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SBA Inspector General Issues FY 2021 Management Challenges Report
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SBA Inspector General Issues FY 2021 Management Challenges Report

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) office of inspector general has issued a report on eight performance and management challenges facing SBA in fiscal year 2021.

The first two challenges cited are the susceptibility of SBA’s economic relief programs like the Paycheck Protection Program to abuse and fraud risks and the impact of eligibility concerns and inaccurate procurement data in small business contracting programs on the reliability of contracting goal achievements.

“Managing COVID 19 stimulus is the greatest overall challenge facing SBA currently. This crucial new challenge is exacerbated by persisting management and performance challenges best described as systemic. Pandemic response has, in many instances, magnified the challenging systemic issues in SBA’s mission-related work,” the report states.

Other areas that need improvement are the oversight of information technology investments and security risks; risk management and oversight practices; administration of Section 8(a) business development program; identification of improper payments in loan programs; grants management oversight; and disaster assistance program.

SBA removed several challenges from the report to mark its progress in addressing those issues. Those areas are human capital management, exclusions for determining governmentwide federal contracting goal-setting guidelines, quality control program to reduce improper payments and quality control program.

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GSA Completes Migration of FPDS Reporting Functions to Beta SAM Website
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GSA Completes Migration of FPDS Reporting Functions to Beta SAM Website

The General Services Administration (GSA) officially ended Saturday, Oct. 17, the reporting functions on the Federal Procurement Data System website to mark the final transition of those functions to the Data Bank tool on the System for Award Management’s beta website, Nextgov reported Monday.

GSA started moving the FPDS’ administrative, static, standard and ad hoc reporting functions to the beta SAM website in March as part of a soft launch.

“The transition went smoothly over the weekend,” a spokesperson for GSA told the publication. “We are seeing a steady level of usage, supporting a proportional number of simultaneous users as the old FPDS reports module.”

The report said more than 7,500 reports run were recorded as of 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.

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USAF Rolls Out 5G Modernization Project for Nellis AFB
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USAF Rolls Out 5G Modernization Project for Nellis AFB

The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center has partnered with the Department of Defense to implement 5G technology into the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in a move to build a dual-use military and commercial network within the installation. 

The partnership will incorporate a fixed network into Nellis AFB prior to its transition to a mobile network as part of the 36-month project. The project will also cover modernization efforts for the Nevada Test and Training Range.

USAF aims to disaggregate and deploy existing command and control architectures in an agile combat employment scenario via the use of 5G technology.

"We must share data among decision makers at the speed of relevance," said Maj. Gen. Charles Corcoran, commander at USAFWC.

AT&T secured a three-year contract from USAF to provide 5G network infrastructure and associated support services to Nellis AFB.

USAF Rolls Out 5G Modernization Project for Nellis AFB

Join Potomac Officers Club for its 5G Summit on Oct. 27, 2020 to learn about the impact that innovative technologies and 5G integration have on the private and public sectors, the steps the federal agencies have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with emerging technology.

Hon. Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD) and four-time Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker.

Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for Potomac Officers Club's 5G Summit on October 27th.

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Commerce Dept Unveils Funding Opportunity for Entrepreneurship Support Programs
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Commerce Dept Unveils Funding Opportunity for Entrepreneurship Support Programs

The Department of Commerce (DOC) has introduced a $25 million grant competition that seeks to help entrepreneurs mitigate economic, health and safety risks brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department said Wednesday that it will award grants to entrepreneurship support programs that will assist various regions and communities in the U.S. under the Scaling Pandemic Resilience through Innovation and Technology challenge.

Wilbur Ross, secretary at the Commerce Department, said the government has to build supply chains and technologies to augment support networks and resources for entrepreneurs and respond to the pandemic.

Ross added the Economic Development Administration received $1.5 billion in funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist communities prepare and respond to any effects caused by the spread of Coronavirus.

According to the Commerce Department, EDA has earmarked $805.3 million to support over 780 recovery assistance projects.

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VA Migrates Data for Upcoming EHR Implementation; Robert Wilkie Quoted
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VA Migrates Data for Upcoming EHR Implementation; Robert Wilkie Quoted

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has finished data-related preparations needed for the new VA health record's upcoming implementation in the Pacific Northwest region. VA said Thursday that it migrated clinical and demographic data to the new EHR that will launch late October in the said area.

The migration allows health care practioners to visualize information via the EHR modernization system at the Washington-based Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center.

“Giving our VA clinicians quick, secure access to patient data means we are making progress to improve Veteran safety and health outcomes,” said Robert Wilkie, VA secretary and a 2019 Wash100 Award recipient.

This recent milestone in the EHR migration effort follows VA's launching of the Centralized Scheduling Solution, a new patient appointment system, in Ohio about two months ago.

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DoD, NSA Launch Cyber Workforce Dev’t, Diversity Program
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DoD, NSA Launch Cyber Workforce Dev’t, Diversity Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) has partnered with the National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a workforce training program aimed at promoting cybersecurity skills development to help close the nation’s cyber talent gap.

NSA said Thursday its National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) is collaborating with the DoD’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) on the Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative (CEDI) to ensure that graduates of participating schools are  “job ready” for government-focused cyber work.

CEDI participants will have access to DoD and NSA-sponsored cybersecurity programs, certified instructors, educational resources and internships with partner businesses.

Students from the participating institutions will also receive paid stipends and take part in hands-on exercises at a virtual cyber range within the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute.

In addition, participating historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions will receive advisory support on program development under the CEDI effort.

“This partnership is a revolutionary approach to developing the cybersecurity workforce of the future,” said Diane Janosek, commandant of NSA’s National Cryptologic School (NCS). “Thank you DoD’s [OSBP] for creatively addressing the critical need for cybersecurity professionals in the Defense Industrial Base.”

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DoD’s Undersecretary for Policy Gets New Information Responsibility
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DoD’s Undersecretary for Policy Gets New Information Responsibility

The Department of Defense (DoD) has granted the undersecretary of defense for policy a new responsibility over information operations, as required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, C4ISRnet reported Thursday. 

The undersecretary will concurrently serve as the DoD's principal information operations adviser, an executive who will help the secretary of defense make informed decisions on information operations.

Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a DoD spokesperson, told C4ISRnet that the newly established role would focus on improving DoD's oversight and integration across the information landscape.

James Anderson, a former intelligence officer with the U.S. Marine Corps, currently serves as the undersecretary of defense for policy on an acting basis.

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DoD Puts up New Hypersonics Engineering Office at NSWC Crane; Mark Lewis Quoted
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DoD Puts up New Hypersonics Engineering Office at NSWC Crane; Mark Lewis Quoted

The Department of Defense (DoD) has stood up an Indiana-based office that would support collaborative engineering for hypersonic system development. 

The Joint Hypersonics Transition Office's Systems Engineering Field Activity will operate from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, to help DoD better access NSWC-linked experts from government, commercial and academic sectors, DoD said Thursday.

Personnel at NSWC Crane are working on various hypersonics projects such as a $150 million effort to build testing and simulation facilities for the technology.

“Leveraging the capabilities at NSWC Crane, we can not only develop effective hypersonic technologies, but we can also develop them affordably at the speed of relevance to our warfighters,” said Mark Lewis, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.

Lewis and Gillian Bussey, JHTO director, virtually conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the Systems Engineering Field Activity's opening.

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DHS Launching R&D Projects on 5G Mobile Security; Christopher Krebs Quoted
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DHS Launching R&D Projects on 5G Mobile Security; Christopher Krebs Quoted

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is launching a research and development effort focused on mobile security as the country works to roll out 5G infrastructure.

The department’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate will launch R&D projects under the Secure and Resilient Mobile Network Infrastructure (SRMNI) program in line with CISA's 5G strategy, DHS said in a blog post published Thursday.

William Bryan, the acting undersecretary for science and technology, said S&T is currently working with the private sector in efforts to secure U.S. telecom infrastructure.

“From my perspective, 5G is the single biggest critical infrastructure build that the globe has seen in the last 25 years and, coupled with the growth of cloud computing, automation, and future of artificial intelligence, demands focused attention today to secure tomorrow,” noted Christopher Krebs, director of CISA and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, in the agency’s 5G Strategy document.

According to DHS, 5G deployment poses supply-chain risks such as susceptibility to malicious software and counterfeit information and communication technology parts. The U.S. is additionally at risk of decreasing competition among trusted ICT vendors and service providers, DHS noted.

DHS Launching R&D Projects on 5G Mobile Security; Christopher Krebs Quoted

Join Potomac Officers Club for its 5G Summit on Oct. 27, 2020 to learn about the impact that innovative technologies and 5G integration have on the private and public sectors, the steps the federal agencies have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with emerging technology.

Hon. Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD) and four-time Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker.

Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for the 5G Summit on October 27th.

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BAE Systems Announces NextGen Developments for RAF Combat Air System; Ian Bancroft Quoted
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BAE Systems Announces NextGen Developments for RAF Combat Air System; Ian Bancroft Quoted

BAE Systems has announced the most recent  concepts under development for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) next generation combat air system to be delivered by Team Tempest, a UK technology and defense partnership formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and the RAF. 

“We are embracing new ways of working as an integrated team to dramatically improve efficiency and pace – sharing intelligence and refining our concepts digitally to deliver innovations that will shape the next generation combat air system,” said Iain Bancroft, director of Major Air Programmes at Leonardo in the UK.

Tempest has been designed to deliver a highly advanced, adaptable combat air system to come into service from the mid-2030s. This next generation combat aircraft will leverage new technologies to respond to the evolving defense landscape. The team will address high-tech and complex threats and conflict.

Leonardo UK has begun development of a new radar technology, Multi-Function Radio Frequency System, to provide more data than existing systems. The system will collect and process massive amounts of data on the battlespace with the ability to locate and target enemies. 

“Our new radar technology is a concrete example of the gains this approach has already brought, costing 25 percent less to develop while providing over 10,000 times more data than existing systems,” Bancroft added.

BAE Systems have begun flight testing cutting-edge concepts for Tempest’s wearable cockpit technologies. The company designed the offering to provide pilots in the cockpit or operators on the ground with a split-second advantage. The offering will leverage augmented and virtual reality displays, which will be projected inside the visor of a helmet.

In addition, BAE Systems has started trials on ‘psycho-physiological’ technologies, such as eye-tracking, to study the operator’s physical and cognitive processes. BAE Systems pilots are currently testing the offering in controlled test flight conditions in a Typhoon aircraft, which will inform further development.

The Team Tempest partners are developing more than 60 technology demonstrations in the fields of sensing, data management and autonomy to prove world-leading processes and technologies on the program.

“The collaborative relationship between Team Tempest and our network of academic and SME partners enables us to bring together the ‘best of the best’ engineering talent from across the UK,” Bancroft concluded. 

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