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OSC Solicits Industry Input on Planned SSA Data Contract Structure
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce has issued a request for information on the structure of an upcoming contract to obtain space situational awareness data and services.

The RFI seeks industry input on the attributes of a planned blanket purchase agreement or indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that would allow flexibility or optimal participation by vendors, OSC said Tuesday. The BPA and IDIQ will serve as the prime vehicles for acquiring commercial SSA data and services that will be integrated into the Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS.

NOAA/OSC RFI Terms

OSC also requires information on other acquisition vehicles that could address the need to engage with the commercial SSA industry for data and services that can be used for TraCSS. The RFI was released to improve the government’s understanding of industry capabilities, enhance its ability to procure services at reasonable cost, and increase the efficiency of proposal preparation, evaluation, negotiation and contract award.

In line with the future requirement, the government is interested to learn more about ground-based and space-based sensor tracking observations on space objects, orbit determination services, ephemerides generation services, conjunction assessment services, risk assessment services, data quality monitoring services, space weather services and SSA-related analytics and services.

Interested parties are encouraged to send their submissions no later than May 6.

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Battelle Searches for New PNNL Director After Incumbent Steps Down
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Battelle Searches for New PNNL Director After Incumbent Steps Down

Battelle, the company managing Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the Department of Energy, will search for a new PNNL director, as its incumbent, Steven Ashby, steps down for a new role at Battelle. Ashby has contributed a “remarkable legacy of scientific discovery” as the company’s longest-tenured lab director, Lou Von Thaer, Battelle president and CEO and a Wash100 awardee, said in a PNNL statement Monday. 

“We are grateful to Steve for his decade of leadership at PNNL and look forward to further benefitting from his knowledge and expertise as he takes on an expanded role with our national laboratory operations team,” Thaer remarked.

Steven Ashby’s PNNL Career

Ashby has been leading PNNL since 2015, managing its $1.6 billion research budget and about 6,400 Batelle employees assigned to PNNL operations. Under his tenure, the lab undertook a $1 billion campus modernization that replaced aging infrastructure and installed new research facilities, such as the Energy Sciences Center and Grid Storage Launchpad. Ashby also established several strategic PNNL collaborations, including six joint institutes with five major universities. 

Other alliances that PNNL forged in recent years included a collaboration with Microsoft and the University of Washington to advance multisector research on quantum information science. In January 2024, the DOE lab also partnered with Microsoft to accelerate scientific discovery through the combination of advanced artificial intelligence with high-performance cloud computing.

Ashby cited his PNNL tenure as the highlight of his career. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished, and I look forward to watching PNNL continue to thrive and deliver amazing outcomes for our nation,” he commented.

Other Career Highlights

Previous to his director’s role at the lab, Ashby served as PNNL deputy director for science and technology for over six years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He began his career at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he worked for over 12 years and served last as the lab’s deputy principal associate director for science and technology.

Battelle expects to appoint a new PNNL director in four to eight months, and Ashby will stay as lab director in the meantime. With his successor in place, he will take on the role of Batelle senior vice president of strategic partnerships to support management of Battelle-affiliated laboratories.

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Derek Tournear to Resume Duties as SDA Director
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Derek Tournear to Resume Duties as SDA Director

Derek Tournear, director of the Space Development Agency and a previous Wash100 awardee, will resume his duties as head of SDA on Thursday, April 17, Breaking Defense reported Monday.

William Blauser’s Appointment as Acting SDA Director

In early February, the Air Force appointed William Blauser, deputy director of the Rapid Capabilities Office, as interim director of SDA to address the need for full-time leadership at SDA and Space Systems Command.

Prior to Blauser’s appointment, Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command, led SDA on an acting basis.

Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture

As head of SDA, Tournear oversees efforts to develop, deploy and operate the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA.

PWSA is part of the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2, effort and seeks to provide U.S. warfighters and allies with reliable and resilient space capabilities through a layered network of satellites in low Earth orbit.

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Catalyst Accelerator Selects Six Startups for the Oklahoma Government Business Boot Camp
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Catalyst Accelerator Selects Six Startups for the Oklahoma Government Business Boot Camp

The Catalyst Accelerator, backed by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, has selected six small companies to participate in its new government business boot camp that will run from June 2-13 at the University of Tulsa.

Oklahoma Government Business Boot Camp

The Catalyst Accelerator said Monday the Oklahoma Government Business Boot Camp, hosted in collaboration with Oklahoma Cyber Innovation, is designed to help startups with innovative technologies based in the state gain the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the government contracting landscape.

During the two-week program, the selected small businesses can learn from government leaders, business consultants and other subject matter experts while establishing connections within the industry and local government.

Companies Selected for Business Boot Camp

These are the six companies selected to participate:

  • AirWise Solutions, a company specializing in 3D situational awareness using drones and geographic information systems spatial data.
  • Burgess Aerospace Innovations, developer of hybrid-electric propulsion and high-speed aerospace technologies for defense, including uncrewed aircraft systems.
  • CubeNexus, which is focusing on advancing data processing by structuring sensor and IoT streams into a 4D format.
  • DeltaX Propulsion, which aims to revolutionize electric propulsion systems for small satellites and spacecraft.
  • Organizely, which is working on a platform that enhances workflow productivity and efficiency using an intelligent automation engine.
  • Terradac Technologies, which is developing environmental sensing technologies, particularly a carbon dioxide emissions sensor.

 

“The innovation ecosystem in Oklahoma is so dynamic and talented. I’m incredibly honored and looking forward to working with all of them,” said Shae Thomas, program director at the Catalyst Accelerator.

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NASA Integrates Critical Artemis II Rocket Component
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NASA Integrates Critical Artemis II Rocket Component

NASA brought the Artemis II rocket closer to launch by integrating the launch vehicle stage adapter onto the Space Launch System core stage on April 12 at the Kennedy Space Center’s vehicle assembly building.

Critical Artemis II Rocket Components

The agency said Monday its Exploration Ground Systems Program technicians managed to lift the cone-shaped adapter by 250 feet and install it onto the core stage using a 325-ton crane. The launch vehicle stage adapter is designed to link the SLS core stage and the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, a vital component required to power the Artemis II test flight around the moon. The adapter is crucial for maintaining structural integrity and safeguarding the upper stage’s avionics and electrical devices from severe vibrations and acoustic conditions during the launch and ascent.

NASA will now focus on stacking the interim cryogenic propulsion stage onto the launch vehicle stage adapter. The stage adapter was manufactured by Teledyne Brown Engineering at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., under the Amentum Space Exploration Division’s Engineering Services and Science Capability Augmentation contract.

Artemis II Test Flight

NASA’s Artemis II test flight aims to launch four astronauts on a 10-day mission to orbit the moon and evaluate the systems and hardware necessary for future human deep space exploration. This will be the first crewed mission under the Artemis program, which intends to deploy humans on the lunar surface and prepare for planned crewed missions to Mars.

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ITI Seeks to Advance Quantum Tech With New Policy Guide
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ITI Seeks to Advance Quantum Tech With New Policy Guide

The Information Technology Industry Council, or ITI, has introduced a policy guide that outlines strategic principles and offers recommendations for government agencies and companies to advance the use of quantum technologies.

“Gaining first mover advantage in quantum technologies can offer governments and companies significant strategic benefits, particularly when they work together,” John Miller, senior vice president of policy for trust, data and technology and general counsel at ITI, said in a statement published Monday.

“To make the most of this moment, ITI’s Quantum Technology Policy Guide can equip policymakers, industry partners, and other stakeholders with knowledge to realize quantum’s real-life promise for global economies, maximize research and development opportunities, navigate supply chain and cybersecurity challenges, build a skilled workforce, and stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape,” Miller said.

Six Policy Principles

The global tech trade association outlines six policy principles in the document. The first three are: unleashing innovation and investment in quantum technologies, supporting the development of a resilient quantum technologies supply chain and considering the cybersecurity and privacy implications of quantum technologies.

The other three strategic principles are: developing a skilled quantum workforce, adopting a balanced approach to quantum technologies governance and prioritizing global engagement and cooperation on quantum technologies.

Unleashing Innovation & Investment in Quantum Tech

Each policy principle comes with specific actions to support the design and development of pro-innovation public policy.

To promote innovation and investment in quantum technologies, ITI recommends developing and supporting policies that incentivize public and private sector investments in quantum tech-focused research and development efforts.

According to the trade group, policymakers should prioritize the development of resilient data center infrastructure and advance policies that integrate quantum technologies and conventional computing. These should include exascale, high-performance computing and supercomputing.

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NAVWAR Official Says Catapult Initiative Accelerating Adoption of Small Business Innovations
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NAVWAR Official Says Catapult Initiative Accelerating Adoption of Small Business Innovations

The U.S. Navy is accelerating the development of new capabilities and bridging the so-called “valley of death” for small business innovations through Catapult, an interim technology maturity initiative. Shadi Azoum, program manager for small business innovation research and small business technology transfer programs at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, or NAVWAR, told the Federal News Network that Catapult has reduced the time spent to transition a vendor solution. 

Fast-Tracking Development to Deployment

According to Azoum, about 60 percent of NAVWAR’s entire portfolio were SBIR and STTR capabilities. 

“I think because NAVWAR is very cyber focused and very fast paced, it makes more sense for us to capitalize on prior investments, than to go through the regular topic process,” he explained. 

He emphasized the importance of public databases such as SBIR.gov, which enables the command to search for relevant technologies among previous contract awardees. 

“We could search by keywords and locate some of the past awardees based on the needs that we’re looking for,” Azoum said. 

Azoum also encouraged small businesses to use SBIR.gov to see the list of capabilities the Navy is looking for. He added that the next Catapult broad agency announcement will be posted on April 23. 

More Small Business Partners

Recent efforts by the Navy to reach out to small businesses have been fruitful. Azoum said about 41 percent of small businesses that responded to Navy solicitations in 2024 are doing business with the service for the first time. Furthermore, 29 percent belong to socioeconomic categories such as woman-owned or service disabled veteran-owned. 

“Of $500 million of SBIR or STTR funded efforts, we have transitioned about more than $1 billion in that and that is more than $1 billion in phase three or non-SBIR/STTR funded efforts,” he revealed. 

NAVWAR plans to reach out to even more small businesses in 2025. 

Azoum advised firms that want to secure SBIR or STTR contracts to pay attention to submission requirements listed in announcements. Although margins and font sizes seem trivial, not following the requirements prevents a proposal from being evaluated. 

He told small businesses to engage with topic authors to ensure that they understand program requirements.

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NIST Issues Updated Draft Privacy Framework, Solicits Comments
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NIST Issues Updated Draft Privacy Framework, Solicits Comments

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a new draft of its Privacy Framework, or PFW, enabling organizations to manage privacy risks posed by personal data passing through IT systems.

The updated PFW is designed to address existing privacy risk management requirements, maintain alignment with the revised Cybersecurity Framework, or CSF, and enhance usability, NIST said Monday. Failure to manage such risks could affect individuals and society and potentially damage organizations’ brands, bottom lines and growth prospects, the agency noted.

Managing Privacy Risks

Julie Anne Chua, director of the NIST’s applied cybersecurity division, described the release as “a modest but significant update.” “The PFW can be used on its own to manage privacy risks, but we have also maintained its compatibility with CSF 2.0 so that organizations can use them together to manage the full spectrum of privacy and cybersecurity risks,” she explained.

Notable Changes to Draft PFW

The draft PFW includes targeted changes to its core structure for alignment with the latest CSF version and a new section on AI and privacy risk management. The updated framework also moved its guidelines to the web, enabling users to readily access an interactive FAQ page that delivers quick answers. To complement the FAQ section, NIST established a PFW Learning Center that offers quick-start guides in several languages and features a video discussing the draft updates.

NIST is soliciting public comments on the draft and will accept submissions until June 13.

POC - 2025 Cyber Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Cyber Summit on May 15 to discover innovative cyber technologies for a secure and resilient public sector. Register now to attend this important event!

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Defense Logistics Agency Officials Detail Digital Interoperability Strategy
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Defense Logistics Agency Officials Detail Digital Interoperability Strategy

Digital interoperability is key to helping DLA achieve decision advantage on the battlefield and maintain a responsive and secure logistics network that backs military operations worldwide, accoridng to a pair of Defense Logistics Agency leaders.

Advancing Defense Supply Chain Resilience

In a white paper published in the January issue of National Defense Magazine, DLA Director Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly and CIO Adarryl Roberts said digital interoperability could help improve the resilience of the defense supply chain by providing DLA with real-time visibility of shipping statuses and inventory levels. This would enable the agency to better respond to such disruptions while mitigating risks to mission-critical operations.

Leveraging Analytics to Achieve Digital Interoperability

In the paper, Roberts and Simerly highlighted the role of analytics in achieving digital interoperability. The two officials cited the use of Enterprise Advanced Analytics, which they said provide a set of tools to ingest, analyze and visualize data to support warfighters.

“The vision is to have best-in-class analytics support by delivering the infrastructure and capabilities that seek, govern, transform and capitalize on enterprise data, data analytics and data visualization,” they said. This should “(Improve) DLA’s operations and warfighter support.”

Enhancing Cybersecurity

The duo noted that digital interoperability improves cybersecurity by reducing security vulnerabilities across the supply chain.

“Standardized protocols and cybersecurity measures help protect sensitive information and ensure the integrity of defense logistics operations, providing a unified security posture with improved threat detection and response,” Simerly and Roberts wrote.

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Digital Transformation Summit on April 24. Listen to experts  discuss how emerging technologies and the latest tech advancements are reshaping government operations. Register now!

POC - 2025 Digital Transformation Summit
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DOE INCITE Program Opens 2026 Call for Proposals for Advanced Computing Access
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DOE INCITE Program Opens 2026 Call for Proposals for Advanced Computing Access

The Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment, or INCITE, program has opened its 2026 Call for Proposals, offering researchers the opportunity to access high-performance computing systems.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, or ORNL, said Friday interested researchers can send in their proposals through June 16.

What Is the INCITE Program?

INCITE is a program managed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. It aims to provide scientific teams the chance to obtain significant computational resources for major research projects in AI, data analytics, scientific modeling, simulation and other fields.

The program facilitates research that requires extreme-scale computing power. It will provide as much as 60 percent of the available node-hours on ORNL’s Frontier exascale system. INCITE will also provide allocations on the Polaris supercomputer and the Aurora exascale system at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.

Researchers are awarded 500,000 to 1,000,000 node-hours on Aurora and Frontier, while 100,000 to 250,000 node-hours are allocated on Polaris, with the potential for larger allocations for exceptional proposals.

The program welcomes applications from researchers from academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations and federal agencies from around the world. Applications are encouraged from various disciplines, such as astrophysics, biology, chemistry and earth sciences.

Selected proposals must showcase a compelling need for the computing resources and demonstrate the ability to harness them. Furthermore, the project should align with INCITE’s objectives of advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. The awards are to be announced in November while access to the resources will commence in 2026.

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