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NASA’s New Lunar Retroreflector to Boost Moon Research
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NASA’s New Lunar Retroreflector to Boost Moon Research

NASA is expecting significant scientific discoveries from the use of new retroreflector technology.

The agency said Thursday it aims to utilize the Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector, or NGLR, to further explore the Moon and understand its geological processes, interior structure, crust properties and the evolution of the Earth-Moon system.

The project, part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, is also intended to advance new research on astrophysics, cosmology and lunar physics, including Einstein’s theory of gravity or general relativity.

What Are Lunar Retroreflectors?

Retroreflectors are mirror arrays strategically placed by Apollo astronauts on the Moon over 50 years ago. These retroreflectors reflect laser light from and back to Earth in the same direction with little diffusion or scattering. By determining the time it took for the beams to reflect to Earth, scientists can measure the shape of the Moon and its distance from Earth.

The new retroreflector, developed by University of Maryland in College Park researchers, will reflect short laser pulses from lunar laser ranging observatories on Earth enabling sub-millimeter-precision range measurements.

NASA is set to deliver the NGLR-1 to the Moon on board Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services—a.k.a. CLPS—initiative.

Another NGLR, the Artemis Lunar Laser Retroreflector, is being considered to be deployed next as part of the Artemis III Moon mission payload. It will possibly be set up near the Moon’s south pole. A third retroreflector could also be delivered on a future CLPS mission to a non-polar site.

Dennis Harris, NASA mission manager, said, “Once all three retroreflectors are operating, they are expected to deliver unprecedented opportunities to learn more about the Moon and its relationship with Earth.”

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DSCA Completes Round of CV Enrollment for NSPT Workforce
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DSCA Completes Round of CV Enrollment for NSPT Workforce

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency has announced that 23 federal agencies have completed the onboarding process into continuous vetting, or CV, services for the non-sensitive public trust, or NSPT, workforce.

The agency said Thursday a total of 26,540 NSPT members have already enrolled in the CV services, as of Dec. 12. It aims to onboard the whole NSPT population by the end of fiscal year 2025.

Continuous Vetting Services

The DCSA launched the phased rollout of the CV services for NSPT members in August 2024. The ongoing process, part of the Trusted Workforce 2.0 whole-of-government personnel vetting reform initiative, is being implemented in lieu of the current reinvestigation requirement conducted every five years. It is accompanied by attendant services, such as threat reporting to agencies, alert management and real-time threat analysis.

The CV regularly performs background checks on the NSPT population to maintain their adherence to security clearance requirements. This is necessary for identifying and managing potential risks.

The NSPT workforce is composed of individuals in non-national security roles whose possible misconduct could negatively impact the integrity and efficiency of government service. These non-sensitive roles, designated as public trust, may include rulemaking, law enforcement, public safety and health services, safeguarding government information systems and other critical functions.

DCSA Director David Cattler remarked, “Expansion of CV to the NSPT workforce is a critical component of federal Trusted Workforce 2.0 policy and enhances the trustworthiness of all federal employees.”

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BIS Launches Research on Rules for Drones’ ICTS Supply Chain
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BIS Launches Research on Rules for Drones’ ICTS Supply Chain

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit public input on the regulations it is drafting to secure the supply chain of information and communications technology and services, or ICTS, for unmanned aircraft systems. The notice, set for publication on the Federal Register Friday, outlines several areas for comment, such as assessments of ICTS transaction risks arising from foreign adversaries like China and Russia, the bureau said Thursday.

The BIS notice also seeks public feedback on potential approval processes for requests to engage in regulated commercial transactions, possible economic impact of prohibiting certain ICTS deals and mitigation steps on potential adverse effects of the supply chain rules. The deadline for comment submission is on March 4.

‘Essential Step’ for National Security

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo called the BIS rulemaking on the drone ICTS supply chain as “an essential step” to protect U.S. vulnerabilities from foreign entities.

“Securing the unmanned aircraft systems technology supply chain is critical to safeguarding our national security,” she stressed.

In a related development, the Commerce Department in early December formalized the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services, or OICTS, tasked with conducting investigations of foreign adversary threats to ICTS transactions that may impact U.S. national security.

The Defense Innovation Unit and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International also announced in June the publication of their joint a memo providing procurement guidance and recommendations for public safety and government agencies and industry entities that perform sensitive missions using drones.

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DOD, GSA, NASA Recommend Changes to Cyber Acquisition Rules
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DOD, GSA, NASA Recommend Changes to Cyber Acquisition Rules

The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration and NASA are seeking industry comments on a proposed new rule to add workforce knowledge and skill requirements to government cybersecurity and IT support services acquisitions. The agencies published Tuesday in the Federal Register their recommendation to add the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, or NICE, Framework to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The move is in line with the Executive Order on America’s Cybersecurity Workforce, which President Donald Trump issued in 2019. 

What Is the NICE Framework?

The NICE Framework, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, establishes a common language to be implemented not just in government, but also in the commercial and academic sectors. It identifies proficiencies needed to perform technology and cybersecurity-related work. 

The resource aims to improve communication between stakeholders and enhance the development, recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals in government. 

Proposed FAR Changes

Under the Proposed Rule, all agencies will be required to elucidate an acquisition plan’s cybersecurity workforce tasks, knowledge, skills and roles in adherence to the NICE Framework. All offers, quotes and reporting requirements contractors submit to agencies must also align with the NICE Framework.

GSA, DOD and NASA will accept written comments on the proposed FAR amendments until March 4.

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DOD Seeks Insights on Progress Payment Incentive Pilot
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DOD Seeks Insights on Progress Payment Incentive Pilot

The Department of Defense has started soliciting public comments on a plan to establish and implement a pilot program to incentivize contractor performance for specific, measurable criteria by increasing the customary progress payment rate.

According to a notice published Monday in the Federal Register, the comment period will run through Jan. 29.

What Is the Progress Payment Incentive Pilot?

The planned implementation of the Progress Payment Incentive Pilot, or PPIP, is authorized under Section 874 of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

This section of the NDAA authorizes an increase of up to 10 percentage points higher than the current customary progress payment rate for contractor performance against clear, measurable criteria on a contract-by-contract basis.

Vendors seeking to participate in the pilot must be eligible for customary progress payments and their participation must be voluntary.

To be included in the pilot program, DOD plans to require contract actions to be nominated by the cognizant contracting officer and approved by the director of price, cost and finance within Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy during the acquisition’s preaward phase.

The department expects the nominated contract or order to have a performance period of no more than three years to ensure that all performance, including potential new work and options, will be finalized before the pilot’s sunset date.

DOD expects PPIP to focus on payment time to subcontractors to help improve cash flow throughout the supply base.

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Naval Research Laboratory Posts RFI for Engineering Support
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Naval Research Laboratory Posts RFI for Engineering Support

The Naval Research Laboratory has begun seeking industry input for the procurement of comprehensive engineering support services to the Optical Sciences Division.

NRL Request for Information Details

According to the notice posted on SAM.gov, NRL is looking for potential sources that can provide support for an integrated program of systems engineering, technical engineering, engineering analysis, independent assessments and research activities needed to develop, measure and assess new and current systems and electronics for the division.

The potential contractor will provide research and development in electro-optic infrared, or EO and IR, systems with the goal of developing advanced communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or ISR, and electronic warfare prototypes.

The RFI was issued on Dec. 31 and interested parties may submit their proposals until Jan. 17. The project is expected to be conducted at the NRL facility in Washington, D.C., though travel in and outside the continental United States may be required for the project.

Naval Research Laboratory Posts RFI for Engineering Support

Register and join the Potomac Officers Club as it hosts the 2025 Defense R&D Summit where the nation’s leading defense researchers, experts and decision-makers discuss the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of the U.S. military.

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Leidos Secures $48M Army Contract for Test Station Equipment
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Leidos Secures $48M Army Contract for Test Station Equipment

Leidos has booked a hybrid contract from the U.S. Army valued at $48.8 million for General Electronic Test Station, or GETS, equipment and related items.

The Department of Defense said Monday the cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract also covers hardware, software, upgrades and spare parts for the test station equipment.

What Does the Contract Work Entail?

The Reston, Virginia-based company will perform work for the contract at various sites in and outside the United States. This includes Huntsville, Alabama, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. The contract is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2029.

The Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama is the contracting activity. It will initially allocate $14.4 million from the Army’s fiscal 2025 missile procurement funds and the foreign military sales funds of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and UAE.

Leidos was previously awarded a $23 million FMS contract by the Army in January 2020 to provide support services for GETS-1000, particularly in upgrading missile technology for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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Telos Launches New TSA PreCheck Enrollment Locations
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Telos Launches New TSA PreCheck Enrollment Locations

Telos, the information technology and cybersecurity company, officially opened additional Transportation Security Administration PreCheck program enrollment locations on Dec. 30.

The Ashburn, Virginia-based authorized enrollment provider said Monday it has expanded the locations to enroll consumers in the TSA PreCheck program by launching 15 Office Depot locations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington.

With the additional 15 sites, Telos has expanded to a total of 203 TSA PreCheck enrollment locations in the country. The company plans to open more enrollment locations across the country and extend operations hours in 2025.

What Is the TSA PreCheck Program?

The TSA PreCheck program is an expedited screening program launched in 2013 that allows enrolled travelers to pass airport security faster, with the time at checkpoints expected not to exceed 10 minutes. Low-risk travelers who enroll in the Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler program will no longer be required to remove shoes, belts and light jackets when passing through security checkpoints at more than 200 airports nationwide. Eligible travelers can also keep electronics and  3-1-1 compliant liquids in their carry-on bags.

Aside from the over 200 airports, more than 90 airlines are also cooperating with the TSA PreCheck application program. There are currently around 20 million active members in the program.

Telos CEO and chairman John Wood stated, “Telos is proud to bring TSA PreCheck to your neighborhood for an easy, convenient enrollment experience. Adding these new locations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington expands TSA PreCheck enrollment access to more travelers.”

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Commercial Space Launches Get Additional Bandwidths
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Commercial Space Launches Get Additional Bandwidths

The Federal Communications Commission has provided additional spectrum bandwidths for commercial space communications under the provisions of the Launch Communications Act, or LCA, passed on Sept. 26. 

The bandwidths include the 2360–2395 megahertz spectrum that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel recommended in December for reallocation to space launch communications and reentry operations, according to the commission’s third LCA report and order released Tuesday. That bandwidth’s main use currently is testing communications for aircraft and missile testing communications.

The FCC had earlier allocated the 2025–2110 MHz and 2200–2290 MHz bands in September for non-federal space operations and adopted them in its space launch licensing guidelines. FCC limits the first band’s use to uplinks to vehicles, with vehicle downlinks limited for the second band. 

Space Industry Growth Goal

The commission’s recent 2360–2395 MHz reallocation permits both uplinks and downlinks for commercial space operators. Rosenworcel advocated for the bandwidth’s reallocation to stimulate growth in commercial space launches.

In November, the FCC also revised its satellite spectrum-sharing rules to promote market entry, regulatory certainty and spectrum efficiency. The commission’s revisions covered spectrum-sharing between non-geostationary satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service systems licensed in different processing rounds to provide new entrants an established, cooperative structure opening for their participation in the space industry.

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GSA Selects 102 Vendors for Polaris IT GWAC Small Business Pool
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GSA Selects 102 Vendors for Polaris IT GWAC Small Business Pool

The General Services Administration has awarded 102 vendors positions on the small business pool of the Polaris governmentwide acquisition contract, or GWAC, for IT products and services.

GSA released the list of awardees on the Polaris GWAC Small Business Pool in a notice published Monday on SAM.gov.

“As a result of this award, agencies can now achieve their socioeconomic goals and meet stringent federal compliance and security requirements for IT, while working with some of the best and most creative small IT companies,” Laura Stanton, assistant commissioner for the Office of IT Category at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, said in a statement published Monday.

“I look forward to seeing the body of innovation that results from the Polaris GWAC and the continued success of the awarded small businesses,” added Stanton.

What Is Polaris GWAC?

Polaris GWAC seeks to provide federal agencies a platform to acquire artificial intelligence, automation, immersive technology, distributed ledger technology, edge computing and other emerging technologies and IT services from vetted small businesses to meet their tech requirements.

The contract has four set-aside pools: small business; women-owned small business, or WOSB; Historically Underutilized Business Zone, or HUBZone; and service-disabled veteran-owned small business, or SDVOSB.

With Polaris, GSA intends to broaden the industry partner base, simplify proposal submission requirements, provide greater access to emerging technologies and improve the customer experience.

In September 2022, GSA issued requests for proposals for the contract vehicle’s HUBZone and SDVOSB pools.

The agency said Monday it plans to announce the awardees on the contract’s WOSB, HUBZone and SDVOSB pools later in fiscal year 2025.

RFP for Polaris GWAC Small Business Pool

In March 2022, GSA initially released the RFPs for small business and WOSB pools but decided to pause the solicitations to allow for a review following receipt of feedback regarding the evaluation of joint ventures under the contract.

Three months later, a solicitation was reissued for the Polaris Small Business pool after GSA integrated changes to submission requirements for relevant experience concerning JVs and mentor-protege arrangements.

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