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Rajeev Dolas on USPTO’s Robotic Process Automation Effort
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Rajeev Dolas on USPTO’s Robotic Process Automation Effort

Rajeev Dolas, acting director of the office of organizational policy and governance at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), said employees are using attended bots on their laptops as part of USPTO’s robotic process automation effort, Federal News Network reported Friday.

He said during a panel discussion at an Advanced Technology Academic Research Center virtual conference the agency plans to integrate “intelligence behind automation” and put the bots running on staff’s devices to a “centralized” platform.

“Eventually, we want to take them off of the users’ computers, and take them and put them in a centralized area where we can properly govern the execution of these bots,” Dolas said. “We want to make sure that there’s appropriate logging and authentication mechanisms put in place, as well as governance for ensuring that the bots are not running amok and doing things they should not be doing."

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USSOCOM Seeks Commercial Tech for IoT-Driven Battlespace Analytics Capability
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USSOCOM Seeks Commercial Tech for IoT-Driven Battlespace Analytics Capability

The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) plans to deploy an analytics-based “operator” that will bring sensors, communications and internet of things (IoT) capabilities to the tactical edge, C4ISRnet reported Saturday.

James Smith, acquisition executive at USSOCOM, said at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference last month that the Hyper Enabled Operator technology is meant to analyze, synthesize and communicate information in the battlespace in near-real time.

USSOCOM is seeking commercial-off-the-shelf technologies to support the Hyper Enabled Operator, which also covers elements such as compute kits, software-defined architecture, human-machine interfaces and beyond-line-of-sight communications.

“What we’re trying to do is not necessarily increase physical performance, but it is in that cognitive domain,” said Col. Ryan Barnes, who leads the command’s Joint Acquisitions Task Force for the new program. 

“We’re looking to put the [IoT] and data analytics on an operator at the edge so he can make more informed decisions faster. And we are looking to do that in the classic partner nations for internal defense, unconventional warfare scenarios."

USSOCOM is also looking to partner with industry for its related “Automate the Analyst” effort under the SOFWERX innovation arm this month, according to Smith.

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Richard Woychik Appointed Director at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Richard Woychik Appointed Director at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Richard Woychik, formerly acting director at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, has assumed the role on a full-time basis effective June 7. Woychik will oversee the U.S. National Toxicology Program and supervise the study of environmental effects on human health under his new capacity, NIH said Thursday.

He joined NIEHS in 2010 and managed the institute's strategic planning efforts and program implementation as deputy director. Woychik also spent 10 years as CEO and president at the Jackson Laboratory.

Woychik's research group identified a protocadherin gene that causes hearing loss in Cushing’s disease and validated a gene linked with polycystic kidney disease.

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Chakib Chraibi, Anil Chaudhry Share Insights on Who Should Oversee AI Development Efforts
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Chakib Chraibi, Anil Chaudhry Share Insights on Who Should Oversee AI Development Efforts

Technology leaders from government and industry have offered their views on who should lead artificial intelligence development efforts and Chakib Chraibi of the Department of Commerce’s National Technical Information Service said he thinks data scientists should oversee those efforts, Nextgov reported Friday.

“The data scientists will be able to give you an insight into how bad it will be using a machine-learning model” if ethical issues are not considered, Chraibi, chief data scientist at NTIS, said Thursday during a panel discussion at an Advanced Technology Academic Research Center virtual summit.

Chraibi also recommended the adoption of a five-phased approach to help manage ethical questions during the AI development process: awareness; identification of the algorithm’s specific intent; design of the platform; analysis of data and methods for unwanted biases; and continuous monitoring of outcomes.

Anil Chaudhry, director of AI implementation for the General Services Administration’s AI Center of Excellence, said he believes a program manager should be in charge of leading teams when it comes to creating ethical AI platforms.

“It’s got to be a strong program manager with common sense—that’s really what you need,” Chaudhry said. “The data scientist wants to really take a risk and the compliance person wants no risk. And, somewhere in there, the program manager has to balance that in order to deliver a capability.”

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Raytheon Technologies Completes Guided Release of StormBreaker Smart Weapon; Cristy Stagg Quoted
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Raytheon Technologies Completes Guided Release of StormBreaker Smart Weapon; Cristy Stagg Quoted

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, has completed the first guided release of a StormBreaker smart weapon from an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the company reported on Monday. 

“StormBreaker is the only weapon that enables pilots to hit moving targets during bad weather or if dust and smoke are in the area," said Cristy Stagg, StormBreaker program director. "Super Hornet pilots will be able to use poor visibility to their advantage when StormBreaker integration is complete.”

With the release, StormBreaker will become the second fighter jet to add the weapon when the program reaches initial operational capability later this year. During the U.S. Navy flight test, StormBreaker safely separated from the jet and successfully received guidance data from the plane, enabling it to be directed to its target while in flight.

StormBreaker has integrated a tri-mode seeker that utilizes imaging infrared and millimeter wave radar in its normal mode. The weapon can also deploy its semi-active laser or GPS guidance to hit targets. The F-15E Eagle is the first platform to add StormBreaker and will also be integrated on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The StormBreaker smart weapon will enable operators to hit moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions. The winged munition autonomously will detect and classify moving targets in poor visibility situations caused by darkness, bad weather, smoke or dust. 

Raytheon Technologies’ weapon seeker will work in three modes to provide maximum operational flexibility, including millimeter wave radar that detect and track targets through weather, imaging infrared to provide enhanced target discrimination and semi-active laser to enable the weapon to track an airborne laser designator or one on the ground. 

StormBreaker's small size will enable the use of fewer aircraft to take out the same number of targets as larger weapons that require multiple jets. The weapon can also fly more than 45 miles to strike mobile targets, reducing the amount of time that aircrews spend in harm's way. 

Raytheon Missiles & Defense completed development and integration on the F-15E Strike Eagle in April 2018.

About Raytheon Missiles & Defense

Raytheon Missiles & Defense produces a broad portfolio of advanced technologies, including air and missile defense systems, precision weapons, radars, and command and control systems – delivering end-to-end solutions to detect, track and engage threats. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, the business generated $16 billion in pro forma annual revenue in 2019 and has 30,000 employees globally. Raytheon Missiles & Defense is one of four businesses that form Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

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GSA, HUD Award RFQs to Booz Allen & Systems Engineering Solutions to Transform CoE; Anil Cheriyan Quoted
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GSA, HUD Award RFQs to Booz Allen & Systems Engineering Solutions to Transform CoE; Anil Cheriyan Quoted

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have announced that Booz Allen Hamilton and Systems Engineering Solutions Corp. have secured implementation contracts for the GSA Centers of Excellence (CoE) for CoE centers of Cloud Adoption and Customer Experience, the agencies reported on Monday. 

“As HUD moves into the implementation phase with the announcement of these awards, we are excited to support their agency-wide efforts to improve the experience of their customers during these unprecedented times,” said Technology Transformation Services Director Anil Cheriyan. “We’re looking forward to this next phase of work and for the CoE to continue to deliver scalable solutions with the industry partners in these awards.”

The CoE and HUD released six requests for quotations (RFQs), of them, Booz Allen Hamilton was awarded the Customer Experience RFQ and Systems Engineering Solutions Corp. secured the Cloud Adoption RFQ. 

Under the contracts, the companies will work to achieve the objectives of the Cloud Adoption, Contact Center, Customer Experience and Data Analytics centers. The companies will accelerate the digitization of paper-based forms and electronic records management and build an agency-wide customer experience capability.

“HUD continues transforming its business processes by enhancing our digital ecosystem with cloud adoption,” said HUD Chief Information Officer David Chow. “We are looking to deploy a number of proofs of concept leveraging artificial intelligence, Forms as a Service, and records management.”

The CoE, part of the Technology Transformation Services within GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, values industry as an important partner in its ability to bring high-impact solutions to meet the modernization needs of federal agencies. The CoE and HUD created the RFQs based on feedback from industry and recommendations and suggestions gathered during the Phase I work. 

“These awards mark our important implementation phase milestone focused on delivering enhanced enterprise IT solutions across HUD,” said GSA CoE Executive Director Bob De Luca. “Continuing our collaboration with HUD to advance customer-focused modernization efforts is the primary goal of our collaboration.”

About GSA

The mission of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across the government. As the newest addition to the Technology Transformation Services, the CoE accelerates IT modernization by leveraging private sector innovation and government services while centralizing best practices and expertise for holistic transformation. 

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Accenture Federal Services Secures $341M DOC Contract to Modernize Business Systems; John Goodman Quoted
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Accenture Federal Services Secures $341M DOC Contract to Modernize Business Systems; John Goodman Quoted

Accenture Federal Services (AFS) has secured a one-year $341 million contract under the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Business Applications Solution (BAS) program to modernize the agencies’ business systems and data platform, the company reported on Monday. The contract has 19 years of additional options. 

“The Department of Commerce’s plan to modernize its business systems enables the agency to gain a more complete picture of its budget and spending trends and improve financial decision-making,” said John Goodman, CEO of AFS and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. “We’re delighted to support them using proven commercial platforms to consolidate their business and back office applications into a single suite of systems.”

AFS’ work will help DOC centralize administrative functions and support real-time business decision making. The company will consolidate the agencies’ core finance, acquisition, property, enterprise data warehouse and other business systems into a commercial software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform in a hosted environment. 

The company’s integrated platform will be supported with data warehouse and business intelligence solutions to enhance DOC’s visibility into its enterprise-wide financial activities. The centralized approach will enable the DOC to consolidate its enterprise-wide data and  enable its finance data users, by providing real-time financial analysis.

DOC will leverage AFS’ FedRamp solutions, including Accenture Federal Cloud ERP (AFCE), Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and the Accenture Insights Platform (AIP) to support analytics, AI, cyber security, digital transformation and finance operations. 

“AFS is honored to continue our relationship with the Department of Commerce to modernize its Business Application Solutions,” said Scott Dowling, BAS managing director with AFS. “Through the use of human centered design, DOC can create a consensus-building environment and achieve operational efficiencies across the department… to reduce operation redundancies, simplify administrative functions and modernize its data platform while meeting OMB requirements.”

About Accenture Federal Services

Accenture Federal Services, a subsidiary of Accenture (NYSE: ACN), is a U.S. company with offices in Arlington, Virginia. Accenture’s federal business has served every cabinet-level department and 30 of the largest federal organizations. Accenture Federal Services transforms bold ideas into breakthrough outcomes for clients at defense, intelligence, public safety, civilian and military health organizations.

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KBR Wins $570M NASA Contract to Support Marshall Space Flight Center Operations; Stuart Bradie Quoted
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KBR Wins $570M NASA Contract to Support Marshall Space Flight Center Operations; Stuart Bradie Quoted

KBR has been awarded a $570.3 million cost-plus-award-fee Marshall Operations, Systems, Services and Integration (MOSSI) contract by NASA to develop and execute spaceflight operations at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the company reported on Monday. 

"This long-term contract further enhances our prominence in supporting space operations and we look forward to working with the amazing people at Marshall to advance their missions. This award demonstrates our ability to expand our portfolio and fuel continued organic growth," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. 

Under the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, KBR will provide highly technical, mission-focused, high-impact services. The contract has one base year followed by seven option years. KBR will perform International Space Station payload operations and support testing of the Space Launch System rocket.

The work will support spacecraft, payload, satellite and propulsion systems operations, as well as multi-program facilities, including the Huntsville Operations Support Center, and is an exciting addition to our International Space Station operations work at Johnson Space Center.

KBR will provide the management, personnel, equipment and supplies for around-the-clock mission operations and ground systems development services. The company's work will bolster numerous NASA programs, payload developers, educational institutions, international partner space agencies and commercial partners.

"KBR is thrilled to have won this competitive bid to partner with Marshall Space Flight Center," said Bradie added. 

NASA reported the award in early June, stating that SGT, a business unit of KBR, will also provide equipment, supplies and personnel to agency programs, project offices, commercial and international partners, payload developers and educational institutions. 

About KBR, Inc.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program lifecycle within the Government Solutions and Energy sectors. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Solutions, Technology Solutions, Energy Solutions. 

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Report: White House Eyes Expanded Drone Sales Via Arms Pact Reinterpretation
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Report: White House Eyes Expanded Drone Sales Via Arms Pact Reinterpretation

The White House plans to reinterpret a 1987 arms agreement to allow U.S. defense companies to increase sales of drones to allies, Reuters reported Friday.

Sources said the departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), Energy (DoE) and Commerce and other federal agencies agreed in May 2020 to the proposed change to the Missile Technology Control Regime. They noted that the Trump administration has informed drone manufacturers General Atomics and Northrop Grumman of its plans.

The State Department is expected to clear the first drone sales deals by summer under its MTCR reinterpretation, which is set to be reviewed by the National Security Council at its meeting Tuesday, June 16, according to people familiar with the matter.

Heidi Grant, director of defense technology security administration at DoD, said expanding drone sales would support border control efforts and help allied militaries counter terrorism and protect U.S. interests.

MTCR is a pact signed by 35 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany and France, three decades ago to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Under the proposed MTCR amendment, drones operating less than 800 kilometers per hour would be reclassified to a lower category to facilitate exports of such platforms.

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GAO: Census Bureau Faces Multiple Challenges Amid COVID-19
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GAO: Census Bureau Faces Multiple Challenges Amid COVID-19

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the U.S. Census Bureau faces challenges in self-response, operational communication, workforce maintenance, partnerships and other matters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

GAO advises the bureau to address these and other issues such as homeless individual tracking, information technology risk monitoring, disinformation management and cyber vulnerabilities, the government watchdog said this month in a report to Congress. The report builds on cost and progress reviews of U.S. census efforts this year, with a focus on COVID-19 challenges.

GAO also engaged with managers of area census offices to conduct a survey on the bureau’s key field activities, with response rates over 70 percent. The first survey ran between February and March, then a second one occurred in April.

With regard to IT, GAO used official interviews and documented information on the bureau’s cybersecurity, IT development, readiness and testing activities for 2020. The 2020 census holds designation as a high-risk program and GAO has issued over a hundred recommendations to address posed risks.

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