[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23744-23745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09376]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 130212127-3127-01]


Proposed Establishment of a Federally Funded Research and 
Development Center-First Notice

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of Commerce, intends to sponsor a Federally Funded Research 
and Development Center (FFRDC) to facilitate public-private 
collaboration for accelerating the widespread adoption of integrated 
cybersecurity tools and technologies. This is the first of three 
notices which must be published over a 90-day period in order to advise 
the public of the agency's intention to sponsor an FFRDC.

DATES: Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on 
July 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice must be received by Keith Bubar, 
Contracting Officer, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
100 Bureau Drive, Mailstop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, including by 
email to Mr. Bubar at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Bubar via email at 
[email protected] or telephone 301.975.8329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Cybersecurity Center of 
Excellence (NCCoE), hosted by NIST, is a public-private collaboration 
for accelerating the widespread adoption of integrated cybersecurity 
tools and technologies. The NCCoE will bring together experts from 
industry, government, and academia under one roof to develop practical, 
interoperable cybersecurity approaches that address the real world 
needs of complex Information Technology (IT) systems. By accelerating 
dissemination and use of these integrated tools and technologies for 
protecting IT assets, the NCCoE will enhance trust in U.S. IT 
communications, data, and storage systems, lower risk for companies and 
individuals in the use of IT systems, and encourage development of 
innovative, job-creating cybersecurity products and services.
    NIST has identified the need to support the NCCoE's mission through 
the establishment of an FFRDC. In evaluating the need for the FFRDC, 
NIST determined that no existing FFRDC or contract vehicles provide the 
scope of services NIST requires. The proposed NCCoE FFRDC will have 
three primary purposes: (1) Research, Development, Engineering, and 
Technical support; (2) Program/Project Management, to include but not 
limited to expert advice and guidance in the areas of program and 
project management focused on increasing the effectiveness and 
efficiency of cybersecurity applications, prototyping, demonstrations, 
and technical activities; and (3) Facilities Management. The proposed 
NCCoE FFRDC may also be utilized by non-sponsors.
    The FFRDC will be established under the authority of 48 CFR 35.017.
    The NCCoE FFRDC Contractor will be available to provide a wide 
range of support including, but not limited to:
     Research, Development, Engineering and Technical Support:
    [cir] Establish relationships with private sector organizations to 
use private sector resources to accomplish tasks that are integral to 
the operations and mission of the NCCoE.
    [cir] Research and develop frameworks and implementation strategies 
for inducing industry to invest in and expedite adoption of effective 
cybersecurity controls and mechanisms on an enterprise-wide scale; and 
in collaboration with Federal and local governments, deliver planning 
and documentation support needed to transfer technologies developed by 
Federal cybersecurity organizations and the NCCoE to production, 
integration,

[[Page 23745]]

economic development, and operational implementation entities.
    [cir] Provide systems engineering support to NCCoE programs and 
proposed security platform development, selection, and implementation. 
This will include NCCoE infrastructure, project planning, project 
implementation, and technology transfer components of the NCCoE's 
efforts to accelerate adoption of robust cybersecurity technologies in 
the government and private sectors.
    [cir] Generate technical expertise to create a relevant 
cybersecurity workforce in coordination with the NCCoE staff and in 
close collaboration with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity 
Education and with Federal government, university, and industry 
participants and collaborators in NCCoE activities.
    [cir] Deliver strategies and plans for applying cybersecurity 
standards, guidelines, and best practice inducements and capabilities 
to both government and private sectors.
     Program/Project Management:
    [cir] Work within the purpose, mission, general scope, or 
competency as assigned by the sponsoring agency.
    [cir] Develop and maintain in-depth institutional knowledge of 
NCCoE programs and operations in order to maintain continuity in the 
field of cybersecurity and to maintain a high degree of competence, 
objectivity, and independence in order to respond effectively to the 
emerging cybersecurity needs of the Nation.
     Facilities Management:
    [cir] In coordination with NCCoE staff, and in collaboration with 
the State of Maryland and Montgomery County, Maryland, manage physical 
and logical collaborative facilities to support the acceleration and 
adoption of robust cybersecurity technologies in the government and 
private sectors. The activity includes staff support for information 
technology operations, custodial functions, physical access management, 
and maintenance operations.
    The FFRDC will partner with the sponsoring agency in the design and 
pursuit of mission goals; provide rapid responsiveness to changing 
requirements for personnel in all aspects of strategic, technical and 
program management; recognize Government objectives as its own 
objectives, partner in pursuit of excellence in public service; and 
allow for use of the FFRDC by non-sponsors.
    We are publishing this notice in accordance with 48 CFR 5.205(b) of 
the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), to enable interested members 
of the public to provide comments on this proposed action. This is the 
first of three notices issued under the authority of 48 CFR 5.205(b). 
In particular, we are interested in feedback regarding the proposed 
scope of the work to be performed by the FFRDC, and the presence of any 
existing private- or public-sector capabilities in this area that NIST 
should be considering.
    It is anticipated that a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted 
on FedBizOpps in the Summer of 2013. Alternatively, a copy of the RFP 
can be obtained by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section above once the RFP is posted.

    Dated: April 16, 2013.
Mary Saunders,
Associate Director for Management Resources.
[FR Doc. 2013-09376 Filed 4-19-13; 8:45 am]
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