The Federal Bureau of Investigation wants to buy the best computer viruses, worms and malicious exploits that industry has to offer.
Really.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation has a requirement for malware,” according to an official contract solicitation released Feb. 3 on the government contracting website FedBizOpps.gov.
The bureau “intends to award a firm fixed-price, one-time delivery order for the purchase of malware,” the solicitation states.
According to the solicitation summary, the collection of malware is critical to the success of the FBI’s Investigative Analysis Unit, which “provides technical analysis of digital methods, software and data, and provide technical support to FBI investigations and intelligence operations that involve computers, networks and malicious software.”
The technical requirements outlined in the solicitation include a rollup of sharable malware updated once every 24 hours. IAU needs to be able to download the collection through the automated feed, which should average 35 gigabytes per day, according to the solicitation.
“Critical to the success of the IAU is the collection of malware from multiple industry, law enforcement and research sources,” the solicitation states.
Responses are due from industry by Feb. 14.
