As we recently passed the midway point in 2019, here are some regulatory and newsworthy updates to be aware of:
Tensions rise over the 2020 NDAA: The next step is for members of the House and Senate to meet in a conference committee to iron out differences between the two versions of the FY 2020 NDAA. Senator Joni Ernst, serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee stated there is disagreement in the Republican-led Senate and the Democratic-led House concerning the 2020 defense authorization bill. On June 13th, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed its defense authorization bill authorizing a Defense Department budget of $733 billion. This Amendment was set out to match the Senate-approved $750 billion authorizations bill that passed in May. To date, this is the largest defense budget the HASC has every authorized. Read more concerning the passing of the bill here.
NIST issues new cyber guidelines for contractors: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has drafted 31 new guidelines to help contractors who work with high-value assets protect sensitive unclassified government data that lives on their networks against strong threats and attacks. These documents are intended to enhance current standards. The new NIST guidance is subject to a public comment and revision period. Learn more about the improved guidelines here.
What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)? The hot topic in the government contractor world is CMMC. The Department of Defense’s strong emphasis on cybersecurity and recent NIST SP 800-171 (DFARS 252.204-7012) compliance standards put into place are important for government contractors to be aware of. In a recent webinar hosted by the Professional Services Council, some of the details of the CMMC were revealed. Learn more about CMMC here.
JAMIS Client, METIS Solutions LLC buys intelligence contractor Pluribus: Arlington-based JAMIS Client and defense service provider Metis Solutions LLC has acquired Pluribus International Corp. The combination of the firms will expand its presence in the Defense Department. “Pluribus increases the range of highly specialized services that Metis offers to our clients,” said Metis President and CEO Christopher Wynes, to learn more about the acquisition here.
Bloomberg Government Releases Top Federal Contractors Ranking: Bloomberg Government has released its eighth annual BGOV200 report ranking the top 200 federal contractors for 2018.
DoD Issues Proposed Rule Increasing the Contractor Purchasing System Review Threshold: The Department of Defense has issued a proposed rule that would amend the DFARS by inserting a provision at 244.302 (currently reserved) that increases the threshold for subjecting DoD contractors to contractor purchasing system reviews (CPSR) from $25 million to $50 million.
Stay up to date on industry news, regulatory updates, and events on the JAMIS Prime Insights Blog. And for more information on how JAMIS can help your business navigate the federal contracting industry and stay ahead of the curve, contact us at info@jamis.com.