Federal Register Notice: 88 FR 10552
AGENCY: Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO), National Science Foundation (NSF).
ACTION: Request for information.
SUMMARY: On February 7, 2023, the NITRD NCO and NSF, on behalf of the NITRD Cyber Security and Information Assurance Interagency Working Group (CSIA IWG), published in the Federal Register a document entitled “Request for Information on the 2023 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan.” Through this RFI, the NITRD NCO seeks input from the public on Federal priorities in cybersecurity R&D. In the interest of ensuring that prospective responders are able to adequately consider and respond to the RFI, the NITRD NCO and NSF have determined that an extension of the comment period until March 14, 2023, is appropriate.
DATES: The end of the comment period for the document entitled “Request for Information on the 2023 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan,” published on February 7, 2023 (88 FR 7999), is extended from March 3, 2023 to 11:59 p.m. (ET) on March 14, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submissions to this notice may be sent by any of the following methods:
(a) Email: cybersecurity@nitrd.gov. Email submissions should be machine-readable and not be copy-protected. Submissions should include “RFI Response: Federal Cybersecurity R&D Strategic Plan” in the subject line of the message.
(b) Fax: 202-459-9673, Attn: Tomas Vagoun.
(c) Mail: NCO/NITRD, Attn: Tomas Vagoun, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Submissions must not exceed 25 pages in 12-point or larger font, with a page number provided on each page. Responses should include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) providing the submission.
Responses to this RFI may be posted online at https://www.nitrd.gov. Therefore, we request that no business-proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable 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 Federal Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tomas Vagoun at cybersecurity@nitrd.gov or 202-459-9674, or by mailing to NCO/NITRD, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-113publ274/pdf/PLAW-113publ274.pdf) requires that every four years the applicable Federal agencies, working through the National Science and Technology Council and the Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD) program, develop and update a Federal cybersecurity research and development strategic plan. The most recent version of the strategic plan was released in December 2019 (https://www.nitrd.gov/pubs/Federal-Cybersecurity-RD-Strategic-Plan-2019.pdf).
On behalf of Federal agencies and the NITRD Cyber Security and Information Assurance Interagency Working Group, the NCO for NITRD seeks public input on Federal priorities in cybersecurity R&D. Responders should consider a 10-year time frame when characterizing the challenges, prospective research activities, and desired outcomes. Responders are asked to answer one or more of the following questions:
1. What new innovations have the potential to greatly enhance the security, reliability, resiliency, trustworthiness, and privacy protections of the digital ecosystem (including but not limited to data, computing, networks, cyber-physical systems, and participating entities such as people and organizations)?
2. Are there mature solutions in the marketplace that address the deficiencies raised in the 2019 Strategic Plan? What areas of research or topics of the 2019 Strategic Plan no longer need to be prioritized for federally funded basic and applied research?
3. What areas of research or topics of the 2019 Strategic Plan should continue to be a priority for federally funded research and require continued Federal R&D investments?
4. What objectives not included in the 2019 Strategic Plan should be strategic priorities for federally funded R&D in cybersecurity? Discuss the challenges, desired capabilities and outcomes, and objectives that should guide research to achieve the desired capabilities, and why those capabilities and outcomes should be strategic priorities for federally funded R&D.
5. What other scientific, technological, economic, legal, or societal changes and developments occurring now or in the foreseeable future have the potential to significantly disrupt our abilities to secure the digital ecosystem and make it resilient? Discuss what federally funded R&D could improve the understanding of such developments and improve the capabilities needed to mitigate against such disruptions.
6. What further advancements to cybersecurity education and workforce development, at all levels of education, should be considered to prepare students, faculty, and the workforce in the next decade for emerging cybersecurity challenges, such as the implications of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things on cybersecurity?
7. What other research and development strategies, plans, or activities, domestic or in other countries, should inform the U.S. Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan?
Following the receipt of comments, the NITRD Cyber Security and Information Assurance Interagency Working will consider the input provided when updating the Federal cybersecurity R&D strategic plan.
Submitted by the National Science Foundation in support of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO) on February 1, 2023.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1861.)
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2023-02578 Filed 2-6-23; 8:45 am]
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