budget request.” (http://washingtontechnology.com) IT contractors should also have an “understanding [of] how the internal budget plumbing works as agencies map expenditures to the spending authority granted by Congress.” Thus, it is important to not “overlook crosscutting management initiatives that can pull money from multiple program buckets, including across agencies, even under a continuing resolution.”

It appears once again that the 20/20 vision of hindsight has made its presence felt.