DHS explores wearable tech for first responders

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on  Federal Drive with Tom Temin. 

• The Office of Management and Budget asked agencies to release at least 20 percent of all new custom software code as open source. In a new memo, OMB is establishing a three-year pilot program to promote the use of open source development and code reuse across the government. OMB also wants agencies to consider whether developing new software code is necessary. The memo details a three-step analysis process agencies should use to determine what makes the most sense. (The White House)

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is making good on its promise to strengthen its cybersecurity after a series of publicized data breaches. FDIC is conducting an end-to-end assessment of its IT and privacy programs, and it’s also working with the Homeland Security Department on a monitoring system to detect cyber threats. Earlier this year, the agency reported a series of cases in which outgoing employees downloaded sensitive data onto their personal media devices. (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

• A FitBit for first responders? Google Glass for firemen? That’s what the Homeland Security Department’s Science and Technology Directorate is looking for. DHS S&T kicked off EMERGE 2016: Wearable Technology. It’s seeking state of the art wearable technologies on the commercial market that can be modified for first responders. The goal is to find these commercial devices that can help first responders create a comprehensive dataset more easily. DHS S&T is asking for vendors to submit applications to be one of two dozen firms to participate in the accelerator and receive help in early market validation, test and evaluation opportunities and paths to introduce their technology to a variety of markets. (Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate)

• Fifty-one percent of federal recruiters said they’ve changed their hiring strategy to deal with slower security clearance process times. A new survey from ClearanceJobs.com shows roughly 50 percent of recruiters say they’re offering signing bonuses to attract qualified candidates who already have clearances to their jobs because competition for cleared talent is so high. Recruiters say it’s more often taking 12 to 15 months to get a security clearance processed, rather than the three to seven months agencies are advertising. (Federal News Radio)

• Issues remain in certifying contracting officers’ representatives or CORs. Two years after the General Services Administration’s inspector general made 13 recommendations to the Federal Acquisition Service on how to better manage the certification process of CORs, it said FAS has still not fully implemented three of them. CORs are technical liaisons between contractors and contracting officers. (General Services Administration Office of Inspector General)

• Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the Air Force will need to find money for its new approach on energy. James said the Air Force is starting small, but will scale up its energy mission assurance goals. The service wants to take a more holistic approach to energy consumption. It hopes better choice will make planes fly further and bases run more efficiently. (Federal News Radio)

• Starting next week, drivers licenses from three states won’t be enough to let drivers onto Air Force installations. The change won’t affect DoD employees, family members or retirees with ID cards that meet requirements of the Real ID Act. But licenses issued by Minnesota, Missouri and Washington don’t require applicants to prove who they are at the time the licenses are issued. Military base visitors from those states will need a passport. Army and Navy installations made similar changes at their entry points earlier this year.

• Acting Director for the Office of Personnel Management Beth Cobert said agencies should start preparing for this year’s Combined Federal Campaign. She asked agency leaders to encourage employees to consider becoming a coordinator or loaned executive for this year’s CFC program. She reminded agency leaders that taking on a role in the CFC is a good way to build professional and leadership skills. Federal employees donated more than $177 million through the CFC last year. (Chief Human Capital Officers Council)

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