FCW Insider: Feb. 7

An oversight report warns that the resource constraints and a time consuming reorganization are keeping the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from rolling out its election security plans for 2020. The agency says plans are on the way. Derek B. Johnson has more.

The breakdown of a results reporting app in the Iowa caucuses has an important lesson for government agencies: When IT is woven into essential civic missions, failed execution can threaten the entire enterprise. Consultant Michael Garland explains what Iowa means for federal IT in this FCW commentary.

Defense contractors told lawmakers at a recent hearing that it was time to reward companies that successfully navigate the valley of death – when experimental pilots can break out (or not) into programs of record. Congress holds the key to DOD innovation, experts said. Lauren C. Williams reports.

The CIA is looking to reap the flexibility and benefits of operating in a multicloud environment, supercharge its AI capabilities, offer new tools to the intelligence community and implement new supply chain security measures. Derek takes a look at the draft C2E solicitation.

The Obama administration did not view cyber activities by Russia targeting the 2016 elections as part of a larger overall campaign. That perspective limited information-sharing efforts in ways that inhibited a more cohesive response, according to a critical report from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Derek explains.

Increasingly federal agencies are looking to easy-to-use low code development techniques to build public-facing apps. Mark Rockwell has more on the burgeoning phenomenon.

Quick Hits

*** Many federal employees are being granted an exemption for outside employment that qualifies them to seek temporary jobs with the Census Bureau for the 2020 population count. A Feb. 6 memo from Dale Cabaniss, director of the Office of Personnel Management, urged agency heads to "make your employees aware of this information so that they may take advantage of these short-term employment opportunities." A Census FAQ includes a list of the more than 40 federal agencies that have dual employment agreements covering temporary work as enumerators.

*** Science Applications International Corp. is buying the U.S. federal business of Unisys Corp. for $1.2 billion. The deal is expected to close by June of this year, according to a report in Washington Technology. Unisys Federal's chief Venkatapathi "PV" Puvvada will join SAIC in a yet to be determined role, WT reports.