The U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) is establishing a fast-track acquisition process for cybersecurity products and services. The new process, which DoD plans to roll out within the next six months, promises to provide new opportunities for government contractors in the cybersecurity industry. This Client Alert provides an overview of DoD’s proposal (which has not been detailed in public) and guidance for companies looking to position themselves for these acquisitions.

Under the proposal, DoD would set up a separate track for the acquisition of urgent, mission-critical cyber warfare products and services. All other acquisitions would follow a more deliberate, standard acquisition track. U.S. Cyber Command (“USCYBERCOM”) would review each acquisition and determine the appropriate path to follow based on factors such as need, timing, complexity, and cost of developing a particular cyber warfare capability. USCYBERCOM would, presumably, have flexibility to postpone or eliminate standard acquisition requirements under certain urgent time frames.

To manage the process, DoD plans to set up a Cyber Investment Management Board (“Board”), chaired by Frank Kendall, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; James Miller, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; and Admiral James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is not clear at this time what relationship the Board would have with USCYBERCOM.

Please see full alert below for more information.