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DOE Selects Projects for $80M Coal FIRST Energy Plant Investment
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DOE Selects Projects for $80M Coal FIRST Energy Plant Investment

The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to award $80 million for four cost-shared projects that will aim to develop electricity and hydrogen energy plant technologies with net-zero carbon emissions. DOE said Wednesday that its Office of Fossil Energy selected four projects under the Coal FIRST program that seeks to eventually design, develop and integrate the sought energy systems.

The projects will cover early-stage research for the development of plants powered by coal, waste plastics, natural gas and biomass. These plants would also exhibit carbon capture, utilization and storage.

Participants will design energy plant systems, evaluate potential host sites, analyze investment cases and conduct studies on system integration. The National Energy Technology Laboratory will provide oversight across these efforts.

The participants are:

  • CONSOL Energy
  • Electric Power Research Institute
  • University of Illinois
  • Wabash Valley Resources
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DHS OIG: CISA Needs to Further Election Security Efforts
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DHS OIG: CISA Needs to Further Election Security Efforts

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report stating that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) must take additional steps to secure the U.S. election infrastructure.

The OIG report dated Oct. 22 states that DHS has improved coordination and CISA was able to create guidelines for securing systems required throughout the 2020 election cycle.

However, the IG noted that CISA’s plans “do not sufficiently mitigate other potential risks” such as terrorism threats or targeted violence. The agency’s strategy also does not identify external stakeholder dependencies that “impede mission performance,” the report states.

Factors such as duplicate data, limited staffing and inadequate authorities also hindered CISA’s capacity to provide additional assessments and services, according to the report. CISA must improve information sharing, update its planning documents and facilitate timely evaluations and assistance to key stakeholders, the IG said.

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USAF Cyber, ISR Unit Eyes Open-Systems ABMS Tech; Lt. Gen. Mary O’Brien Quoted
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USAF Cyber, ISR Unit Eyes Open-Systems ABMS Tech; Lt. Gen. Mary O’Brien Quoted

The U.S. Air Force’s new office for cyber as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations is continuing work to establish the service branch’s Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS).

“We’ve got to streamline the speed and accuracy of repetitive tasks,” Lt. Gen. Mary O’Brien, deputy chief of staff for A2/6 said. “We’ve got to free up and shift human intention and cognition toward those higher-level reasoning and judgment problem sets.”

The A2/6 unit is working on efforts to deploy modular software-defined mesh network capabilities and other open-architecture systems such as radios to support communication and translation across disparate platforms, National Defense Magazine reported Wednesday.

The unit is also working on operations across the electromagnetic spectrum including information warfare to support the joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) concept.

“Their mission is to defend and ensure electromagnetic spectrum access for the Air Force and DoD activities in support of our national policy objectives and global operations,” she noted.

“We will need to embrace modern technologies, especially those from our industry partners, to deliver the operational networks and threat information our joint warfighter needs to generate combat power,” O'Brien added. 

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FCC Changes Policy on Infrastructure Modifications to Support 5G Adoption
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FCC Changes Policy on Infrastructure Modifications to Support 5G Adoption

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revised policy that governs the approval of wireless infrastructure modifications under the Spectrum Act of 2012. The revision allows infrastructure modifications to remain qualified as long as transmission equipment is not deployed at areas exceeding 30 feet beyond site boundaries, FCC said Tuesday.

The commission executed this revision to support accelerated 5G implementation and facilitate equipment collocation. FCC aligned the revision with the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for the Collocation of Wireless Antennas, policy that prevents these excavation efforts from requiring federal historic preservation reviews.

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FMG Announces Efforts to Bolster Federal Mobile Security
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FMG Announces Efforts to Bolster Federal Mobile Security

The Federal Mobility Group (FMG) has launched efforts to help agencies protect mobile devices operating in environments that lack security.

FMG evaluated and improved data reporting aspects of the Federal Information Security Management Act, published guidance for teleworking, assessed threat defense ecosystems and educated agencies on credential management, the Chief Information Officer Council said Wednesday.

These efforts aim to help government agencies understand mobile security threats, implement credential management techniques and identify device configuration robustness.

The group also advises agencies to analyze threats that may affect mobile devices and backend systems, leverage enterprise mobile security tools, trial then implement a mobile device management system and update mobile security and operating systems frequently.

These efforts support and align with the nearly concluded National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. FMG works to tackle issues that challenge mobile device security, 5G implementation and other related matters.

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NASA, ESA Sign Agreement for Artemis Gateway Modules
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NASA, ESA Sign Agreement for Artemis Gateway Modules

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed an agreement with NASA to provide updated communications tools, habitation and refueling modules for an orbital outpost designed for the Artemis mission. ESA will also operate elements of the Artemis Gateway and deliver European Service Modules for the Orion spacecraft as part of the agreement, NASA said Tuesday.

The habitation module will contain Gateway’s Environmental Control and Life Support System, accommodate science experiments and feature additional crew work and living space for the team. The Japanese government will also contribute parts and docking ports for the module.

“The Gateway is designed to be supplemented by additional capabilities provided by our international partners to support sustainable exploration,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator for the human exploration and operations mission directorate.

NASA will assemble Gateway within the lunar orbit as a staging point for missions to the moon. The outpost will also serve as a rendezvous point for the Space Launch System. Gateway will also handle testing technologies for human missions to Mars.

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GSA Looks to Add CMMC Requests in Alliant 2 IT Contract’s Replacement
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GSA Looks to Add CMMC Requests in Alliant 2 IT Contract’s Replacement

The General Services Administration (GSA) is planning to incorporate requirements under the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program into a governmentwide contract that will replace the Alliant 2 vehicle.

GSA previously included CMMC language in a previously issued request for proposals and is looking to add the requirements in the Polaris small business contract for information technology support, FCW reported Wednesday.

Carlton Shufflebarger, acting director of the Office of IT Category at GSA, said at a recent AFCEA event that his office seeks to renew focus on cybersecurity as emerging concepts like 5G are being rolled out.

“DoD is one of our most valued customers,” he said. “We place great importance and priority on meeting their needs. So we wanted to insure that our contracts meet DoD's needs today and in the future, as well as other agencies."

GSA Looks to Add CMMC Requests in Alliant 2 IT Contract's Replacement

Katherine Arrington, chief information security officer (CISO) for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (OUSDA) for the Department of Defense (DoD) and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker for the Fall 2020 CMMC Forum. Click here to register for the Fall 2020 CMMC Forum.

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John Sherman: DoD Extends Commercial Virtual Remote Capability to June 2021
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John Sherman: DoD Extends Commercial Virtual Remote Capability to June 2021

John Sherman, principal deputy chief information officer at the Department of Defense (DoD), said DoD has moved to extend to June 2021 the use of the commercial virtual remote environment to support employees who are teleworking, DoD News reported Wednesday.

The Pentagon created the CVR environment in March 2020 to support remote employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sherman said Wednesday during the Cybercon 2020 conference that over a million users are adopting the capability to perform calls, teaming and video conferences.

Sherman noted that DoD is working on a new Office 365-based platform that would replace CVR by June and operate at Impact Level 5, which covers controlled unclassified information and mission critical data.

“We are currently working on a more enduring Office 365-based capability,” he said. “CVR is what we call ‘impact level two’ or IL2…We’re moving to an IL5 solution. IL2 was fine for where we [are] in telework. But we know we need a more enduring solution that keeps the same functionality of CVR, which allows us to talk to people at IL2, talk to people not on the Department of Defense Information Network.”

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Leidos Wins $75M OUSD Contract to Provide Technical Services; Dan Voce Quoted
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Leidos Wins $75M OUSD Contract to Provide Technical Services; Dan Voce Quoted

Leidos has been awarded a potential $75 million time and materials (T&M) contract by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to provide services and support for the Defense Civilian Human Resource Management System (DCHRMS), the company reported on Thursday. 

“By leveraging this technology, the speed and efficiency of DCHRMS will increase, while lowering costs. These benefits flow down to the people who rely on this system each and every day – the DoD HR professionals and managers, as well as the civilian employees they service,” said Dan Voce, Leidos senior vice president of enterprise cyber and solutions.

Under the single award, firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract, Leidos will provide technical services and support for DCHRMS, a cloud-based human resources system that provides a single civilian personnel service capability. 

In addition, Leidos will work to integrate six different databases into one to increase flexibility within DCHRMS. After integration, the system will be able to share information between components while standardizing and streamlining personnel processes.

"We are excited to leverage our world-class cloud technology for the Department of Defense," Voce added. "Leidos takes pride in our dedication to agility and excellence. 

The contract includes a one-year base period of performance with four additional one-year option periods. Work will be performed primarily in San Antonio, Texas.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. 

The company's 38,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020.

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Accenture Partners with The Alan Turing Institute to Research Emerging Tech; Adrian Smith, George Marcotte Quoted
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Accenture Partners with The Alan Turing Institute to Research Emerging Tech; Adrian Smith, George Marcotte Quoted

Accenture has collaborated with The Alan Turing Institute, under a five-year strategic partnership, to develop a new data and AI engagement forum, conduct research and create applications, Accenture reported on Thursday. 

“Our new five-year partnership will build on this relationship and deliver cutting-edge research, innovation and impact for the benefit of the wider UK economy,” said Adrian Smith, director and chief executive of The Alan Turing Institute.

The partnership will be led by Accenture Applied Intelligence. Under the collaboration Accenture will conduct AI and data science research across the UK. The organizations will direct their focus on developing regional strengths and new project opportunities in the UK, including Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle. 

The partnership will conduct joint research in data science and AI, as well as engagement activities to help transform business tools. Under previous work together, Accenture and The Alan Turing Institute have conducted joint research projects into new techniques for network analytics for use in fraud detection. The organizations have also researched the fairness in algorithmic decision-making. 

Under the current strategic agreement, Accenture and The Alan Turing Institute will create tools for the generation and management of synthetic data, as well as tools in other Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) for safe and secure data sharing.

Additionally, the organizations will develop interoperable software tools with focus on advanced modeling techniques to create complex digital twins, as well as applications of AI to help quantify uncertainty and design systems. 

“We’re excited to continue our collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute as a Strategic Partner, building skills and fuelling growth in an area that is critical for the future of the UK economy,” said George Marcotte, Applied Intelligence Lead for Accenture in Europe.

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