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Posts Tagged ‘acquisition’

Insight: Mark Borkowski, CBP March 19

Join us March 19 to talk with Assistant Commissioner Mark S. Borkowski who leads the Office of Acquisition, for U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Borkowski’s office provides oversight for all CBP acquisitions and consists for three directorates: Acquisition Governance and Oversight, Acquisition Support and the Procurement Directorate. In addition, Borkowski serves as CBP’s component acquisition executive, responsible for ensuring that the agency’s acquisition practices are cost effective, support mission requirements and are integrated across CBP as appropriate.

Previously Borkowski was the assistant commissioner of the Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition starting in July 2010. As such, Borkowski was responsible for ensuring that CBP’s technology efforts are properly coordinated and focused on meeting CBP’s complex border mission.

Prior to this appointment, Borkowski served as CBP’s executive director of the Secure Border Initiative, where he oversaw the implementation of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to develop enhanced situational awareness for frontline CBP personnel along the U.S. borders.

Before leading the Secure Border Initiative, Borkowski served as executive director for mission support at headquarters for CBP’s Border Patrol. In this role, he supported the chief of the Border Patrol in executing a $2 billion annual budget and in managing a total workforce in excess of 17,000 agents and support personnel. He oversaw functions of workforce management, labor and employee relations, finance, logistics, recruitment, training, facilities and tactical infrastructure.

As a DHS Level III certified program manager, Borkowski provided expert advice and support to the Border Patrol on the technology program within the Secure Border Initiative called SBInet. He also directed an expedited organizational development efforts to redesign and transform the Border Patrol to respond to unprecedented growth in the organization driven by Presidential orders and Congressional appropriations. His division staff included 75 personnel assigned to six separate geographic locations.

Prior to his appointment with the Border Patrol, Borkowski served as director for asset management in CBP’s Office of Air and Marine. In that role, he oversaw acquisition and sustainment for CBP’s aircraft and marine assets.

Before joining CBP, Borkowski was program executive for the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA. In that role, he oversaw the development and operation of robotic missions to the moon as precursors to eventual human missions. He previously served as assistant deputy associate administrator for development programs in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Borkowski assisted in overseeing the technology, development and acquisition programs to implement the President’s Vision for Space Exploration.

Also while at NASA, Borkowski served as program executive overseeing the Hubble Space Telescope Robotic Servicing and De-orbit Mission and as the coordinator for NASA’s Exploration Transportation Strategic Roadmap. During his time at NASA, Borkowski was elected vice president of the international lunar exploration working group, a consortium of national space agencies and key commercial partners supporting initiatives for international collaboration in lunar exploration.

Borkowski served more than 23 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2004 at the rank of colonel. His last assignment in the Air Force was as system program director for the Space Based Infrared Systems program office. In that capacity, he oversaw satellite programs worth more than $40 billion.

Borkowski earned a master’s degree in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology as well as a master’s in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also has undergraduate degrees in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and in mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany.

Borkowski has certification from both the Department of Defense and DHS at the highest level for acquisition management.

An accomplished public speaker, Borkowski has represented the Air Force, NASA and CBP before international conferences, academic and professional symposia, Congressional hearings and with the news media. He has won numerous awards, including the Air Force Association, Lieutenant General John W. O’Neill Outstanding System Program Director Award; the Company Grade Officer of the Year and the Manager of the Year Awards from the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory; the Air Force Systems Command nominations for the “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” award, several military medals and decorations and civil service performance awards.

Part II: Implementing Agile at USCIS

PART II

In part II of our interview with Josh Seckel, Sara Kindsfater-Yerkes, Chair of the GTSC Business Development Exchange, was able to sit down with USCIS’ Chief of the Applied Technology Division (ATD) to discuss the agile transformation at U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Among ATD’s chief responsibilities are driving the adoption of agile across the USCIS enterprise, brought about in part by providing agile coaching services – experts across the technical, process and organizational change domains who help clients shift their culture and mindset to lean/agile thinking. This is a sea change in Federal IT – moving away from the lengthy, and staged waterfall methods to continuous activities for developing software. By doing them continuously quality improves because testing starts day one, visibility improves through collaboration and increased visibility, and risk is reduced through continuous feedback and prioritization of work.

GTSC: You’ve been through some of the best agile coaching training out there – for those who aren’t coaches what does “being a good mirror” mean?

Josh: Yes. They are able to point out to the team what is engrained that they are doing and can’t see for themselves, and get them to question, “is there a better way” versus accepting “we’ve always done it this way”. That takes a special relationship – one built on trust, honesty but without being a snitch, not judging but helping and not being oversight.

GTSC: So how are coaches typically different than scrum masters?

Josh: Again, really good scrum masters can be agile coaches, as long as they’ve had experience helping teams grow and get better. It’s a really small number of people that can do that though – be scrum masters AND agile coaches. Biggest differences between scrum masters and agile coaches is their area of engagement – scrum masters focus on team, coaches focus on project or program, and multiple teams of developers, scrum masters and stakeholders. At USCIS we have agile coaches that focus on divisions and entire portfolios of systems.

GTSC: This is somewhat self-serving given my background but how is agile driving culture change in the government?

Josh: Agile is helping the government breakdown silos, slowly. People are talking – maybe not collaborating to the fullest extent but we’re realizing why it’s important to talk to other parts of the organization. Within USCIS the IT people are engaging the business side more than they used to. Speed is also a big driver of change – there’s a new expectation for delivery on the order of months not years. The pace of change in government is increasing – I know it’s been that way in industry – but in government we are really pushing to think about what comes next. Agile is also changing the way we think about quality – we’ve got to deliver quicker, with less resources and keep focused on quality while maintaining that pace. Next, we’ve got to focus on understanding MVP (minimum viable product) on the business side – that’s coming.

GTSC: It’s a consistent pain point – how do you procure agile services?

Josh: We’ve got to focus on agile acquisition, not acquisition for agile. What I mean is we need look at what we need to change in the acquisition process. We’ve also got to keep contractual requirements in contracts and leave business requirements out of them. Come to Agile 2016 to hear me talk about this – I have a lot to say on this topic!

GTSC: As you know, GTSC’s “tag line” is, It’s All About Mission. How do you think agile impacts the mission of USCIS?

Josh: Agile impacts the mission of USCIS by providing more immediate responses to changes in direction, both large and small. When the executive order for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) came down, we were able to start working on the changes much faster than history would indicate. And when the court stayed the order, we were able to switch back very rapidly as well. Or on the small level, we are fixing and changing items on a rapid basis because of user feedback. This enables the officers to be much more responsive to the applicants rather than having to deal with a long wait and many work arounds.

GTSC: So last question, how do we work together (government and industry) to continue to bring things like agile, to the government to improve government?

Josh: Neither can do it alone – agile, devops, etc. – it has to be a partnership. We’re going to put out RFPs for agile delivery, and we’re going to expect that those bidding can do things like test driven development (TDD). If companies bidding don’t have the skills they won’t win. It’s a different world. Companies need to keep the skills of their teams up to date and growing; we’ve all got to focus on the work and the mission.

JOIN US to hear Josh in person discussing best practices in agile at USCIS, March 10, 2016. REGISTER here.

Sara Kindsfater-Yerkes, leader of GTSC’s DHS Business Development Exchange and member since 2012, is an Organizational Change Strategist with expertise in guiding large-scale transformations, Sara is passionate about helping individuals and teams to become high performing and creating cultures in which all can thrive. She currently supports Josh and USCIS in the cultural adoption of lean/agile practices.

The GSA-DHS OASIS MOU: A Game-Changer at DHS

In July, DHS and GSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) enabling greater use of GSA’s OASIS contract vehicle across all of DHS. DHS expects to increase its contract awards under OASIS from $11 million in 2015 to $250 million in 2016. This agreement is a game-changer for the DHS contracting community.

Under terms of the MOU, GSA agreed to lower the contract access fee for DHS from 0.75% to 0.25%, and DHS in turn agreed to include OASIS as one of its “Strategic Sourcing” contract vehicles covered under its “Mandatory for Use” Management Directive. This means that current DHS contractors, particularly those under TABSS and EAGLE II, will need to work harder to shape opportunities onto their respective contract vehicles, and OASIS contractors (at least many of them), will have to figure out how to navigate the world of DHS acquisitions.

This sets up a new contracting environment at DHS that could have broad ramifications for industry. GSA’s OASIS is being promoted at DHS as the replacement for TABSS, and the Program Management contract vehicle of choice. This is a body blow to TABSS contract holders and an immediate opportunity for OASIS contractors. With TABSS sun-setting in two years, DHS contracting officers will immediately see OASIS as a preferred contract vehicle, fully endorsed by acquisition leadership. With its wide variety of available NAICS Codes, 21 in Pool 1 alone, this is a huge boon for OASIS contract holders.

Many OASIS contract holders focus on DoD and have less experience at DHS. This may be a partnering opportunity for experienced DHS firms with complementary skills. Small businesses in disadvantaged socio-economic categories with DHS experience are in especially good position to take advantage of partnering.

EAGLE II contract holders should also take notice of the OASIS MOU, even with more than five years remaining in EAGLE II’s full period of performance. IT-focused Program Management requirements are still supposed to be released under EAGLE II. Because of the decentralized acquisition model used by DHS, exactly what constitutes “IT Services” under EAGLE II may be interpreted in a variety of ways by different Components. EAGLE II contract holders must continue to educate Component contracting officers and demonstrate how upcoming requirements fit on the NAICS codes in EAGLE II while being aware of the new latitude offered for Program Management services under OASIS.

The net result: Understanding the unique terms of these contract vehicles, as well as the tendencies of contracting officers in each DHS Component will be more important than ever in 2016.

About Dennis Murphy, President, ASM Concepts
Dennis Murphy is a former senior executive with DHS and U.S. Customs Service and was a principal with Booz Allen Hamilton. He also served as Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs and as the first Communications Director for DHS Border and Transportation Security. He is now president of ASM Concepts, a management consulting company offering clients unique ways to merge marketing with business development to differentiate them from their competitors to both grow and scale their business.
Read the full ASM Concepts analysis of the OASIS MOU on the ASM Concepts website . For questions or further information, contact Dennis Murphy at [email protected].

Dec. 12: The National Security Supply Chain: Reducing the Vulnerabilities

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) for a program featuring an overview of acquisition, technology and innovation in the intelligence community to both assure we have the most advanced protections in place to mitigate our vulnerabilities, and the most recent tools and information on how to protect intellectual property, prevent insider threats and understand supply chain considerations in the government contracting environment. Keynote Frank Montoya, Jr., National Counterintelligence Executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence will keynote with a preview of the 2013 Economic Espionage Report (EER).

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

12:00 PM Welcome & Introductions

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, GTSC
Elena Kim-Mitchell, Director, Private Sector Outreach, ODNI

12:10 PM ODNI Movie

12:30 PM – 1:30 PMKeynote Luncheon:Preview of the 2013 Economic Espionage Report
Frank Montoya, Jr., Counterintelligence Executive, ONCIX

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM CERT & Insider Threat

Randy Trzeciak Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI), CERT Program, Carnegie Mellon University

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Best Practices on Insider Threats & Supply Chain Security

Joan McCarroll, Director, Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Center of Excellence
Kathy Mills, Corporate Security Officer/Security Director, CENTRA Technology, Inc.

3:00PM – 3:30PM Cyber Threats & Vulnerabilities to Small & Mid-Sized Companies

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM Acquisition, Technology & Innovation
Dr. David A. Honey, Ph.D., Director for Science & Technology, Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Science & Technology, ODNI

4:15PM – 5:00 PM What Can Business Do?

DHS Business Continuity tool
FBI Resources

Keynote: Dr. David A. Honey, Director for Science & Technology, Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Science & Technology, ODNI

Dr. David Honey serves as the Director for Science & Technology and Assistant Deputy Director for National Intelligence for Science & Technology for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Dr. David A. Honey joined the DoD’s Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering as the Director for Research on 31 August 2009. Dr. Honey was responsible for policy and oversight of DoD Science and Technology programs from Basic Research through Advanced Technology Development. He was also responsible for oversight of DoD laboratories, ensuring the long-term strategic direction of the Department’s S&T programs, and for developing those technologies needed for continued technological superiority of US forces. Before assuming this position Dr. Honey was the General Manager and Senior Vice President of the Defense Sector for Information Systems Laboratories (ISL), a small business pursuing science and engineering innovations in the fields of advanced sensors, communications, UAVs, adaptive signal processing, and undersea warfare technology. Dr. Honey also served on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Honey was the Director of the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO), Director of the Advanced Technology Office (ATO), and Deputy Director and Program Manager of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). While at DARPA he led efforts in optoelectronics, networks, communications, information assurance, network-centric-warfare applications, information assurance, sensor systems, space and near-space sensors and structures, maritime technology, underground facility detection and characterization, alternative energy, and chemical-biological defense.

Keynote: Frank Montoya, Jr., Counterintelligence Executive, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX)

Frank Montoya, Jr. began his career as an FBI special agent in May 1991 and reported to the San Antonio Field Office, where he worked violent crime and fugitive investigations. He established and led activities of the division’s fugitive task force. Montoya also worked temporarily in the Oklahoma City Field Office to assist in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing investigation. In April 2000, Montoya was promoted and worked at FBI Headquarters. He oversaw national security investigations and operations. During this time, he assisted in the Robert Hanssen investigation. Montoya transferred to the Milwaukee Field Office in November 2002. He served as supervisor and oversaw the counterintelligence squad and several national security investigations. Montoya returned to FBI Headquarters in December 2005, was promoted to unit chief in the Counterintelligence Division, and participated in the establishment of the National Cyber Investigations Joint Task Force. He moved to the West Coast in July 2007 and worked in the San Francisco Field Office as assistant special agent in charge in the counterintelligence branch.

Joan McCarroll, Director, Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Center of Excellence

In her role as SE&I COE Director, Joan is responsible for establishing and promoting TASC’s best practices and processes in SE&I, program protection and cybersecurity including insider threat analysis. In her current role, Joan identifies Leading Practices in SE and deploys them across the company resulting in innovative solutions for our customers. In the area of program protection, Joan has expertise in both external and internal threat assessment and protection. Since joining TASC in 1990, Joan has performed and led end-to-end technical efforts in support of operationally deployed systems, systems under development, and future system architecture studies. She has held senior program management positions supporting the intelligence community in secure communications and SIGINT. Joan received her BSEE from Drexel University and her MS in Systems Analysis and Management from George Washington University. She has also attended Executive education courses at Darden and Strategic Marketing at the University of Chicago.

Kathy Mills, Corporate Security Officer/Security Director, CENTRA Technology, Inc.

Kathy joined CENTRA Technology, in November 2008 as the Corporate Security Officer/Security Director. She is responsible for all aspects of CENTRA’s Security operations, including personnel security, program security, physical security, and Information security, at both CENTRA’s Arlington and Burlington locations. Kathy has over twenty years experience in security including management of day-to-day operational security, personnel management, administration, and maintaining all aspects of a security program under the National Industrial Security Program.

Randy Trzeciak Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI), CERT, Carnegie Mellon University

Randy Trzeciak is currently a Senior Member of the technical staff for the Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI) CERT Program. Mr. Trzeciak is a member of a team in CERT focusing on insider threat research. The studies analyze the physical and online behavior of malicious insiders prior to and during network compromises. Other insider threat research uses system dynamics modeling for risk analysis of the impacts of policy decisions, technical security measures, psychological issues, and organizational culture on insider threat. Mr. Trzeciak also is an adjunct professor in Carnegie Mellon’s H. John Heinz School of Public Policy and Management. Prior to his current role in the CERT Program, Mr. Trzeciak managed the Management Information Systems (MIS) team in the Information Technology Department at the SEI. Under his direction, the MIS team developed and supported numerous mission-critical, large-scale, relational database management systems.

Oct. 10: Cyber Security Acquisition: What is the Government Buying?

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) during October’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month for an in-depth look at the acquisition landscape for cyber security programs across DoD, DHS, DOS, and DOJ during its Capacity Building Session, Cyber Security Acquisition: What is the Government Buying? GTSC’s Strategic Partner Dickstein Shapiro LLP will track acquisition activity and provide some insights into how the Federal government is making cyber security investments. This is a “must attend” program if you are interested in understanding the Federal cybersecurity space.

Speakers:

Brian E. Finch

Partner

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Brian Finch, a partner in Dickstein Shapiro’s Washington, DC office, is head of the firm’s Global Security Practice. Named by Washingtonian magazine in 2011 as one of the top 40 federal lobbyists under the age of 40, Mr. Finch is a recognized authority on global security matters who counsels clients on regulatory and government affairs issues involving the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. His focuses include liability mitigation, protection of critical infrastructure, state and local grant funds, WMD response preparations, chemical security, cyber security, and border and trade security.

Mr. Finch is a Senior Advisor to the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council and also is a member of the American Bar Association’s Homeland Security Executive Committee for the Administrative Law Section. Mr. Finch served as an inaugural Senior Fellow at George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute. He also was a member of the Heritage Foundation/Center for Strategic and International Studies Task Force for Examining the Roles, Missions, and Organization of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Finch is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he co-teaches Homeland Security Law and Policy. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Finch speaks and writes extensively on global security and terrorism matters, as well as other public affairs issues. He has testified on the implementation of the SAFETY Act twice before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. He is regularly quoted in publications such as CQ Homeland Security and Washington Technology, and has been profiled by Government Security News Magazine, a leading homeland security journal. Examples of his articles include “Utilizing the SAFETY Act to Assist with CFATS Process,” which appeared in Business & Industry Connection in October 2009; “The SAFETY Act Affords Protections For Smart Grid Players,” which appeared in Renew Grid in October 2009; and “How Sports Owners Can Find Protection in SAFETY,” which appeared in the Sports Business Journal in November 2006. He also has appeared on television news programs such as MSNBC Live as a global security commentator.

Graham (Rusty) Mathews

Senior Legislative Advisor

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Rusty Mathews, the senior legislative advisor in the Public Policy & Law Practice of Dickstein Shapiro, joined the firm in 1996. Mr. Mathews’ specialties encompass representation, on a variety of legislative and appropriations issues, of the environmental community, electric utilities, competitive power producers and marketers, healthcare providers, direct marketers, homeland security and related high-tech industries, insurance and reinsurance providers, and clients involved in sports, entertainment, and Internet gaming.
During the years 1995 through 1996, in the office of U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Mr. Mathews served as Chief Minority Clerk, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies. He managed all aspects of Congress’s second largest discretionary appropriations bill ($90 billion). He was also responsible for budget development and policy management for 25 federal departments and agencies, including the Departments of HUD and VA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, NASA and Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 15 independent boards, commissions, and offices.
In 1989 through 1994, in the office of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, Mr. Mathews was the Assistant Majority Clerk, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Interior and Related Agencies. He managed all aspects of the Department of Interior appropriations bill relating to annual budget requests and policy development for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, Office of Surface Mining, Smithsonian Institution, and the fossil energy accounts for the Department of Energy. He also served as principal negotiator for the Midwestern and Eastern coal states during Congressional deliberations on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Among Mr. Mathews’ career highlights are membership on the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, serving as Deputy Vice President for External Affairs with the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation, and being Director of Senate Relations with the Department of Energy.

Key Cybersecurity Issues for Government Contractors

Dickstein Shapiro LLP and the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) held a webcast, “Key Cybersecurity Issues for Government Contractors.” This interactive program, of particular interest to government contractor compliance officers, CIOs, CISOs, General Counsel, and any other C-suite members, discussed how the federal government is planning on fundamentally altering its acquisition policies to make the cybersecurity of its contractors a top priority.

The discussion included:
– Proposed Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) changes relating to President Obama’s Cybersecurity Executive Order;
– Planned changes to procurement requirements based on independent agency actions;
– Congressionally mandated cybersecurity requirements; and
Ways contractors can prepare for these changes

Speakers included:

Brian Finch, Partner, Global Security, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Justin Chiarodo, Partner, Government Contracts, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Emile Monette, Senior Action Officer for Cyber Security Policy, Government Services Administration

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, Government Technology & Services Coalition

View the slides here or watch the webinar by clicking the link below.