80 FR 23305 - Request for Information (RFI)-Federal Cybersecurity R&D Strategic Plan

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 80 (April 27, 2015)

In response to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, federal agencies are developing a Federal cybersecurity research and development strategic plan. On behalf of the agencies, the Cyber Security and Information Assurance Research and Development Senior Steering Group seeks public input on research objectives for the strategic plan. The strategic plan will be used to guide and coordinate federally-funded cybersecurity research.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 23305]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09697]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Information (RFI)--Federal Cybersecurity R&D 
Strategic Plan

AGENCY: The National Coordination Office (NCO) for Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD).

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tomas Vagoun at [email protected] or 
(703) 292-4873.

DATES: To be considered, submissions must be received no later than 
June 19, 2015.
SUMMARY: In response to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, 
federal agencies are developing a Federal cybersecurity research and 
development strategic plan. On behalf of the agencies, the Cyber 
Security and Information Assurance Research and Development Senior 
Steering Group seeks public input on research objectives for the 
strategic plan. The strategic plan will be used to guide and coordinate 
federally-funded cybersecurity research.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 
(https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1353) 
requires that the applicable federal agencies, working through the 
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the Networking and 
Information Technology R&D (NITRD) Program, develop a Federal 
cybersecurity research and development strategic plan. The strategic 
plan is to be delivered to Congress by the end of 2015.
    On behalf of NITRD, the Cyber Security and Information Assurance 
Research and Development Senior Steering Group (CSIA R&D SSG) seeks 
public input in several areas identified by the Act and regarding the 
current federal priorities in cybersecurity research and development 
(R&D). Responders are asked to answer one or more of the following 
questions:

Questions Related to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014

    1. Section 201 (a)(1) of the Act identifies a number of 
cybersecurity objectives. What scientific, technological, or 
implementation gaps are indicated by those objectives? What research 
goals, for both basic and applied research, could serve as guidance for 
a federally-funded, multi-agency portfolio of R&D activities to close 
those gaps?
    2. What innovative, transformational technologies have the 
potential to enhance the security, reliability, resiliency, and 
trustworthiness of the digital infrastructure, and to protect consumer 
privacy?
    3. Discuss how the Federal government can foster the rapid transfer 
of R&D results into new cybersecurity technologies and applications for 
the timely benefit of society and the national interest.
    4. Discuss how the current research infrastructure for creating, 
testing, and evaluating the next generation of secure networking and 
information technology systems could be improved, including how the 
access by academic researchers to this infrastructure and related data 
could be improved.
    In 2011, the Government released ``Trustworthy Cyberspace: 
Strategic Plan for the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development 
Program'' (http://www.nitrd.gov/subcommittee/csia/fed_cybersecurity_rd_strategic_plan_2011.pdf) outlining objectives for 
federally-funded research to fundamentally improve the security, 
safety, and trustworthiness of the nation's digital infrastructure. The 
2011 Strategic Plan defined five promising areas where research could 
make fundamental, game-changing advances in improving the security and 
trustworthiness of cyberspace: Tailored Trustworthy Spaces, Moving 
Target, Cyber Economic Incentives, Designed-In Security, and Science of 
Security. The challenges and objectives described in the 2011 Strategic 
Plan remain pertinent and will be incorporated into the new Strategic 
Plan. The following questions are directed at the 2011 Strategic Plan:
    5. What areas of research or topics of the 2011 Strategic Plan do 
not need to be prioritized anymore for federally-funded research 
(because, for example, solutions are now sufficiently mature, or the 
private sector is now significantly invested in addressing the 
deficiencies)?
    6. What areas of research or topics of the 2011 Strategic Plan 
should continue to be a priority for federally-funded research and need 
continued federal R&D investments?
    7. What challenges or objectives not included in the 2011 Strategic 
Plan should be a strategic priority for federally-funded R&D in 
cybersecurity? Discuss what new capabilities would be desired, what 
objectives should guide such research, and why those objectives should 
be a strategic priority.

Submission Instructions

    Page limitation: Submissions must be 25 pages or less.
    Comments can be submitted by any of the following methods:
    (a) Email: [email protected].
    (b) Fax: (703) 292-9097, Attn: Cybersecurity Research and 
Development.
    (c) Mail: Attn: Cybersecurity Research and Development, NCO, Suite 
II-405, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.
    Deadline for submission under this RFI is June 19, 2015.
    Responses to this RFI may be posted online at http://www.nitrd.gov. 
The CSIA R&D SSG therefore requests that no business proprietary 
information or copyrighted information be submitted in response to this 
RFI.
    In accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not 
offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding 
contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated 
with responding to this RFI.
    Submitted by the National Science Foundation in support of the 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) 
National Coordination Office (NCO) on April 22, 2015.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-09697 Filed 4-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P