The Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $30 million in a new round of research projects on quantum information science. DOE said Tuesday it will finance efforts that apply QIS to address climate change and other critical matters such as national security.

Researchers may use QIS to quantify, process, analyze and present information, with applications in power outage forecasting and smart device development.

“From developing novel materials to building better batteries to moving clean electricity across the country more efficiently, the field of quantum information sciences can help us accelerate discoveries to solve complex problems in energy and beyond," said Jennifer Granholm, secretary of energy.

DOE will divide the $30 million funding opportunity among five Nanoscale Science Research Centers:

• Center for Functional Nanomaterials
• Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies
• Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
• Center for Nanoscale Materials
• Molecular Foundry

The U.S. Army teamed up with Clemson University to develop an artificial intelligence-based digital life cycle system that will design, study and fabricate parts for various applications. The platform is intended to produce 3D-printed components including air and ground vehicle structures, the Army said Tuesday.

"As part of the new project, we will develop a database of raw materials, including metals, plastics and composite materials, that could then be used to train artificial intelligence and create digital models of potential new feedstock materials," Srikanth Pilla, a Robert Patrick Jenkins-endowed professor at Clemson University's college of engineering, computing and applied sciences and director of Clemson Composites Center.

Pilla added the center is using thermophysical testing equipment, high-speed cameras, spectroscopic gear, quasi-static and dynamic drop-tower test infrastructure, optical metrology and 3D printers to build the platform.

A team of researchers will print and test samples dubbed as coupons to validate the components' thermophysical, chemical and mechanical traits. The Army Research Laboratory also teamed up with 3D systems to assemble a composite printer for the project.

ARL and Clemson University are set to hold a symposium to tackle their collaborative programs and discuss topics such as manufacturing sciences and engineering.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a commission aimed at selecting a new undersecretary that will lead the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

The VA said Tuesday that the commission will work to assess candidates for undersecretary of health, which will be responsible for VHA’s $61 billion annual budget and health services delivery to over 9 million veterans.

Other duties include oversight of over 1,200 VA health institutions such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, nursing homes and other centers for veteran care.

Candidates for the role must have substantial experience in programs related to VHA initiatives in addition to “a demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement a vision”, according to the VA.

A new congressional task force on defense supply chain vulnerabilities has been created to prepare legislative solutions to include in the annual defense policy bill. The task force’s co-chairs Reps. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. announced the formation of the task force on Wednesday in response to President Biden’s recent order for detailed supply chain analysis.

The co-chairs reported they would work closely with the Department of Defense and defense officials to evaluate defense supply chains' weaknesses. “This is built to be [ready] in the three months leading up to the real meat and potatoes of (drafting the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act), so that we aren’t waiting another year,” commented Slotkin. 

The coronavirus pandemic illustrated fragilities in America’s defense, commercial, and especially medical supply chains. This greatly worried many defense officials and government leaders. Slotkin was particularly concerned when Chinese authorities delayed a shipment of medical supplies last year. 

The task force has made no recommendations yet. However, lawmakers stressed the need to evaluate U.S. dependencies on foreign imports such as semiconductors, rare-earth minerals and battery technology with uses in the defense and commercial sectors. Also, lawmakers will study any medical supply chains that might be vulnerable.

Possible solutions to supply chain problems might involve reshoring critical U.S. manufacturing through competitive incentives for businesses. Another possibility is to make future vital supply chain purchases from historically strong U.S. allies such as the United Kingdom. 

“The trick is really just finding that right balance between what capabilities we absolutely must be able to make in the USA, what we can buy from our close allies and what we can afford to source from broader networks of partners,” added Gallagher. 

The task force will operate for three months and has the option to continue for another three months. Apart from the co-chairs, the members are Reps. Donald Norcross, D-N.J.; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Michael Waltz, R-Fla. and Stephanie Bice, R-Okla.

Joseph Evans, a principal director at the Department of Defense (DOD), has said the department is continuing 5G prototyping efforts and that there are plenty of partnership opportunities for industry, DOD News reported Tuesday.

Evans, who serves as principal director for 5G at the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for R&E (USD R&E), said at a National Defense Industrial Association conference that international allies can also benefit from 5G partnerships with the DOD.

"This is the same technology that's going to connect our warfighters and our weapons systems," he noted.

5G has transformational benefits in areas such as internet of things, unmanned vehicles and sensors, according to Evans.

James Trebes, principal director for directed energy under the USD R&E, said at the same event that the DOD is funding a multiphase effort to produce 300-kilowatt lasers with industry partners.

The DOD will begin manufacturing 500-kW lasers for up to 36 months following the 300-kW weapons’ delivery within two years, he noted. He added that the DOD is also closely tracking offensive strike technologies and adversaries' missile capabilites.

Paul Lopata, principal director for quantum science, said the DOD is also conducting basic research on quantum computing. The department has been researching the subject over the past two to three decades, he noted.

Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, announced the esteemed winners of the 2020 Deltek Global Partner Awards Program on Tuesday.

The Deltek Global Partner Awards Program seeks to recognize innovation and achievements of its partners that represent the program’s systems integrators, value-added resellers, independent software vendors, accounting firms and consulting firms.

“2020 has been a year like no other and Deltek’s deep partner network enabled thousands of customers to quickly pivot and strengthen their businesses during these uncertain times,” said Jonathan Eisner, vice president of Global Partner Sales and Alliances.

Deltek has recognized the following nine partners:

Global Systems Integrator Partner of the Year – Baker Tilly

GovCon Partner of the Year – Infotek Consulting

North America Reseller Partner of the Year – Full Sail Partners

International Reseller Partner of the Year – Silversoft

Services Excellence Partner of the Year – Central Consulting Group

Customer Satisfaction Partner of the Year – BDO

Top New Customer Acquisition Partner of the Year – ConstructConnect

New Partner of the Year – Tangram

Excellence in Marketing Innovation Partner of the Year – Premier Consulting & Integration

“It is an honor to recognize the outstanding achievements and innovation of these partners. We look forward to a fantastic and successful 2021 with our Deltek Project Nation partners as we continue to expand this program around the world,” Eisner added.

About Deltek 

Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek for superior levels of project intelligence, management and collaboration. Our industry-focused expertise powers project success by helping firms achieve performance that maximizes productivity and revenue.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review its Data Center Optimization Initiative guidance and revise how it measures server utilization to better address server efficiency.

GAO made the recommendation after it reviewed the data center inventories of 24 participating agencies in OMB’s DCOI and found that agencies used “widely varying definitions” of underutilization and failed to report actual server use as a result of OMB’s move to revise the server utilization metric in June 2019, according to a report published Thursday.

The congressional watchdog also found that since May 2019, agencies have excluded from their inventories about 4,500 data centers after OMB made a change to the data center’s definition.

Based on data submitted, almost all of the 24 agencies met or planned to reach their goals for data center closures and cost savings for fiscal year 2019 and FY 2020. 

“As of August 2020, the agencies reported that they expected to achieve 230 data center closures, resulting in $1.1 billion in savings, over the 2-year period,” the report states.