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NSC-7 Production Starts. Fabrication of the seventh Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC) has begun at shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries’ facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. The production contract for the cutter Kimball was awarded last March and the next major milestone will be keel authentication, which is slated for January 2016. The Fabrication milestone, which marks the start of production, is held after 100 tons of steel for the ship have been cut. The Coast Guard plans to buy eight NSCs.
Rescue 21 Coverage Standards. The Coast Guard says that its Rescue 21 direction-finding communications system used for distress calls in coastal zones is operating at the highest level of radio communications coverage, which is Sea Area A1. In its analysis, the Coast Guard says Rescue 21 provides over 90 percent coverage for VHF distress communications and direction finding within 20 miles of United States coastal zones, excluding Alaska, as well as shorelines of its territories. The system is functional more than 99 percent of the time. General Dynamics is the prime contractor for Rescue 21.
Acquisition Workforce Survey. Wide ranging improvements in the federal acquisition workforce haven’t taken root despite persistent concerns and the window is closing on an “opportunity in time to drive significant changes in culture, practices and capabilities,” according to the results of a biennial survey undertaken by the Professional Services Council and the professional consulting firm Grant Thornton. The survey, A Closing Window: Are We Missing the Opportunity for Change?, says budget instability is cited by acquisition workers as “being more detrimental to agency operations than specific budget reductions,” noting that it “restricts spending on training and the hiring of needed resources.” It adds that uncertainty around program funding levels means an “overemphasis on cost savings as opposed to programmatic outcomes as a principal goal of the acquisition process.”
…Critical Skills Challenged. The survey also says that the “overwhelming majority” of respondents say that their training is getting short shrift. They “cite significant weaknesses in critical skills areas including business acumen, negotiating skills, and conducting complex technology acquisitions.” The survey adds that the findings are consistent with those in prior years but that “this year one of the most significant takeaways was the low value place on pursuing innovation through the acquisition process.” This is in “sharp contrast” to the goals of administration and agency leaders, the survey says.
HASC Continues Acquisition Reform. The House Armed Services Committee will hold its first public hearing of the year on Wed., Jan. 28. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall will testify on “A Case for Reform: Improving DOD’s Ability to Respond to the Pace of Technological Change,” along with Air Force Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, director of force structure, resources and assessment on the Joint Staff. The hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. in room 2118 Rayburn House Office Building and will be streamed live on the committee website.
Defense Appropriators Announced. House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) announced her recommendations for subcommittee assignments, including a recommendation for Rep. Pete Viscloskey (D-Ind.) to remain the top Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee. She also recommended that Reps. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) serve on the subcommittee.
New Biz Board Vice Chairs. The Pentagon has announced the naming of two vice chairs to the Defense Business Board (DBB). Cynthia Trudell, the executive vice president of human resources at PepsiCo, and Nancy Killefer, formerly a senior partner of McKinsey & Company, an international business consulting firm, were named as the vice chairs. They had previously both been members. The DBB was created in 2002 to advise defense leadership on best business practices and how they can be applied to Pentagon operations. Robert “Buddy” Stein remains the DBB chairman.
Cyber Hearing on Tap. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Jan. 28 on protecting the U.S. from cyber attacks. The hearing will focus on the importance of information sharing and examine how to mitigate cyber security threats to U.S. businesses from a private sector perspective. Witnesses include Scott Charney of Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group, Peter Beshar of Marsh & McLennan Cos., Richard Bejtlich of FireEye, and Greg Nojeim of the Freedom, Security and Technology Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. The hearing begins at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-342 of the Dirksen building.
