E.  Encryption

Comment: A respondent suggested that DoD should allow for an alternate means of electronic communication that provides for secure transmission of files (such as deliverables, reports, financial, and Privacy Act data) back to the issuer. The respondent further stated that e-mail is a very simple, widespread, and known technology, and that many regulations require strong encryption when sending sensitive (controlled unclassified information, personally identifiable information, etc.) data over the internet. The respondent recommended that DoD should be encrypting files before transmitting them, and that including (in the clause) the option to use e-mail would set the stage for enhanced, electronic communications between DoD and its many small contractors, via the Internet's ubiquitous direct communication tool.

Response: EDA shares data using secure hypertext transfer protocol (https), which encrypts all data in transit, and is universally used by both industry and Government to protect sensitive data. EDA fulfills DoD's requirement for the secure transmission of data.