Advanced IT Risk Reduction Service

The government authority in Greenbelt, Maryland is seeking a vendor to provide advanced risk reduction services focused on mitigating inherent risks within the Agency's mission-critical software systems. The program aims to reduce risks associated with the development, deployment, and operation of missions, emphasizing a risk-based analysis that targets the most critical components where failure could significantly affect mission success.

Services include technical expertise and independent assessments spanning requirements verification, design analysis, code review, test evaluation, independent test execution, and operational readiness reviews for a range of systems, such as spacecraft, instruments, ground systems, and mission-operations software. The program utilizes a flat and function-oriented organizational structure to encourage adaptability, minimize overhead, and optimize engineering effectiveness across various missions.

This initiative employs a threat-informed, consequence-driven methodology, mainly during system design and development, to identify and assess security risks that could compromise spacecraft operations, crew safety, mission data integrity, or mission achievement. The scope addresses growing complexities in ground-to-space, spacecraft-to-spacecraft, and networked architectures that expand the attack surface, as well as partnerships, autonomous systems, and cyber-physical threats. Additionally, the program will incorporate artificial intelligence applications—including the use of AUML tools for automated anomaly detection and predictive analytics into traditional IV&V (Independent Verification and Validation) processes. The proposed contract is for a one-year term.