FCW Insider: Dec. 11

Biden taps former Obama aide to lead VA

Denis McDonough would be the second non-veteran to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

NDAA includes new acquisition pilot for consumption-based solutions

The new pilot program based on the Section 809 panel recommendations could speed things up by allowing DOD to buy tech solutions based on how much they use.

VA vaccine distribution will require 'Herculean effort,' says agency official

The agency is preparing to receive initial shipments of vaccines, but getting it to rural areas of the country will be a challenge.

DISA unveils $11B IT 'Enclave' services solicitation

The Defense Information Systems Agency puts its much-anticipated $11.2 billion 'Enclave Services' contract for broad IT services out for industry to bid.

Quick Hits

*** The General Services Administration is continuing to develop a civilian version of the Pentagon's Defense Enterprise Office Solutions (DEOS) blanket purchase agreement for cloud-based productivity tools. The Defense Department's contact vehicle supplies Microsoft 365 cloud-based email, productivity and communications apps. A GSA official explained in a Dec. 9 virtual event hosted by AFFIRM that a Civilian Enterprise Office Solutions (CEOS) contract requires a different approach.

"Agencies are much different in how they’re federated compared to the DOD," Allen Hill, acting deputy assistant commissioner for category management in the Federal Acquisition Service's Office of Information Technology Category, said. "That takes more planning. You can't just put in an acquisition vehicle and everybody gets in line. We’re taking a more strategic approach of what types of services to include in CEOS."

*** The Federal Communications Commission approved a rule to require telecommunications providers who receive of universal service funding subsidies to remove certain foreign-made gear from their networks. The rulemaking came about because of provisions in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act which took a hard line against Chinese tech firms Huawei and ZTE. This "rip and replace" strategy still requires funding from Congress.

*** Washington Technology reports that Leidos is adding capacity in cloud and managed IT services work for federal agencies by acquiring 1901 Group for approximately $215 million cash.