Big Data Terminology Incongruities in the Federal World

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New data analysis technologies are advancing day by day that help federally-funded researchers crunch more information and direct them to successful development and progress. Unfortunately, this has an underlying negative effect: the potential exposure of a company or individual’s private & personal information particularly with the federal government failing to remain current with modern research practices.  Several federal groups – including the departments of Homeland Security, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Education – are proposing that, regulations surrounding human test subjects be revised to reflect new research methods. For example, appropriate researchers would be required to hand out consent forms to potential subjects, informing them that their leftover biological samples and data culled from them could be used in future projects.

Research shows has shown that, investigators might use powerful computers to churn through information, be it the records from medical, educational, criminal justice or administrative claims. The proposal claims that information that was “treated as non-identified can now be re-identified”. In an effort to update the consent process, the agencies have proposed several adjustments to the “Common Rule,” a more than decades-old process that oversees federal research on human subjects.

Relatively recent developments in scientific research – including the use of analytics services on human specimens and the increasing use of large volumes of electronic health data – have changed patients’ expectation of privacy, the proposal said. “Yet, these developments have not been accompanied by major change in the human subjects research oversight system, which has remained largely unchanged over the last two decades,” the new proposal stated.

Despite the risks, more people want to participate in research. This “participatory model” has evolved alongside the “widespread use of social media, in which Americans are increasingly sharing identifiable personal information and expect to be involved in decisions about how to further share the personal information, including health-related information that they have voluntarily chosen to provide.”

This is where the definition of big data falls short with regards to federal research and “another set of rule-sets which takes Privacy very seriously should be incorporated within the current federal research system”.

 

Editors Note: Ideas referred from;

Ravindranath, Mohana. “What Big Data Means for Human Subjects in Federal Research.”
Nextgov. N.p., 25 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Oct. 2015.

Everything Matters: Entrepreneurs and Their BIG Obligation to Small Business

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“The biggest mistake a small business can make is to think like a small business”

—Postfilm Design

In the rapidly globalizing world in which we live today, many individuals neglect to take time to consider how great of an impact entrepreneurs have on our everyday lives. Dictionary.com accurately defines an entrepreneur as “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable risk.” Indeed, being an entrepreneur is not for those who do not have a strong will to prevail. Evidently, if entrepreneurial-minded people like JK Rowling, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, or Jeff Bezos never followed their grandiose visions, the world as we know it may have never read a Harry Potter book, experienced the IPhone, or enjoyed the benefits free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

While no two entrepreneurs are identical in their endeavors, business-minded individuals must be determined, dedicated and disciplined to ensure success in their small business undertakings as there really is nothing small about operating a business of any size. This message was reinforced at a “Big Think” series event sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) on 21 September 2015, titled, “Economic Mobility: Entrepreneurship & the Opportunity Gap” in which panelists discussed how to reduce the barriers to starting a business and increase economic mobility through entrepreneurship. The esteemed panel of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alan Krueger, Princeton University most notably touched on the topic of economic, political, and social discrimination of marginalized individuals (women, minorities, disabled persons, veterans, young people etc.) in small businesses. Findings by the SBA included reference to multiple studies which found disproportionate numbers of loan denials to minority business owners, despite controls for metrics of financial health1.

Big Think Panel photo: (Left to right): Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alan Krueger, Princeton University

In an ideal world, an entrepreneur with a profound idea translated into a tangible business model and the willpower to execute should be able to fulfill their small business goals. Unfortunately, research shows that despite their growing economic significance, firms owned by women and minority entrepreneurs tend to be smaller, less profitable, and carry lower survival rates than their male or non-minority counterparts. In contrast, entrepreneurship has been found to be relatively more enhanced among white, native-born, and long-term community members when compared to minority, immigrant, and recent-entrant community members1. Furthermore, minority small business owners—especially Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs—are disproportionately denied credit when they apply for credit even after controlling for business credit scores, personal wealth, and revenues1.

This is a giant problem in the United States where the American dream is meant to provide equal opportunity to all of its citizens—including entrepreneurs—regardless of the race, creed, religion, age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Research implies, however, that the American dream inherently allows the aforementioned distinctions to limit small business ambitions. So, how can disadvantaged groups advance their opportunity for success in the world of small business?

Much of the answer lies in the advocacy efforts of both the SBA and the Office of the National Ombudsman—a small business overseer that has helped thousands of small businesses save time and money by resolving difficult regulatory compliance and enforcement issues. According to the SBA, The National Ombudsman works directly with federal regulators as part of President Obama’s mandate to promote a level playing field for small businesses2. By working with federal regulators, The National Ombudsman is able to facilitate practical and timely resolutions of Regulatory Enforcement Fairness (REF) matters that impact small businesses. A few of the ways in which The National Ombudsman executes fair enforcement of small business regulation include2:

  • Providing small business owners a confidential way to report and resolve federal REF problems, like excessive enforcement action or disproportionate fines
  • Escalating small business concerns to federal agencies for fairness review and resolution
  • Grading federal agencies on their small business policies and practices

By connecting with The National Ombudsmen online, at regional SBA listening sessions, or in person, disadvantaged small business owners are able to provide helpful input on REF issues that can assist federal regulators to better comprehend how government can best support small business success. In fact, The National Ombudsman provides an annual report to Congress on its findings that highlights the impact of the policies and practices of every federal agency that touches small businesses. With these means, all hope is not lost for marginalized small business owners and entrepreneurs.

  1. Kymn, Christine. “Access to Capital for Women- and Minority-owned Businesses: Revisiting Key Variables.” Www.sba.gov/advocacy. The Office of Economic Research of the Office for Advocacy, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.
  2. “Advocacy and Ombudsman: Watching Out for the Interests of Small Businesses.” Resource Guide for Small Business 2015: 52. Print.

     

Smart Agencies Saved Billions, But Neglect Submitting Reinvestment Plans

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According to United States Government Accountability Office,
Billions of Dollars in Savings Have Been Realized by Smart agencies, but they neglected one important key; to submit reinvestment plans. The Government Accountability Office found out that, twenty-four of the 26 federal agencies participating in the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) information technology (IT) reform initiatives reported achieving an estimated total of $3.6 billion dollars in cost savings and avoidances between fiscal years 2011 and 2014. Slightly more than half (or about $2.0 billion) of the savings and avoidances were from data center consolidation and optimization efforts. Notably, of the $3.6 billion total, the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, and the Social Security Administration accounted for about $2.5 billion (or 69 percent).

Despite these savings, though, most agencies did not fully meet OMB’s requirements to submit reinvestment plan information. Of the 27 agencies required to submit either single or on-going reinvestment plans, 5 agencies had fully complied with the OMB’s guidance, while the remaining 22 had only partially implemented it if at all. For example, most agencies had not fully implemented OMB’s guidance for submitting one-time fiscal year 2014 IT reduction and reinvestment plans as part of OMB’s “cut and reinvest” effort. As a result, agencies’ plans were substantially short of OMB’s overall fiscal year 2014 targets of $7.6 billion in reductions and as much as $7.6 billion in reinvestments, only reaching $3.0 billion in proposed reductions and $2.1 billion in proposed reinvestments. Agencies provided a variety of reasons for not meeting OMB’s requirements, such as that their components had not fully tracked and reported how their savings were to be reinvested.

Auditors reported that, “Until agencies complete their ongoing reinvestment plans, they will be challenged to ensure that their considerable savings are being used in the most efficient and effective manner possible”.

Four selected agencies—the Departments of Education, Interior, Labor, and the Social Security Administration—had documented key governance processes to guide the development of their fiscal year 2014 budget submission, which included proposed IT reinvestments of $350 million, however, none of the four agencies had tracked the reinvestment performance results. The lack of performance tracking is also due to OMB not mandating that agencies document actual results. Additionally, OMB has not defined targets for reinvestments beyond fiscal year 2014. Until OMB requires agencies to track actual reinvestment performance and defines targets, it will be limited in its ability to ensure that agencies are actually reinvesting funds as planned and may not be able to hold them accountable. Without improved tracking, selected agencies may lack assurance that their components are reinvesting in areas consistent with agency-wide goals.

GAO recommended the federal chief information officer ensure that agencies complete reinvestment plans and require them to track where reinvested dollars are going.

 

Editors Note: Ideas referred from;

Moore, Jack. “AGENCIES SAVED BILLIONS BY CUTTING LOW-PRIORITY IT PROJECTS. BUT WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THE SAVINGS?”
Nextgov. N.p., 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.

 

The Progressive GSA

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We’ve all heard it before: Experience is the best teacher. While this may be true, technology, through its rapid availability, improvement, provides highly effective solutions for a wide-range of issues that previously required extensive experience to resolve. Companies, organizations, and individuals are relying on innovative technological solutions more than ever to solve complex and multi-faceted issues such as home-buying, investment banking, and accelerated communication. Now, the United States General Services Administration (GSA) is following suit by adopting a forward thinking technological approach that will simplify the sale of technology to the government by new Information Technology Contractors.

Traditionally,  GSA has required that technology firms have at least two years of corporate experience, which is the agency’s current requirement for contractors to obtain a spot on the Schedule 70 — GSA’s list of approved Information Technology vendors, but in a new request for information (RFI), GSA is seeking advice about how the federal contracting system can be improved.

Instead of the two year experience mandate, GSA would instead require contracting agencies to submit a written description of their relevant experience as well as documentation demonstrating financial responsibility. By implementing this new measure, GSA could effectuate an increase of emerging small businesses to the Schedule 70, gain better access to innovative companies, transcend leading-edge technological solutions, and acquire a wider range of contracting options. The result would likely mean a proliferation of new contractors’ with the ability to meet sales criteria, among other measures.

So, how likely is it that GSA will repeal its two-year experience requirement? The answer may lie in the hands of contractors and their ability to use persuasive rhetoric to convince GSA to make a favorable decision. Indeed, until September, 18th 2015, GSA is collecting input from both public and private agencies by inquiring about the conceivable benefits of implementing such a reformative measure. According to NextGov.com, some of the specific subjects that contractors are urged to answer include:

  • What are the potential benefits and downsides to removing the two-year corporate experience requirement?
  • What other requirements or processes prevent businesses from obtaining a Schedule 70 contract?
  • What requirements and processes make it hard to work with the government even after getting a Schedule 70 contract?

Although GSA has yet to make a concrete decision regarding their new endeavor to repeal its two-year experience rule, small business contracting agencies, such as Sabre88, will remain hopeful in receiving positive news.

 

http://www.nextgov.com/technology-news/2015/09/gsa-tries-make-contracting-easier-suppliers/120236/?oref=dropdown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Department of Defense on a Cloud Mission?

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The Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) newly released Guide based on “Best Practices for DoD Cloud Mission Owners” gives us a hint of a big technological evolution taking place in the federal industry which was developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for the Department of Defense (DoD).

According to Defense officials, moving to the cloud offers cost savings that the Department cannot get via other acquisition avenues. The objective of this mission is not only to deliver a cost efficient, secure and adaptive environment but also to achieve “confidentiality, integrity and availability” of the data. While in theory this sounds perfect, the key element missing in this guide is a way , “to compete a cloud contract under the new acquisition paradigm and how Department of Defense Mission Owners are supposed to select approved cloud providers and compete a contract among them.” The entire guide explains everything about the responsibilities, requirements, and standards but with no reference to specific guidelines, competing contractors should have a difficult time developing the proposals to deliver on the DoD’s needs.

Mr. Terry Halvorsen, DoD Chief Information Officer said, “Cloud computing plays a critical role in the Department’s IT modernization efforts. Our key objective is to deliver a cost efficient, secure enough enterprise environment (the security driven by the data) that can readily adapt to the Department’s mission needs. The Cloud will support the Department’s JIE with a robust IT capability built on an integrated set of Cloud services provided by both commercial providers and DoD Components. We will use a hybrid approach to Cloud that takes advantage of all types of Cloud solutions to get the best combination of mission effectiveness and efficiency. This means in some cases we will use a purely commercial solution, which we have done with Amazon on public facing data, in others we will use a modified private Cloud hosted in commercial solutions, an example could be a shared federal or federal state government Cloud, and for our most protected data a DoD private Cloud that uses best industry practices.”

Keeping the current market situation in mind, a plethora of cloud service providers exists. The prices for cloud services are dropping therein directly affecting the profit margins. In order to mitigate the risk and to leverage profit margins, vendors would need to generate volume. Former Federal CIO; Vivek Kundra, talked about “‘A $20 Billion Shift'” back in 2011″ which talks about how federal government could shave off $20 Billion of its spending by moving systems to cloud. Twenty billion dollars less would shrink the federal IT market to $66 billion per year, using the OMB’s base line estimate of annual IT spending. Sixty-six billion dollars per year raises a big question mark.

 

Editor’s Note: Idea referred from;

 

Rossino, Alexander. “Best Practices, Deflation, and Cloud Commoditization at the DoD.”
Deltek. B2G Essentials, 1 Sept. 2015. Web. 4 Sept. 2015.

Newark Consulting Firm Named Amongst Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America

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Newark, NJ – Inc. Magazine today announced that Sabre88, the global technology firm servicing the federal government has been named amongst the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America.

The Inc. 5000 compares the growth of private companies throughout the nation, measuring growth over a three year span. Sabre88 entered this year’s list for the first time ranked at #671 with an astonishing growth rate of 672% since 2012, well above the list’s average of 490%.

The 2015 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 18 to September 22) is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years. “We are honored to be included for the first time in the Inc. 5000 rankings,” Sabre88 Chairman and CEO Robert Cottingham, Jr. said. “Our growth is a testament to the diligent work and determination of our staff.”

Inc. 5000 honorees will be celebrated at the Inc. 5000 Conference and Gala on October 23, 2015 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. The complete list of award winners can be viewed at: http://www.inc.com/inc5000

About Sabre88

Sabre88 is a global consulting firm bringing capabilities in Help Desk & Contact Center Support, Telecommunications Support, Financial Services, Acquisition Support and Data Entry & Forms Processing to federal and commercial clients. Sabre88 takes pride in helping its clients improve overall business processes by tailoring best practices into replicable methodologies and by drawing on a capacity to assemble premier experts, processes and tools tailored to its client’s individual needs. Sabre88 presents a proven ability to help government leaders manage large-scale initiatives and achieve mission goals, and is unsurpassed in its fervent commitment to the objectives of its clients 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. For more information about Sabre88, visit www.sabre88.com.

 

About Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 6,000,000 today.

The Inc. 500|5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit www.inc.com.

Sabre88 Employee Wins Silver Medal Pan American Games

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New York, NY – Benjamin Bratton, Sabre88 employee and member of the United States Men’s Fencing Team, earned a Silver medal at the recent Pan American Games held in Toronto, Canada last month. The Pan American Games, the second largest multi-sport event in the world, is held every four years in the year preceding the Olympic Summer Games and is competed amongst athletes from nations in North, Central and South America.

Apart from Ben Bratton (New York City, N.Y.) the other two members of the trio were Jason Pryor (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Yeisser Ramirez (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Team USA fenced Venezuela in the gold medal final which would serve as a rematch from the Pan American Championships 2 months earlier where the U.S. squad upset the Venezuelan team which was led by 2012 Olympic Champion Ruben Limardo for gold. Although Team USA tied both of the first two bouts, by the end of the fifth, Venezuela pulled away with a five-touch lead at 26-21. Although Pryor, Bratton and Ramirez each posted ties in the final bouts, Venezuela held its five-touch advantage to end the match, 45-40.

Typical Olympic athletes are forced to delay their professional careers in order to focus on competition and training, leaving many with the overwhelming question of what to do in their post athletic careers. For Bratton, an Executive Assistant at Sabre88, he credits recent successes to his ability to achieve an idyllic balance between both his professional and athletic careers with the federal contracting firm. Now with a Silver Medal in hand from one of the world’s most prestigious events, Bratton, currently the United States’ overall number one men’s epee fencer, has his sights set on the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero next August.

“I am really excited and motivated to be this close to achieving a lifelong dream,” says Bratton. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this success without the support of Sabre88 that has provided me with the guidance to balance my professional and athletic goals.

Sources: Nicole Jomantas. (07/25/2015). TEAM USA WINS WOMEN’S EPEE TITLE, TAKES SILVER IN MEN’S EPEE AT THE PAN AM GAMES

Sabre88 among the 2015 Washington Technology Fast 50

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Newark, NJ – Global consulting firm Sabre88, LLC has recently been named amongst the Washington Technology Fast 50. The Washington Technology Fast 50 recognizes the 50 fastest growing small businesses in the government market considering their compound annual growth rate over the past four years. Washington Technology is known as one of the authoritative sources of competitive intelligence for business providing contract services to the federal marketplace.

Sabree88 has grown at such a fast rate that the company has sealed its spot on the Washington Technology’s 2015 Fast 50. Sabre88 ranked 37th overall where it registered $2.6 million in revenue in 2014 and compound annual growth rate of 63.63%.

“It is an honor to be included amongst the Washington Technology Top 50,” said Robert Cottingham, Founder and CEO, Sabre88. “The secret to navigating today’s federal marketplace is to continue be a step ahead of where you are right now.”

Click here to view rankings, where you can view the Fast 50 and learn who these companies with explosive growth are.

Highlights of the 2015 Washington Technology Fast 50

  • In total, 21 of the Fast 50 are making a second straight appearance. 29 are newcomers.
  • The designation distribution involved 9 Small business companies, 16 8(a) companies.
  • 16 companies with fewer than 50 employees.
  • 26 of the companies in the top 50 are IT service providers.

Company description

Sabre88 is a global consulting firm applying capabilities in financial services, billing support, FOIA, IT Help Desk Support, Data Entry and Document Scanning to government and commercial clients. With more than twenty years of combined personnel experience offering strategic solutions, Sabre88 staff advance the firm’s mission to provide civilian and defense agencies of the government with the necessary tools to address emerging challenges. Sabre88 was formed in January of 2008, with a mission to serve both civilian and defense agencies of the federal government. The founder, Robert Cottingham, Jr., started the firm out of a government need for innovative small businesses which provide a 100% customer focused service.

Founder & CEO of Sabre88, LLC. was inducted in the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame 2015

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Robert Cottingham; Founder and CEO of Sabre88, LLC. was inducted in the USA Hall of Fame this year as one of the most decorated Sabre fencers in USA Fencing history. Only two of the USA Fencing’s most embellished athletes and three coaches were inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame for the year 2015. These five inductees after receiving nominations from the Hall of Fame Committee were selected through an online poll which was open to all the individuals aged 18 and older who held current USA Fencing memberships of supporting level or higher.

Robert Cottingham, U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame Nominee

Click here to view the list of Nominees

Robert Cottingham was a member of the 1988 and 1992 Olympic sabre teams and won six U.S. National Championship titles in sabre between 1986 and 1992. He was a Pan Am Team silver medalist in 1987 in Indianapolis. He had an outstanding collegiate career where he had a dominating record of 108-11 whilst he fenced for Columbia and won both individual and team NCAA titles in 1988.

The other four adorned names included in the USA Fencing Hall of Fame for 2015 were,
Becca Ward, two-time Olympic Medalist; Michel Sebastiani, former Olympian and U.S. Fencing Coach; Simon Gershon, Head Coach for U.S. Men’s Foill Team & Fencing Coach; Marty Schneider, Fencing Coach for Riverdale Country School (60 Years).

Sabre88 Awarded Contract with Naval Supply Systems Command for SERD Processing

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Newark, New Jersey:  Sabre88 wins second contract with the Naval Supply Systems Command for SERD Processing in Philadelphia. The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) is responsible for the supply and delivery of logistics and support to the Navy. Sabre88 will process ‘The Support Equipment Recommendation Data’; a contract deliverable document that lists recommended specific items of support equipment to support a weapon system or item of equipment.

The primary work location of this contract would be at NAVSUP- Weapon System Spaces in Philadelphia. The scope of this partnership includes processing of SERDs and their related spin-off tasks. Additionally, Sabre88 personnel will be responsible for providing and processing an in-depth and focused analysis of the documents with technical and logistics data from the Autoserd.

Sabre88 has been awarded this opportunity for a period of 1 year plus 4 option years. Sabre88 has always been in top crunch in the recent years. “Our company’s proliferating growth has not only left a mark in the business administration, but also has raised the bar for ourselves”, said Chairman and CEO Robert Cottingham, Jr. It is the approach towards our goal which always helps us execute every project swiftly. We are humbled and captivated with our second contract with the Navy.

About Sabre88, LLC.  Sabre88 is a global consulting firm applying capabilities in technology, public policy, international affairs, healthcare and education to government and commercial clients. With more than twenty years of experience offering strategic solutions, Sabre88 staff advance the firm’s mission to provide civilian and defense agencies of the government with the necessary tools to address emerging challenges and pursue global opportunities.