When 5G is eventually implemented worldwide, it’s going to revolutionize the way we communicate with each other. However, it’s more than just faster data and downloading speeds on our smartphones. 5G technology has the potential to connect electronic devices and machines so they are all in sync with each other. This opens up a whole new world of potential for industries like the U.S. federal government.

What could the future with 5G look like? Imagine you’re getting ready for work. You start your day with a workout with your virtual reality goggles. With each calorie you burn and every slight escalation of your heart rate, the data is collected and sent to an app on your phone so you can track your performance. You leave your house and get into the backseat of a driverless taxicab. The car in front of you brakes quickly to avoid a pedestrian. The cars communicate to each other signaling danger up ahead, so your cab automatically slows down, avoiding a crash.

Cybersecurity concerns can reach high levels of national security especially if they pertain to the federal government. Past data breaches like the recent SolarWinds hack have proven it’s important for the federal government to set cybersecurity standards for government contractors. One critical aspect of government networks is cloud services. In Fiscal Year 2020, federal agencies spent over $6 billion on cloud computing, making it an important part of federal procurement. All Cloud Service Providers selling to the federal government must meet proven security standards established through FedRAMP.

This year has seen a sharp increase in cyberattacks and security breaches that have compromised sensitive data in nearly every sector, including federal government agencies, and contractors who work with the government. With each new breach, especially the recent massive cyber attack on SolarWinds, it becomes increasingly clear that bad actors are capable of not only accessing standalone critical assets, but also traversing undetected across networks and workloads to expand their footholds.

For the first time in a long time, GSA has updated the look for the eBuy Contractor Portal. The changes went live this past Sunday, May 31st and are now available for contractors to view once logged into the system. At first glance, the login screen does not look much different than before, but the major change in the eBuy experience comes after logging in with your GSA MAS Contract number and password.

As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the globe, the United States government turns to GSA Schedule contractors to help prevent, contain, combat, and recover from the effects of the Coronavirus. Because of the large variety of products and services offered through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule, there are multiple opportunities for contractors to assist government agencies in fighting this growing pandemic. Particularly, companies and organizations with 3D printing capabilities can address one of the most important and immediate needs to fight the Coronavirus outbreak: protective gear. 3D printing has been recommended as a solution to the mask supply shortage, and GSA recently sent an email asking GSA contractors to respond with any 3D printing capabilities that can be used to address the COVID-19 relief efforts.