[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56378-56379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24668]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Information on Update to the 2016 Federal 
Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan

AGENCY: National Coordination Office (NCO) for Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD); submitted by 
the National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice of request for information.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, Federal 
agencies must update the Federal cybersecurity research and development 
(R&D) strategic plan every four years. The NITRD NCO seeks public input 
for the 2019 update of the Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan. 
The updated plan will be used to guide and coordinate federally funded 
research in cybersecurity, including cybersecurity education and 
workforce development, and the development of consensus-based standards 
and best practices in cybersecurity.

DATES: To be considered, submissions must be received on or before 
11:59 p.m. (ET) on January 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submissions to this notice may be sent by any of the 
following methods:
    (a) Email: [email protected]. Submissions should include 
``RFI Response: Federal Cybersecurity R&D Strategic Plan'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    (b) Fax: 202-459-9673, Attn: Tomas Vagoun.
    (c) Mail: NCO/NITRD, Attn: Tomas Vagoun, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Submissions must 
not exceed 25 pages in 12-point or larger font, with a page number 
provided on each page. Responses should include the name of the 
person(s) or organization(s) providing the submission.
    Responses to this RFI may be posted online at http://www.nitrd.gov. 
Therefore, we request that no business-proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this RFI.
    In accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not 
offers and cannot be accepted by the Federal Government to form a 
binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses 
associated with responding to this RFI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tomas Vagoun at 
[email protected] or 202-459-9674, or by mailing to NCO/NITRD, 
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. Individuals who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 
(https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ274/pdf/PLAW-113publ274.pdf) 
requires that every four years the applicable Federal agencies, working 
through the National Science and Technology Council and the Networking 
and Information Technology R&D (NITRD) program, develop and update a 
Federal cybersecurity research and development strategic plan.
    The most recent version of the strategic plan was released in 
February 2016 (https://www.nitrd.gov/pubs/2016-Federal-Cybersecurity-Research-and-Development-Strategic-Plan.pdf). This strategic plan 
identifies four categories of defensive capabilities (deter, protect, 
detect, adapt) and six critical dependent areas (scientific 
foundations, risk management, human aspects, transition to practice, 
workforce development, and infrastructure for research) as the 
structure for focusing and coordinating Federal cybersecurity R&D 
activities. The quadrennial strategic plan update (to be released by 
end of 2019) will leverage this structure.
    On behalf of Federal agencies and the NITRD Cyber Security and 
Information Assurance Interagency Working Group, the NCO for NITRD 
seeks public input on Federal priorities in cybersecurity R&D. 
Responders should consider a 10-year time frame when characterizing the 
challenges, prospective research activities, and desired outcomes. 
Responders are asked to answer one or more of the following questions:
    1. What innovative, transformational technologies have the 
potential to greatly enhance the security, reliability, resiliency, and 
trustworthiness of the digital infrastructure, and to protect consumer 
privacy?
    2. What progress has been made against the goals of the 2016 
Federal Cybersecurity R&D Strategic Plan? Are there mature private-
sector solutions that address the deficiencies raised in the 2016 
Strategic Plan? What areas of research or topics of the 2016 Strategic 
Plan no longer need to be prioritized for federally funded basic 
research?
    3. What areas of research or topics of the 2016 Strategic Plan 
should continue to be a priority for federally funded research and 
require continued Federal R&D investments?
    4. What challenges or objectives not included in the 2016 Strategic 
Plan should be strategic priorities for federally funded R&D in 
cybersecurity? Discuss what new capabilities would be desired, what 
objectives should guide

[[Page 56379]]

such research, and why those capabilities and objectives should be 
strategic priorities.
    5. What changes to cybersecurity education and workforce 
development, at all levels of education, should be considered to 
prepare students, faculty, and the workforce in the next decade for 
emerging cybersecurity challenges, such as the implications of 
artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things 
on cybersecurity?
    6. What other research and development strategies, plans, or 
activities, domestic or in other countries, should inform the U.S. 
Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan?
    Following the receipt of comments, the NITRD Cyber Security and 
Information Assurance Interagency Working Group under the National 
Science and Technology Council will consider the input provided when 
updating the Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan.
    Submitted by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) 
National Coordination Office (NCO) on November 7, 2018.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-24668 Filed 11-9-18; 8:45 am]
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