The Homeland Security Department has released a Request For Information to industry asking about tools the government can use to secure its tech supply chain against cybersecurity and national security threats.
Historically, government contracting officers have reviewed hardware and software contracts for price, quality, and legal concerns, but have not done much advance vetting focused on security.
The recent bars against Kaspersky Lab, Hauwei, and ZTE – spurred by concerns that they could serve as channels for spying – required substantial effort, each culminating in legislation by Congress. DHS is concerned that there are additional threats that can’t be dealt with using such methods.