The Department of Energy intends to award $60.7M in total funds to eight projects involving multi-institutional partnerships to develop quantum technology platforms. DOE said Thursday that it will allocate $47M for three five-year projects focusing on creating algoritms and a set of software tools and approaches for quantum computing.

The department added that it will provide $13.7M to support five four-year development efforts that will center on long-range quantum communications tools that use fiber optic connectivity. According to DOE, it selected proposals from nine national laboratories, 10 universities and a nonprofit organization through a competitive peer review process.

Robert Wilkie, secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs and a 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said he expects VA’s budget to increase in the coming years, the Military website reported Wednesday.

“I was privileged to present the largest budget [in] the history of this department to the U.S. Congress – $220 billion,” he said Wednesday at the American Legion National Convention in Indianapolis. “I’m the only member of the president’s cabinet who was ordered not to present any budget cuts to the Office of Management and Budget. And I can tell you that I have the same standing orders for next year’s budget.”

Wilkie cited VA’s efforts to address the opioid epidemic and suicide prevention initiatives for veterans. He also mentioned the Mission Act, which aims to facilitate the delivery of urgent care to veterans with acute illnesses or injuries. The report said the budget request for fiscal 2020 includes a 9 percent funding increase for VA and has yet to be approved by Congress.

Defense Secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award winner Mark Esper and James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, recently visited General Dynamics’ shipyard in Groton, Conn., USNI News reported Thursday.

Geurts and Esper conducted the tour at the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility ahead of the Navy’s plans to acquire at least 10  Block V Virginia-class submarines from fiscal year 2019 through 2023. Nine of the 10 fast-attack submarines will be modified to accommmodate payload tubes for firing Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

“Having the SECDEF down here today, I mean, it shows the importance and shows why for the nation we’ve got to be all in: working between the shipbuilders, between the Navy, between suppliers, and quite frankly a lot of workforce development programs to get this enterprise in the shape we need it to, to deliver for the nation,” said Geurts.

The Navy initially intended to award a contract for the Block V effort in April. A deal is expected to be finalized before fiscal 2019 concludes by the end of September.

Wesley Hallman, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, has said that the recently signed 2019 Bipartisan Budget Act may lead to better government-industry collaboration.

Hallman wrote in a guest piece published Thursday in National Defense Magazine that the legislation, which raises defense and nondefense spending caps, enables government and industry entities to identify key investments, develop future requirments and create innovative contract vehicles. He noted that lowering spendng caps would impact large and small contractors due to issues like self-financing and trickle-down economics.

“The specter of flattening budgets requires all who believe in a strong national defense to endeavor for the maximum effect out of each dollar,” said Hallman. “Understanding that as a common goal and striving for it day after day necessitates an exemplary level of collaboration between the government buyer and the industry producer.” 

He added that recent govenrment efforts like contract financing, which is focused on funding 80 percent of the total project cost, allows companies to invest in research and dveelpment, workforce and tooling efforts.