New Information Assurance Requirements Improve OPSEC
In February 2013, the COMSATCOM Center began requiring commercial satellite contractors to digitally sign and encrypt all post award contract related documents exchanged with the government using Medium Assurance External Certificate Authority (ECA) Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates.
These certificates are interoperable with DoD PKI certificates and provide the same level of security. Currently this action only applies to new contract awards; however, the Center is working to modify current contracts to include the requirement. In conjunction with the General Services Administration (GSA), DISA is also modifying the GSA Schedule 70 and Custom Solution (CS2 and CS2SB) contract vehicles so that pre-award documentation, such as contractor quote submissions, will be included in the requirement.
These measures will bring COMSATCOM acquisitions into compliance with DoD regulations on the use of PKI while improving the operational security (OPSEC) protection provided to our customers and their services. Customers can be assured that this will not increase the cost of their services or associated fees, now or in the future.
The COMSATCOM Center is committed to continually improving the security of provided services without impacting the cost and quality afforded to our customers. Questions on the implementation of the vendor PKI requirement can be addressed through your regular COMSATCOM Center point of contact.
(Posted April 2013)
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