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GSA Conducts Tests for User Verification Tech, Website Redirects
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GSA Conducts Tests for User Verification Tech, Website Redirects

The General Services Administration is currently testing a Google-designed verification tool meant to determine if comments were submitted by real users.

GSA said Wednesday that the agency it aims to manage software-generated comments and support the integrity of the rulemaking process through the reCAPTCHA tool. The agency will also automatically redirect users to a beta version of the new Regulations .gov website at specific times to highlight the site and obtain design feedback.

GSA noted the tests will not affect the current Regulations .gov website's back-end processes. The tests are part of GSA's efforts to preview new capabilities and future eRulemaking systems.

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DOE Releases Quantum Internet R&D Strategy; Dan Brouillette Quoted
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DOE Releases Quantum Internet R&D Strategy; Dan Brouillette Quoted

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a report on its research and development strategy to ensure compliance with the Trump administration's 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act.

DOE said Thursday the report collates the ideas of national laboratories, industry partners and academic entities on establishing a national quantum internet capability.

The department and its partners convened in New York early this year to develop the quantum strategy and address potential barriers to engineering designs, technical capacities and near-term goals.

Ongoing efforts to achieve program objectives include the Argonne National Laboratory’s 52-mile “quantum loop” project across Chicago envisioned to become one of the longest U.S.-based quantum networks. Argonne’s network loop will be integrated with the DOE Fermilab in Lemont as part of a testbed that spans 80 miles.

“The [DOE] is proud to play an instrumental role in the development of the national quantum internet,” said Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette. “By constructing this new and emerging technology, the United States continues with its commitment to maintain and expand our quantum capabilities.”

According to DOE, the 17 national labs will “serve as the backbone” of U.S. quantum internet research and secure network communications to support commercial, scientific and national security applications.

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FCC Commences 5G Spectrum Auction; Ajit Pai Quoted
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FCC Commences 5G Spectrum Auction; Ajit Pai Quoted

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched the first license auction for the new 5G spectrum, in a move to have the band populated by wireless networks as quickly as possible.

The auction, titled Auction 105, offers opportunities to obtain priority access licenses for 10-megahertz channels in the 5G 3.55-3.65 gigahertz band, FCC said Thursday.

“5G is critical to America’s global economic and technological leadership, and the start of the 3.5 GHz auction today is a key milestone in our work advancing this national priority,” said Ajit Pai, FCC chairman.

FCC will offer seven PALs per county-based license area, making 22.6K licenses in total available across the country. The auction supports FCC’s 5G FAST Plan, an effort to offer more spectrum in the market, update old standards and create new infrastructure policy.

The commission will also adjust the C-band spectrum for 5G use through December 2023.

5G Summit Banner

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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DoD’s Mike White on Accelerating Hypersonics Dev’t Efforts
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DoD’s Mike White on Accelerating Hypersonics Dev’t Efforts

Mike White, assistant director for hypersonics at the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said the Department of Defense (DoD) is fast-tracking its current approach to hypersonics development, DoD News reported Thursday.

White told attendees at a prior industry summit that the four-phase approach comes as part of the Pentagon’s efforts to keep up with the progress of adversaries like China and Russia.

He noted that the Pentagon is collaborating with NASA, the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to accelerate the initial phase which includes demonstrations, weapons prototyping, test and evaluation activities.

The second increment involves technology transitions while the last phase entails fielding of prototype technologies to warfighters. White said he expects Phase 4, which will be funded through fiscal 2022 allocations, to require large-scale procurement of hypersonic weapons and the delivery of prototypes to inform future production efforts.

His comments come after the DoD created a Joint Hypersonic Transition Office aimed at leveraging academic consortia to support science and technology initiatives focused on weapons development.

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Katie Arrington: DoD Projects 7.5K CMMC-Certified Companies by 2021
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Katie Arrington: DoD Projects 7.5K CMMC-Certified Companies by 2021

Katie Arrington, a 2020 Wash100 Award winner and chief information security officer for defense acquisition, said she expects the Pentagon’s new cybersecurity vetting program to certify 7,500 companies by 2021, National Defense Magazine reported Thursday.

Arrington told attendees at a Celerium-hosted webinar that the Department of Defense (DoD) plans to release requests for proposals that include Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) version 1 requirements following the implementation of amendments in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).

She noted that she anticipates these solicitations to be released in September or October 2020.

“I think that five years from now, it's part of a national standard, it's part of how we do business,” added Arington.

The CMMC program requires potential contractors to undergo cybersecurity assessments by DoD-certified independent auditors. The program’s framework is comprised of five levels, with Level 5 having the strictest requirements.

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Reps. Will Hurd, Robin Kelly Unveil First of Four AI Stretegic Documents
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Reps. Will Hurd, Robin Kelly Unveil First of Four AI Stretegic Documents

Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas as well as a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., have put out a white paper discussing the future relevance of artificial intelligence in the country's workforce and education.

Hurd and Kelly worked with the Bipartisan Policy Center to develop the "AI and the Workforce" report, the first of four white papers in a series of AI-focused strategic documents, Hurd's office said Thursday.

“AI is the future of the world’s economy, and we want to ensure that every American worker has the opportunity to thrive in an AI-driven economy," said Hurd.

The report tackles how the U.S. may incorporate AI curricula into the country's education system in support of workforce needs in the emerging field. The government will release the other three white papers in weeks to come.

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Craig Halliday, Unanet CEO, Discusses Additions to ERP Platform
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Craig Halliday, Unanet CEO, Discusses Additions to ERP Platform

Unanet recently announced that the company has made addition to its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software offering with new features designed to help government contractors gain business insights and increase operational efficiencies, the company announced Thursday.

Craig Halliday, CEO of Unanet, recently added commentary about the company’s latest offerings. He stated: “Unanet GovCon was built from the ground up, for government contractors. There are no bolt-ons, incompatible features, or awkward forcing of disparate solutions, which is rampant among competitive products.”

Unanet has released Analytics+, Analytics Studio and Automated Invoice Attachments. Analytics+ is will provide contractors with an array of dashboard and reporting functionality to build upon the software’s real-time data visualization features.

“Designing purpose-built software requires an extra level of understanding of customer needs, along with personal service and a commitment to developing and refining solutions that actually enable customers to address their business challenges through smart engineering and elegant design,” added Halliday. 

With Unanet’s new capabilities, government contractors will gain further insight into advanced analytics, custom reporting and drill-down capabilities to enable dynamic interaction with data.

“We work closely with our customers, every step of the way. We pay close attention to what they need most, and what will help them succeed. These enhanced, real-time data management and reporting access features were customized to meet those needs,” Halliday stated. 

In addition, Unanet’s new analytics capabilities allow for better decision-making across virtually every function. Having the ability to report, analyze and visualize data all in one ERP will enhance GovCons’ understanding of business and enable contracts to  make faster, more accurate decisions. 

“Too often, solutions are cobbled together, requiring extra steps, additional credentials, and even two different systems to find one specific data point. We chose to invest in a solution that is completely synthesized automatically, giving companies one single source of truth. When our customers succeed, we succeed,” concluded Halliday. 

About Unanet

Unanet is a leading provider of ERP solutions purpose-built for Government Contractors, A/E, and Professional Services. More than 2,000 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, and nurture business growth.

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Boeing Begins MQ-25 Stingray Testing in Fall 2020 to Support Navy; Dave Bujold Quoted
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Boeing Begins MQ-25 Stingray Testing in Fall 2020 to Support Navy; Dave Bujold Quoted

Boeing has announced that its MQ-25 Stingray, The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier-borne tanker drone, has planned to resume test flights in fall 2020, Defense News reported on Friday. 

“When we resume flight testing later this year, we’ll have the opportunity to gather test points about the aerodynamics of that pod and the software commands that control it — all happening well before we deliver the Navy’s first MQ-25 jet with the same pod,” MQ-25 program director Dave Bujold said in a statement from the aircraft’s manufacturer, Boeing.

Boeing engineers will primarily focus on the aerodynamics of the store pod mounted on the Stingray test article to observe hose and drogue behavior while being dragged behind the airframe. There have been recent concerns about scheduling of the U.S. Navy’s testing. 

“Program officials stated that, among other things, the Navy’s potential inability to maintain its schedule commitments could require modifications to the contract that would impact the fixed-price terms,” the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported. “Specifically, the Navy faces limited flexibility to install MQ-25 control centers on aircraft carriers.”

The Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone took its first flight Sept. 19, a historic step toward integrating an unmanned aircraft into the service’s powerful strike arm.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries.

Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

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Crowley Solutions Secures Multi-Year Contract to Support DLA Energy; Sean Thomas Quoted
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Crowley Solutions Secures Multi-Year Contract to Support DLA Energy; Sean Thomas Quoted

Crowley Solutions’ government services group has been awarded a multi-year contract from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy, the company reported on Thursday. 

“Crowley’s fuel storage, supply and distribution capabilities enable DLA Energy to receive valuable energy services and ensure a robust government supply chain,” said Sean Thomas, vice president, Crowley Solutions.

Under the terms of the contract, Crowley will build and operate a 500 thousand-barrel, contractor owned and operated bulk fuel storage facility to support strategic and tactical requirements at Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks, Alaska. 

Crowley’s facility will provide fuel storage with dedicated product pipelines, including a tie-in into the government-owned fuel pipeline currently servicing Eielson AFB. The company will also provide a tank truck loading facility (TTLF), rail car loading facility and on-site product additization that provide increased operational resiliency.

The company has installed on site product additive storage and injection infrastructure, as well as a state-of-the-art TTLF between 2017 and 2018 to support DLA Energy. Crowley has currently more than 1 million barrels of dedicated product storage under a long-term contract with DLA Energy.

“Crowley is proud to continue and expand our support of DLA Energy and the men and women in uniform that serve our nation both at home and abroad,” added Thomas. 

The initial contract is for four years, with an additional five-year option. Engineering, permitting and site surveys have begun, with groundbreaking expected in August and substantial completion expected by January 2022. The original five-year contract began in 2015 and was recently extended through 2025 through DLA Energy’s exercising of a second, five-year option. 

About Crowley

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 128-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family- and employee-owned company that provides marine solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets.

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CVP Wins USCB Contract to Collect, Analyze Data for 2020 Census; Anirudh Kulkarni Quoted
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CVP Wins USCB Contract to Collect, Analyze Data for 2020 Census; Anirudh Kulkarni Quoted

CVP has been awarded an approximate two-year, $17 million Field Application Support (FAS) contract by the United States Census Bureau (USCB), the company reported on Wednesday. CVP will provide assistance in collecting and analyzing data for the 2020 Census. 

"CVP is honored to have been chosen to support the agency's data collection operations for the decennial census as well as other demographic and economic programs," Anirudh Kulkarni, CVP founder and CEO.

CVP will provide support for USCB ongoing operational needs in Control Systems Development, Control Systems Business Analysis, Survey Authoring (Blaise) and software maintenance services. 

The contract project will include a portfolio of applications and systems designed for data collection operations. CVP will help capture and provide respondent data to sponsors of demographic, economic and Decennial programs, including the American Community Survey, Current Population Survey and the Survey of Construction. 

The data from the 2020 Census will be used to fund public services, including schools, hospitals and fire departments. CVP’s assistance will enable USCB to plan new homes and businesses to help improve neighborhoods as well as determine how many seats each state is allocated in the House of Representatives.

"The U.S. Census Bureau gathers critical information to help our country run more efficiently," added Kulkarni. 

About CVP

CVP is a business and technology consulting company that helps organizations navigate disruption with innovative strategies and solutions and prepare for a culture of Continuous Change. It supports clients in the healthcare, national security, and public sectors, as well as private business, by enabling them to innovate faster and make decisions quicker.

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