HUD, Army, OPM Receive Additional Technology Modernization Funding

Additional support from the Technology Modernization Fund Board for expanding the use of Login.gov services is part of the latest awards to three agencies totaling $35 million.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration became the fourth program to receive a “loan” from the Board of Directors to implement GSA identity services.

FHA plans to receive $14.8 million to modernize its credential access…

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Additional support from the Technology Modernization Fund Board for expanding the use of Login.gov services is part of the latest awards to three agencies totaling $35 million.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration became the fourth program to receive a “loan” from the Board of Directors to implement GSA identity services.

FHA plans to receive $14.8 million to modernize its FHA Connected (FHAC) Identity Credential Access Management (ICAM) system.

The board said FHAC “will seamlessly integrate with Login.gov and improve the customer experience by creating self-registration capabilities for users, organizations and application administrators. This mission-critical program supports 15 high-value systems, including single-family and multi-family Household Housing Scheme, Public and Indian Housing, and Chief Financial Officer.”

HUD expects to save at least $7 million and improve FHA’s network by eliminating legacy systems such as the Web Access Security System (WASS), FHAC, and SiteMinder.

“Tens of thousands of external users use HUD’s current FHAC components,” HUD Chief Information Officer Beth Niblock said in a statement. “However, our current system is over-extended, redundant and poorly integrated. Modernizing the FHAC will allow FHA-approved lenders and business partners to securely access the services they need.”

This is HUD’s second award under the TMF, having won $13.85 million for mainframe modernization projects in 2018 and has paid out more than $2 million.

21 awards since $1B windfall

Along with HUD, the Board of Directors awarded the Office of Personnel Management $6 million to improve its website and content management systems. It also provided $15.5 million to the Army to modernize and improve the cybersecurity of its operational technology in manufacturing arsenals, repair depots and ammunition plants, known as the Organic Industrial Base (OIB), where equipment, vehicles and ammunition are manufactured. ammunition.

Since Congress approved the $1 billion US Rescue Program Act in March 2021, the Board of Directors has awarded 21 awards, including four specifically calling for zero trust, worth more than $435 million. Since TMF launched in 2018, the Board has made 32 loans worth over $530 million.

The board has now awarded 14 awards for calendar year 2022, including three in August.

“If we are to achieve digital transformation for the American people in our lifetime, we must think and work differently across the federal enterprise. Through TMF investments, we are demonstrating what is possible in modern government service delivery,” said TMF Board Chair and Federal Chief Information officer Clare Martorana said in a statement. “Investments in OPM, HUD and the Army will meet current security needs and enhance customer experience and business operations by modernizing outdated systems – we must be able to meet customer expectations.”

OPM Improve Website

This is the second award that OPM has received under the TMF. Its initial reward of $9.9 million is focused on zero trust.

For this latest award, OPM will use a $6 million “loan” to update the technology and content behind OPM.gov, which receives approximately 22 million visitors annually.

“Currently, customers are having difficulty navigating the site, using tools effectively, and finding the information they need. Nearly 20,000 pages on OPM.gov contain 3,600 dead links, making it ideal for those currently visiting OPM.gov and expecting an up-to-date and easily accessible Federal employees, job seekers and HR professionals with information create a confusing user experience,” the TMF website states. “OPM will implement a modern and more secure content management system (CMS) hosted in the OPM Enterprise Cloud environment, so that users can have intuitive and accessible web tools. The project will also develop a process for publishing updated information and create an intranet environment with historical information. OPM will use a digital governance council to ensure that technical, design and process changes are as a center.”

“This investment will improve the government’s ability to recruit job candidates, provide the federal workforce with relevant career-related information, and make it easier for civil servants to manage their benefits,” OPM director Kiran Ahuja said in a statement.

Army Improves Cyber ​​Posture

The Army is using its new funding to address basic infrastructure issues that span 26 OIBs and support 28,000 employees.

“The estimated 500,000 devices in the OIB constitute a significant attack surface. Any cyber intrusion can disrupt production and potentially disrupt equipment, harm workers and affect coordination with multiple partner agencies. Any inconvenience in the systems supporting these OIBs can disrupt production. Security factors can pose serious national security risks,” the TMF Commission website states. “The Army Critical Infrastructure Cyber ​​Protection Program will enable Attack Awareness and Warning (AS&W) and Vulnerability Assessment (VA) cyber capabilities and establish a Security Operations as a Service (SOCaaS) framework to ensure cyber defenders can monitor, respond to, and remediate cyber threats .”

Army CIO Raj Iyer said the funding will address urgent needs and ensure the Army doesn’t wait to get funding through the traditional budget process.

“For the Army and its partners, this program will modernize and improve our cybersecurity posture and enhance command and control of critical OIBs,” he said in a statement.

From the $1 billion in the March 2021 American Rescue Program Act, the board still has more than $500 million to award. The General Services Administration, which manages the fund, is asking for an additional $300 million in fiscal 2023, but Congress isn’t thrilled about pouring additional money into the TMF. The House approved $100 million for the TMF this year, while the Senate provided new funding for the TMF.



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