Execution of Executive Order 13905 (EO 13905)
This effort is in support of DHS's requirement under EO 13905, Presidential Executive Order 13905, Strengthening National Resilience Through Responsible Use of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services (EO 13905). The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) led the coordination and collaboration for this “living” guidance to incorporate interagency and cross-sector acquisition recommendations for PNT resiliency requirements. This guidance is voluntary and does not: constitute regulations, define mandatory practices, provide a checklist for compliance, or carry statutory authority. It is intended to be a set of guidelines. To view or download the document, visit the Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Guidance.
The guidance provides workflows, steps, and recommended structure for requirements to improve the resiliency of PNT information systems and PNT operational technologies acquired by federal government agencies that distribute or use PNT services. Additionally, the guidance offers an overarching view of the model contractual language construction process, aiding acquisition professionals, PNT-dependent program managers, and contract bidders to rapidly assess their primary PNT acquisition dependencies and determine appropriate levels of resiliency–all based upon the operational needs of the proposed product, system, or service. In execution of DHS’s EO 13905 requirements, (Section 4.d), CISA has:
- Established the PNT Contract Language Development Working Group
- An interagency working group charged with the development of Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Guidance and (Section 4.e) subsequent support of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council Case Process (can extend up to 16 months)
- Facilitated the development of the initial Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Guidance, the Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Quick Reference Guide and to come, Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Guidance Tutorial Videos, additional offerings for training and technical assistance. This suite of products consists of interagency-informed:
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- Workflow Logic (Step-by-step with key resources and integrated best practices)
- PNT-focused risk management frameworks, including:
- National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Internal Report 8323, Revision 1 (NIST.IR.8323r1): Foundational PNT Profile: Applying the Cybersecurity Framework for the Responsible Use of PNT Services
- PNT Resiliency Conformance Framework (2.0)
- Key reference documents and resources highlighting contemporary and guiding authorities on foundational and resilient PNT strategies and risk management.
Read the full Executive Order 13905.
Federal PNT Services Acquisitions Guidance Training Course (V1.0)
DHS and CISA present The Federal Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Services Acquisitions Guidance (V1.0) Training Course. CISA, in cooperation with the Homeland Security Acquisitions Institute (HSAI), the Federal Acquisitions Institute (FAI), and Defense Acquisition University (DAU), developed this resource as a supplement to the Federal Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Services Acquisitions Guidance (V1.0). This effort also supports DHS’s requirement under Presidential Executive Order 13905 (EO 13905), Strengthening National Resilience Through Responsible Use of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services. The primary aim is practical application in developing PNT contractual language for users of the guidance, with the risk management goal of establishing robust and secure PNT services.
This course serves as a companion resource to the PNT acquisitions guidance (V1.0), walking users through each section of the guidance and providing video-guided subject matter expertise (SME), context, explanations, and examples of key PNT principles. The training tool also includes critical learning checkpoints for content reinforcement and user retention.
The training course is geared toward federal departments and agencies that integrate or utilize PNT services, with the simultaneous goal of encouraging private sector use of the PNT acquisitions guidance. This resource provides a point of reference for U.S. critical infrastructure owners and operators on the reduction of risks inherent to heavy reliance on GPS. Alongside the PNT acquisitions guidance, the training course reinforces and models the contractual language construction process, aiding acquisition professionals, PNT-dependent program managers, and contract bidders in rapidly assessing their primary PNT acquisition dependencies and determine appropriate levels of resiliency–all based upon the operational needs of the proposed product, system, or service.
As with the PNT acquisitions guidance, this supplemental training course is voluntary and does not represent regulations, define mandatory practices, provide a checklist for compliance, or carry statutory authority. It is intended to be a training tool supplemental to a set of guidelines, which is currently under consideration with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council, per a requirement of EO 13905.
If you are interested in taking The Federal Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Services Acquisitions Guidance (V1.0) Training Course (FAC-200), you must have a Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) or Defense Acquisition University (DAU) account. All contractors must have a federal sponsor to obtain a FAI or DAU account. If you have an existing FAI or DAU account, simply login with your existing credentials and search for “FAC-200”.
To access FAC-200 Federal Positioning, Navigation and Timing Services Acquisitions Guidance Course at FAI, go to FAI main home page. Once you are logged into FAI’s learning management system/catalog Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), here is the link to the FAC-200 course.
To access FAC-200 Federal Positioning, Navigation and Timing Services Acquisitions Guidance Course at DAU, if you already have a DAU login, click here and enter those credentials. If you need to create an account, click here.
Engaging with Partners and Stakeholders
Several federal agencies and organizations participated in one or more aspects of the Federal Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Contract Language Development Working Group operations and activities. The list of core, information sharing and coordinating partners include:
| Organization or Group | Purpose |
| Federal PNT Contract Language Development Working Group | The Working Group consists primarily of government members where the primary purpose of the working group is to develop guidance products to assist customers, including acquisition professionals, PNT program managers, contract offerors, and contracting officers in understanding PNT requirements. The goal is widespread adoption of the associated risk management considerations in both the federal government and private sector. This guidance enables appropriate analyses and provides a baseline for PNT resiliency within and across interconnected departments and agencies. |
Defense Acquisition University (DAU) | A participating subject matter expert member to the working group, the DAU provides subject matter expertise regarding relevant PNT and cybersecurity acquisition, requirements and contingency, informing the living contract language guidance products, the rollout and release planning, and ongoing guidance updates and best practices. |
Department of Transportation (DOT) (Federal Aviation Administration. Maritime Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology) | The Department of Transportation is the lead for civil PNT requirements and represents the civil Departments and Agencies in the development, acquisition, management, and operations of the Global Positioning System (GPS). DOT’s Office of PNT and Spectrum Management coordinates the development of Departmental positions on PNT and Spectrum Policy to ensure safety, mobility, and efficiency of the transportation network. The Office is a program of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology. DOT’s responsibilities on PNT matters, with a special focus on GPS interference, developing GPS civil requirements and coordinating civil PNT funding, plays an additional key role: providing civil PNT systems and policy analysis and coordination for all Federal civil Departments and Agencies. DOT also represents those agencies in the development, acquisition, management, and operations of GPS, including requirements development. |
General Services Administration Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy | A participating subject matter expert member to the working group, the Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy fosters innovation, operational excellence, and trust in federal agency acquisition activities. It does this through regulations, policies, and guidance that allow federal agencies to meet their core mission. |
| National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT | A participating subject matter expert body to the working group, the National Coordination Office is responsible for collecting GPS-related information from multiple federal agencies to support the operations of the National Executive Committee, including interagency coordination, consensus development, and issue resolution. The office maintains the Five-Year National Plan for Space-Based PNT and assesses its implementation by the member agencies. The office maintains the GPS.gov website as the central pillar of the GPS outreach campaign. It also develops and disseminates other GPS educational materials. |
| Under Secretary for Defense for Policy Department of Defense | A participating subject matter expert member to the working group, the mission of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is to consistently provide responsive, forward-thinking, and insightful policy advice and support to the Secretary of Defense, and the Department of Defense, in alignment with national security objectives. |
Key References and Resources
These key PNT reference documents include external supporting information, best practices, and standards. All documents are linked and co-located on this web page. This compilation of resources will be updated as relevant and informing guidance becomes available.