Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

GTPAC’s cybersecurity initiative recognized with national ‘Outstanding Project Award’

By

GTPAC received the Outstanding Project Award at APTAC’s annual training conference on Mar. 7, 2018.

The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) was honored this week by the Association of Procurement Assistance Centers (APTAC), the organization which represents 98 procurement technical assistance centers (PTACs) across the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico.

GTPAC was presented with APTAC’s Outstanding Project Award which annually recognizes an accomplishment that stands out from the day-to-day activities that all PTACs organize and undertake.

The project recognized by APTAC is GTPAC’s instructional video that provides step-by-step guidance to government contractors on how they can achieve compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity requirements  designed to safeguard DoD information and report on cyber incidents.

GTPAC’s video and accompanying resources – including a template which contractors may use – are made available free of charge on the GTPAC web site at: http://gtpac.org/cybersecurity-training-video.

The video and template have been heralded both by PTACs, who counsel businesses, and by businesses themselves as valuable one-stop resources for existing contractors and aspiring DoD contractors alike.  Since the launch of these training tools at the end of last year, 1,284 persons have viewed the video and downloaded the template 1,508 times.

Specifically, the video explains Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012, including its key definitions and cyber obligations, including its primary requirement that defense contractors which process, store or transmit “covered defense information” must address 110 individual cybersecurity controls outlined in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171.

The 20-minute video not only provides information on these requirements, but also provides specific guidance on how government contractors can achieve compliance with the DFARS clause and the NIST standards.  The video guides government contractors on how they can perform a “self-assessment” of their information system using NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Cybersecurity Self-Assessment Handbook.

One of the most creative and innovative aspects of the project is the 127-page cybersecurity template GTPAC created in conjunction with the video.  The template provides step-by-step instructions on how government contractors can create a “Systems Security Plan” and “Plan of Action” – documentation necessary to achieve compliance.

The resources GTPAC created are very timely in light of recent warnings from DoD that it plans to request and evaluate cyber plans from businesses as a part of the contract award decision-making process.   If the video is carefully reviewed and the template is fully completed and properly filled out, contractors will be in a position to document their compliance with the DFARS cybersecurity requirements.

Members of the GTPAC team proudly show off the national award they received.

GTPAC program manager Joe Beaulieu points out that “by providing the video and cybersecurity template, GTPAC’s objective is to make the process of achieving compliance much easier, especially for small defense contractors who may not have the resources necessary to develop such plans from scratch.”  Indeed, the template makes the process of drafting the required documentation easier, as contractors merely have to fill in the blanks and answer specific questions, rather than work from a blank slate.  While it is ultimately up to the contractor to meet the requirements and to provide accurate information, GTPAC’s video and template provide contractors with an excellent starting point for assessing, achieving and documenting compliance.

In honoring GTPAC with the Outstanding Project Award, APTAC encouraged other PTACs to make use of the video, template, and resource materials posted at http://gtpac.org/cybersecurity-training-video.  NIST recently provided similar encouragement to their nationwide network of MEPs in their work with U.S. manufacturers.  GTPAC coordinated the creation of the cybersecurity materials with the Georgia MEP (GaMEP) which, like GTPAC, is a part of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2).

EI2 is Georgia Tech’s business outreach organization which serves as the primary vehicle to achieve Georgia Tech’s goal of expanded local, regional, and global outreach.  EI2 is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization, and economic development.

GTPAC is a state-wide program operated by EI2 under a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).   In 2017, Georgia businesses won more than 5,000 government contracts – worth more than $1 billion – with GTPAC’s help.  All totalled, GTPAC provided counseling, instruction, and bid opportunities to 2,548 Georgia businesses during the past year.

Cybersecurity training video and template released

By

The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) has produced a 20-minute instructional video designed to assist contractors comply with Defense Department (DoD) cybersecurity requirements.

Click image above to view video and access resource documents.

Accompanying the video is a 127-page template that can be used by contractors to create a Security Assessment Report, a System Security Plan, and a Plan of Action.

The video and template, along with related resources, can be found at: http://gtpac.org/cybersecurity-training-video.

Background

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) prescribes that DFARS clause 252.204-7012 (“Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting”)  be inserted in many DoD contracts.

In general, the clause requires that contractors provide adequate security on all applicable contractor information systems – and investigate and report on any compromises of such systems.  The DFARS clause also requires contractors to:

  • isolate malicious software,
  • preserve and protect all media involved in a cyber incident,
  • provide DoD with access to information or equipment for purposes of forensic analysis,
  • assess damage as a result of a cyber incident, and
  • “flow down” the clause in any subcontracts involving information covered by the requirements.
Click on the graphic above to see the government’s complete list of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) covered by the regulation.
Impact

If you are a DoD contractor, it is very likely that your contract incorporates DFARS clause 252.204-7012.  The clause is required in all solicitations and contracts, including solicitations and contracts issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial items.  (Note: The clause is not required for solicitations and contracts solely for the acquisition of Commercial Off the Shelf – or COTS – items.)

To provide adequate security, DoD contractors covered by the DFARS clause are expected, at a minimum and effective immediately, to implement the standards set forth in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171 (Revision 1).

In general terms, to meet the government’s cybersecurity standards, contractors must assess their information systems, develop a security plan, and create an action plan.  GTPAC’s template – available for download as a Word document on the same webpage where the video appears – provides a step-by-step process by which each of these tasks can be completed and documentation can be compiled.

Information and Assistance

The video and template were funded through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency, and created with the support of the Georgia Institute of Technology.  The content of the video presentation does not necessarily reflect the official views of or imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Defense Logistics Agency, or Georgia Tech.

For further assistance with complying with DoD’s contractual cybersecurity requirements, please feel free to contact a GTPAC Procurement Counselor.  A list of Counselors, their locations, and contact information can be found at: http://gtpac.org/team-directory.

Companies located outside the state of Georgia may contact their nearest Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for assistance with government contracting matters.  PTACs are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.  Find a directory of PTACs at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.

GTPAC is a part of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), Georgia Tech’s business outreach organization which serves as the primary vehicle to achieve Georgia Tech’s goal of expanded local, regional, and global outreach.  EI2 is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization, and economic development.

 

 

 

Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership launches outreach initiative for food processing manufacturers

By

Georgia is a one of the nation’s leading agriculture states, with the industry contributing about $74.9 billion to the state economy each year.

Damon Nix (left), senior project manager at the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, discusses ergonomic solutions for lifting bags of malt with Bobby Epperson, operations training and safety manager at Terrapin Brewery in Athens, Georgia. (Photo credit: Caley Landau)

A related sector — food processing — is a strong and growing component of the Georgia economy, and accounts for $11 billion to $12 billion each year of the state’s gross domestic product. Food processing also employs 69,000 across the state, with 10,000 of those jobs being created since 2010, according to Georgia Power’s 2016 Food Processing Industry Report.

It’s that strength in food processing, which comprises the largest segment of Georgia’s manufacturing sector, that led to the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s (GaMEP) new initiative focused on those manufacturers’ unique needs.

GaMEP, a federally funded economic development program at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, works with manufacturers across Georgia to help them remain viable and economically competitive.

“Food processing comprises many different products and sizes of manufacturers and it is important to assure their viability and growth,” said GaMEP Director Karen Fite. “This effort is in recognition of where the growth is occurring in the manufacturing sector and we want to make sure we’re applying our resources and expertise, as well as cutting edge research coming out of Georgia Tech, that can help our manufacturers.”

Damon C. Nix, GaMEP’s senior project manager, is leading the food manufacturing programming, which includes coaching, analysis, and consulting in:

  • Food Safety
    • Compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements.
    • Management system implementation and audit team support.
  • Energy Management
    • Energy assessments to identify cost reduction and performance improvement opportunities.
    • Companies with fewer than 500 employees at a plant site may qualify for a free energy assessment through Georgia Tech’s Industrial Assessment Center program.
  • Environmental Services
    • Environmental compliance services and management system (ISO 14001) support.
    • Environmental Protection Agency P2 grant-funded projects that support pollution prevention through reduced greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and hazardous materials generation.
  • Worker Safety and Health
    • Implement lean/process improvement approaches to safety problem solving.
    • Partner with the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Food Processing Technology Division to support Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules compliance, applied research, and technology solutions.
  • Workforce Development
    • Operational Leader and Frontline Supervisor Training.

“Georgia’s food processing GDP ranks it sixth in the country and we rank sixth in employment,” Nix said, noting the state has roughly 680 food processing manufacturers, including the 127 that either relocated to Georgia or built new facilities here since 2010.

“The GaMEP has created significant results serving manufacturers overall,” Nix said. “We want to continue that momentum in food processing. Georgia’s manufacturing industry remains competitive and continues to grow because the food processing industry is expanding. We want food processors to know that the GaMEP is a resource to support their continued growth.”

About the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP):

The Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) is an economic development program of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The GaMEP is a member of the National MEP network supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. With offices in nine regions across the state, the GaMEP has been serving Georgia manufacturers since 1960. It offers a solution-based approach to manufacturers through coaching and education designed to increase top line growth and reduce bottom line cost.

Source: http://www.news.gatech.edu/2017/08/23/georgia-manufacturing-extension-partnership-launches-outreach-initiative-food-processing

Federal cybersecurity requirements seminar now available on video

By

Video coverage of the August 9th seminar on Cybersecurity Requirements for Federal Contractors is now available for viewing, along with pertinent printed resources.

The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) co-hosted the recent event, along with the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Program (GaMEP).

At the end of this year — if you are a Department of Defense (DoD) contractor or hope to be one — there are new cybersecurity requirements that will be in your contract that will require you to limit access to your information systems, identify system users, and take measures to safeguard federal contract information (FCI).  Your compliance with these rules, among others, require documented processes and procedures.  And, similar requirements are expected to be included in other federal contracts in the near future.

Access to the video is right here.  Following introductory remarks, details on the cyber requirements begin at the 18:00 minute mark in the video.

Click on the image above to start video.

In addition, the following links to the actual presentation materials and other resources are provided below:

GTPAC will continue to provide to our clients additional cybersecurity compliance materials as they become available.

Oct. 4th boot camp to show small and medium size manufacturers how to engage Energy Labs

By

mitec-boot-campBusinesses in the energy sector are invited to come to the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) in Atlanta on October 4, 2016 to learn about a new program designed to help small- to medium-sized enterprises access national lab capabilities and assets.

The MITEC (Manufacturing Impacts Through Energy and Commerce) boot camp is part of the commitment of the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Commerce to support U.S. manufacturing by connecting businesses with the resources they need to succeed.

Attendees will get a chance to spend a few hours to learn how you can engage with two DOE National Labs — National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) — to scale a material, utilize a set of mixed equipment for testing with expert advice from a scientist and/or engineer, and more. Leading experts will also provide information on several federal funding opportunities to work with the labs.

Attendees also will have a chance to learn how to work with the the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) to integrate new ideas and technologies into your manufacturing.

The featured keynote speaker will be Dr. Thomas R. Kurfess who served as the Assistant Director for Advanced Manufacturing at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. He had responsibility for coordinating Federal efforts in advanced manufacturing R&D.

Panels will discuss the capabilities and resources of the national laboratories, how to access these resources, and other assets available for Georgia businesses. Ample time will be provided for networking and visiting exhibits.

Qualified companies must be Georgia-based, have under 500 employees, and be involved in one or more of the advanced energy technology areas listed below:

  • solar
  • wind
  • geothermal
  • water power
  • bioenergy
  • fuel cells
  • batteries
  • vehicle technology
  • smart buildings
  • energy efficiency
  • advanced materials
  • advanced manufacturing
  • additive manufacturing

Participants also must be willing to take a 10-minute pre-event survey.

The cost to attend is $25 which includes free on-site parking, presentation, boxed lunch, coffee/
water and afternoon snack.  The event will take place from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/manufacturing-impacts-through-energy-and-commerce-boot-camp-georgia-tickets-26648346923

sponsors

Questions may be directed to Kate Ringness at kate.ringness@americanjobsproject.us

Other dates and cities for this event are September 14, 2016 at NextEnergy in Detroit, Michigan and October 6, 2016, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Details at: http://energy.gov/eere/cemi/manufacturing-impacts-through-energy-and-commerce-mitec-state-boot-camps

Georgia Tech to receive $13.5 million to continue support for Georgia manufacturers

By

This map shows where the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) assisted Georgia manufacturing companies during 2015.
This map shows where the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) assisted Georgia manufacturing companies during 2015.

The Georgia Institute of Technology will receive $13.5 million in federal funding over the next five years to continue a program that has assisted small- and mid-sized manufacturing companies in Georgia for more than half a century. The funding will be used by the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), which serves manufacturers through a network of 10 regional offices and more than 30 extension personnel statewide.

In fiscal 2015, the GaMEP assisted nearly 2,000 Georgia manufacturers, helping them create or save 2,149 jobs, invest $106 million in facilities, reduce operating costs by $25 million and increase sales by more than $200 million. Established in 1960, the GaMEP is a program of the Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Tech’s business assistance and economic development unit.

“Manufacturing is a key component of Georgia’s economy, and this funding will allow us to continue serving the companies that provide jobs, investment and new economic activity across our state,” said Karen Fite, director of the GaMEP program. “We are proud to be part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership helping companies expand their top-line growth and reduce bottom-line cost. The Georgia MEP helps our state’s manufacturers grow and remain competitive in world markets.”

GaMEP offers assistance in such areas as lean and process improvement, quality management, energy management, sustainability and business growth – which includes new customer development, new market expansion and new product development. GaMEP also connects companies to resources and expertise at Georgia Tech, which is ranked among the top U.S. public universities.

The funding, announced September 1, will take the form of a five-year cooperative agreement in which federal funds will be matched by state funds and contracts with manufacturers requesting assistance with a broad range of technical, managerial and marketing issues. The federal funding is provided by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which awarded more than $180 million to organizations in 11 states and Puerto Rico, as part of its efforts to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.

“The MEP centers connect local manufacturers with the resources and services necessary to meet new market challenges,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “The Department of Commerce supports these public-private partnerships that improve this sector’s global competitiveness, strengthen our economy and create jobs in communities across the nation.”

The awards will go to organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Utah and Vermont. Continued funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations and successful annual reviews.

“Every day, the MEP system demonstrates the value of strong public-private partnership,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Willie E. May. “This funding will support the continuation and expansion of important efforts in outreach, education and collaboration that provide real benefit to thousands of manufacturers annually.”

Proposals were reviewed by government and independent experts and evaluated against a number of criteria, including demonstration of a thorough understanding of market needs and how proposed service offerings would meet those needs. The reviewers also looked at the proposed business models, performance measurements and metrics, partnership potential, staff qualifications and program management, as well as financial and nonfederal cost-share plans. The new agreement reduces the centers’ cost-share burden by reducing the amount of required matching funds from nonfederal sources.

For every dollar of federal investment, MEP clients generate nearly $17 in new sales, which translates into $2.3 billion in new sales annually. And for every $1,900 of federal investment, MEP creates or retains one U.S. manufacturing job. Since 1988, MEP has worked with more than 86,000 manufacturers, leading to $96.4 billion in sales and $15.7 billion in cost savings, and it has helped create nearly 800,000 jobs.

As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.

For more information on GaMEP, please visit gamep.org.

Meet April’s ‘Faces of Manufacturing’

By

Faces of Manufacturing in GeorgiaThe team members at Beaulieu — a leading floor covering manufacturer headquartered in Dalton, Georgia — are working in conjunction with the Great Promise Partnership to help teens that are at risk from graduating high school gain confidence, earn a paycheck, complete their schooling, and alter their future. The program has these teens going to school in the morning and then working in Beaulieu in the afternoon, where they are valued team members in the plant, filling open positions and bringing fresh ideas to contribute to the processes within the company.

The team at Beaulieu have been named the “Faces of Manufacturing for the month of April 2016 by the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Read their inspiring story at http://facesofmanufacturing.com/portfolio/beaulieu/ and view their video at https://youtu.be/lsU7-Z17Tn4 as the teens talk about the impact this program and Beaulieu have had on them and as the Beaulieu team talks about the impressions these teens have made within the plant.

 

Principals of Atlanta gelato company are December’s ‘Faces of Manufacturing’

By

Honeysuckle GelatoJackson Smith, Khatera Ballard, and Wes Jones have been friends for years. What started out as a conversation has turned into an 18-person craft gelato manufacturing company that is growing rapidly. In the past four years they have grown to manufacture and distribute to more than 100 restaurants and 85 retail locations across the Southeast. Additionally in the past six months, they signed a deal with Delta to put their gelato in the first class section of cross country flights and have opened their first retail location in Ponce City Market. Those two deals alone have doubled their manufacturing output.

Faces of Manufacturing in GeorgiaRead their story as they talk about how they started their successful business and what the future looks like: http://facesofmanufacturing.com/portfolio/honeysuckle-gelato/

And watch their video as they talk about their vested interest in giving back to their community, including hiring staff from the City of Refuge and donating more than 13,500 meals to the Atlanta Community Food Bank in the past six weeks. https://youtu.be/CerVs5AgywE

Call for nominations open until Oct. 31 for Georgia ‘faces of manufacturing’

By

Nominations for the 2016 Faces of Manufacturing are open through October 31.

Faces of Manufacturing in Georgia

Why is Faces of Manufacturing so important?

  • It grows the exposure of manufacturing as an integral part of Georgia’s economy.
  • It gets younger generations interested in thinking of manufacturing as a viable future career.
  • It draws interest of state representatives lobbying for and representing counties/towns across Georgia.

Recipients of Faces of Manufacturing have earned local, state, and national recognition for their companies, cities/towns, and counties.

Nominate someone you know or forward the nomination form to HR managers, plant managers, and owners/CEOs of manufacturing companies and ask them to nominate their staff for this award. For more information, see: http://facesofmanufacturing.com/call-for-nominations

 

 

Childhood dreamer is latest ‘Face of Manufacturing’ in Georgia

By

As a kid Nathan Wilmoth was adventurous – he once attempted flight with just a parasail and a tractor! After getting off track during his teenage years and early 20’s, he went back to school as an adult and graduated from Georgia Tech with a 4.0. Now as the Vice President of Operations for M.A. Industries in Peachtree City, GA, he has co-authored six patents, manages a great team of individuals, and gets to tap into his childhood love of design and experimentation every day.

FACESofMANUFACTURINGWilmoth says, “Manufacturing has provided me with a sense of purpose, strengthened my character, enhanced my integrity, and gave me a strong sense of community,” he said. “I owe a lot to manufacturing and manufacturing does a lot for people.”

Read Nathan’s inspiring story at http://facesofmanufacturing.com/portfolio/nathan-wilmoth/

And view his video as he talks about working in a winery as a teenager, getting rejected from Georgia Tech the first time he applied and then getting his acceptance on his second try, his emotional attempt to turn in his resignation to go back to school full-time, and how manufacturing allows him to relive his childhood every day. https://youtu.be/jAzzC3-NaFc

Please share Nathan’s story with your manufacturing connections. Follow GaMEP on Twitter and Re-Tweet the announcement to your followers: https://twitter.com/GaMEPei2 – #GAFacesofMfg

Call for Nominations

Nominations for the 2016 Faces of Manufacturing will close on October 31, 2015. Please nominate someone you know or forward the nomination form to HR managers, plant managers, and owners/CEOs of manufacturing companies and ask them to nominate their staff for this award. http://facesofmanufacturing.com/call-for-nominations.  Recipients of Faces of Manufacturing have earned local, state, and national recognition for their companies, cities/towns, and counties.

Contracting News

Read More

Contracting Tips

Read More

GTPAC News

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Read More