Contracting officers must include the requirements to use the Federal Desktop Core Configuration for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista in all applicable procurements under a final rule issued Feb. 28 by the Federal Acquisition Regulations councils.(Washington Insider)

Set-Aside Alert, March, 2008

Contracting officers must include the requirements to use the Federal Desktop Core Configuration for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista in all applicable procurements under a final rule issued Feb. 28 by the Federal Acquisition Regulations councils.

The councils said, "This final rule will assist agency adoption of common security configurations by ensuring affected information technology providers incorporate common security configurations when delivering agencies their products."

The Office of Management and Budget issued the standard configuration last year.