The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made awards to 17 vendors in what could turn out to be one of the largest cybersecurity contracts in history. The contract aims to leverage technology to continuously monitor federal systems and networks for cyber risks. Booz Allen Hamilton was one of the contractors chosen in this round despite recent leaks from now infamous, former Booz Allen employee Edward Snowden.
Other winners include IBM, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin. The contract is the next phase in a federal effort directed by Executive Order to maintain continuous monitoring of federal computer systems for threats. However, according to a recent Inspector General report, approximately one-third of federal agencies went without monitoring last year. Monitoring at the state government level is equally as inconsistent.
DHS has been tasked with oversight of systems monitoring and will use this contracting vehicle to build out those systems. The General Services Administration, also has a new website up for agencies to reserve monitoring solutions according to their needs.
CivSource recently reported on another contract award for cybersecurity made by the Navy to Booz Allen, despite little in the way of accounting from the company, for how Mr. Snowden breached federal and company systems to leak national security information. Another Booz Allen name – Mike McConnell – is also on the list of directors for a new cybersecurity council to be headed up by Jane Holl Lute, the former DHS staffer that led President Obama’s effort on cybersecurity, including the exective order.
McConnell has a long history serving in leadership roles in the intelligence community including at NSA, that relationship has been scrutinized as part of the revolving door between government and Big IT in light of the Snowden scandal.
Other members on the council include Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf, Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky.
According to the Federal Times, the full list of vendors on the contract include:
— Booz Allen Hamilton
— CGI
— CSC
— DMI
— DRC
— GDIT
— HP
— IBM
— KCG
— Kratos
— Lockheed Martin
— ManTech
— MicroTech
— Northrop Grumman
— SAIC
— SRA
— Technica
Image credit: elhombredenegro (Flickr)
