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House Passes Bill Requiring Agencies to Share Custom Source Codes
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House Passes Bill Requiring Agencies to Share Custom Source Codes

The House of Representatives has passed the Source Code Harmonization and Reuse in Information Technology Act, which would direct federal agencies to share custom source codes and eliminate duplicative government contracts when building software.

The SHARE IT Act seeks to end wasteful federal spending on redundant software by directing agencies to publicly list their custom codes, allowing them to be reused across the government to save time and money, Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., said in a Wednesday press release.

Safeguarding Sensitive and Classified Data

Langworthy noted that while the proposal promotes information-sharing, it also includes provisions to protect sensitive and classified data, ensuring that U.S. national security and individual privacy are not compromised. In addition, the bill would require agencies to provide sufficient rights allowing the sharing and modification of their custom software codes.

When enacted into federal law, the bill would mandate government agencies’ chief information officers to oversee its implementation. Under the law, the federal CIOs should also submit annual compliance reports to Congress using existing government platforms and private sector options.

Parallel Senate Measure

The Act has a Senate version, which the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced in early 2024, according to Nextgov/FCW. However, the measure has yet to pass through the Senate floor.

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Navy Receives Ship to Shore Connector From Textron Systems
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Navy Receives Ship to Shore Connector From Textron Systems

Textron Systems has delivered LCAC 111, the latest ship to shore connector, or SSC, to the U.S. Navy on Nov. 27.

The Navy said Monday it received the LCAC 111 following the completion of the acceptance trials conducted by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. The test assessed the craft’s readiness and ability to meet requirements.

The New LCAC 111 Amphibious Craft

The new SSC is meant to strengthen the Navy’s amphibious capability and enable fast deployment and logistical assistance. It’s also designed to be compatible with current amphibious ships, the Expeditionary Sea Base and the Expeditionary Transfer Dock. The latest SSC replaces the legacy LCACs.

With a capacity of 60 to 75 tons of payload, the LCAC 111 can carry transport weapon systems, equipment, cargo and assault element personnel in any condition.

“This new craft will provide the Navy and Marine Corps team with unparalleled capability in amphibious warfare, ensuring we remain agile and responsive to emerging threats and global challenges,” said Capt. Jason Grabelle, program manager for Amphibious Assault and Connectors Programs, Program Executive Office, Ships. “The introduction of LCAC 111 into our fleet marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance operational readiness.”

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Southwest Research Institute to Build Magnetometer Instruments for NOAA
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Southwest Research Institute to Build Magnetometer Instruments for NOAA

NASA has awarded the Southwest Research Institute a $26.1 million contract to build two two magnetometer instruments for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s space weather program.

Work under the 10-year agreement will be performed at the selected contractor’s facility in San Antonio, Texas, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said Monday.

Mission Operations Support Services

The Southwest Research Institute will also perform design, analysis, development, fabrication, integration, test, verification and evaluation services for the NOAA instruments. In addition, the company will provide supply and maintenance support for ground equipment and post-launch mission operations support at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility.

Mitigating Space Weather Impacts

When they become operational, the magnetometer instruments will measure the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind and supply data to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which releases forecasts and alerts to help mitigate space weather impacts, including electric power outages and disruptions to communications and navigation systems.

The space weather magnetometer instruments will support the Lagrange 1 Series project, which is part of NOAA’s Space Weather Next program. NASA and NOAA are managing the development, launch, testing and operation of satellites under the project.

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DOC Awards $100M to Strengthen Domestic Chip Supply Chain
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DOC Awards $100M to Strengthen Domestic Chip Supply Chain

The Department of Commerce has awarded three companies up to $100 million in proposed direct funding to enhance the production of critical semiconductor manufacturing components.

The Commerce Department said Friday the proposed investments under the CHIPS and Science Act were awarded to Coherent, SkyWater Technology Foundry and X-Fab. 

Projects Supported by the CHIPS Investment

Coherent will receive up to $33 million to expand and modernize the manufacturing cleanroom in its Sherman, Texas facility. The investment, expected to generate around 70 direct jobs, aims to transform it into the first ever 150mm indium phosphide manufacturing line.

SkyWater Technology will get up to $16 million for its facility in Bloomington, Minnesota. The award will be used to overhaul equipment, enhance the cleanroom, advance its space and IT systems and boost production of 90nm and 130nm wafers by approximately 30 percent. An estimated 70 jobs are expected to be created.

X-Fab will utilize an award of up to $50 million to revamp its silicon carbide foundry facility in Lubbock, Texas. As the only silicon carbide fab in the country, its modernization is necessary to increase production and bolster global decarbonization initiatives. The investment will create an estimated 15 jobs.

“This proposed investment allows Coherent to accelerate its industry leadership in InP technology and manufacturing,” said Giovanni Barbarossa, chief strategy officer and president of materials segment at Coherent. 

SkyWater CEO Thomas Sonderman stated, “As America’s Trusted Foundry, through our business model and expanding capabilities, we are creating a national asset for technology development, which is in a critical state domestically.”

Rico Tillner, CEO of X-FAB Texas, added, “The demand for silicon carbide technologies will be strong for the long term and we are proud to provide solutions that support the transition to electric mobility and renewable energy sources.”

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo commented, “Today’s proposed investments across Texas and Minnesota would help bolster domestic chip production and help secure our supply chain for decades to come.”

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Brad Welch Named Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center CIO
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Brad Welch Named Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center CIO

The U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center has promoted Brad Welch, most recently digital transformation program director, as chief information officer.

Welch announced his appointment as CIO in a LinkedIn post published Tuesday.

He recently served as a senior service college fellow at the Defense Acquisition University.

According to his LinkedIn profile, the newly appointed CIO first joined the Army DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center in 2000 as a deputy project manager.

As a deputy project manager, he oversaw the development and deployment of the launcher and command and control system for the country’s first hypersonic capability. He also served as a multimission launcher deputy program director and tech chief between 2017 and 2019.

The University of Kentucky electrical and electronics engineering graduate started his career as a design engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Indiana.

What Is the Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center?

The Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center plays a key role in providing research, development, engineering technology and support services for the branch’s aviation and missile platforms.

The Redstone Arsenal, Alabama-based center has approximately 11,000 government and contract employees focused on rapidly transitioning technologies, finding creative platforms and providing synergistic expertise to clients and other stakeholders.

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USPTO Announces Members of Council for Inclusive Innovation
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USPTO Announces Members of Council for Inclusive Innovation

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has appointed 10 new members to the Council for Inclusive Innovation, or CI2.

USPTO said Friday the new council members will work on an action plan to implement the agency’s National Strategy for Inclusive Innovation and develop more ideas to advance innovation. 

The new CI2 members are:

  • Christopher James, president and CEO, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
  • Grant Warner, executive director, Center for Black Entrepreneurship
  • Herve Hoppenot, president and CEO, Incyte
  • Liren Chen, president and CEO, InterDigital
  • Mae Jemison, founder, The Jemison Group
  • Megan Smith, CEO and founder, shift7
  • Pamela Melroy, deputy administrator, NASA
  • Rory Cooper, National Medal of Technology and Innovation Laureate and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Pittsburgh
  • Tony Allen, president, Delaware State University
  • Wendy Lea, co-founder and partner, TechHubNow!

“Increasing participation in our innovation ecosystem is a national and economic imperative,” said Kathi Vidal, under secretary of Commerce for intellectual property and USPTO director.

“We need everyone at bat to lift American communities and solve world problems. This Council’s leadership will define how we work together to break down existing barriers to foster American competitiveness and drive our society and economy forward,” added Vidal.

What Are Some of CI2’s Initiatives?

Since its establishment in 2020, CI2 has introduced initiatives to generate jobs and promote innovation, including an innovative internship program and an initiative to speed up the examination of patent applications from first-time filers.

The council will continue to develop strategies to drive innovation and provide increased access to the innovation ecosystem.

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Amanda Gentry Named Inaugural Director of New AFMC Office
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Amanda Gentry Named Inaugural Director of New AFMC Office

Amanda Gentry, a 23-year leadership and engineering veteran, has been selected as the inaugural director of the Integrated Development Office at the Air Force Materiel Command. The appointment was announced on Dec. 2.

According to the AFMC, Gentry will spearhead the newly established office’s daily operations and lead a team of around 200 personnel. She will report directly to the AFMC Commander, Gen. Duke Richardson, who will serve as the IDO’s capability development executive officer, or CDEO. 

Amanda Gentry’s Career

Gentry most recently served as director of the Sensors Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory. In her over three years at the directorate, she managed a team of 1,200 personnel responsible for enhancing the intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, precision engagement and electronic warfare systems of the Air, Space and Cyber forces.

The IDO director previously served as senior systems engineer and director of engineering at the Air Force’s Office for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. She was also the team lead of F-35 Science and Technology at the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office and served in various engineering-related roles during her initial stint with the AFRL.

Integrated Development Office

The IDO, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is positioned to partner with the Integrated Capabilities Command in accelerating capability development through the Air Force’s great power competition re-optimization efforts. The IDO supervises the acquisition portion of capability development while the ICC spearheads the modernization prioritization efforts. The IDO also serves as the program office and execution arm of the CDEO.

“If you look at all the Air Force re-optimization decisions, I believe the creation of the ICC and the IDO are the most consequential,” said Richardson.

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Absolics, Entegris Awarded $152M for Semiconductor Packaging
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Absolics, Entegris Awarded $152M for Semiconductor Packaging

The Department of Commerce has awarded Absolics and Entegris a combined $152 million in funding to expand domestic production of critical semiconductor components.

The department said Thursday the investments, under under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities, are intended to strengthen the nation’s supply chain security by constructing and expanding manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Colorado.

New Projects Funded Under the CHIPS Incentives Program

Under the new set of CHIPS investments, SKC affiliate Absolics will receive up to $75 million in direct funding to construct a semiconductor facility in Covington, Georgia. The 120,000 square-foot facility will house the development and production of the company’s glass substrate technology, utilized in semiconductor advanced packaging.

The DOC awarded Entegris up to $77 million in direct funding to expand its operations in Colorado Springs to bolster the production of materials and equipment for the production of advanced semiconductor chips. The manufacturing center funded by the investment is expected to be operational by 2025. It will produce liquid filtration products and Front-Opening-Unified Pods—specialized containers for semiconductor wafers.

Around 1,200 construction, manufacturing and R&D jobs are expected to be available courtesy of the Absolics investment. Meanwhile, the Entegris project will generate around 900 jobs.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, stated, “As a result of these investments, the states of Colorado and Georgia will play an important role in revitalizing the U.S. semiconductor industry while creating thousands of jobs in the process.”

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GovCon Index Starts December in Decline
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GovCon Index Starts December in Decline

Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Index sustained a 2.45% decline during the first week of December, closing at an average of $5,176.36.

GovCon Index tracks and displays real-time stock market data for 30 major government contracting organizations. Site visitors can use this information to analyze each enterprise’s performance and examine the GovCon environment’s overall trends.

Palantir’s AI Stock Growth 

Palantir Technologies’ stock rose 13.8% in five days and increased 6.22% before the weekend. On Friday, the data analytics firm announced that it will partner with Anduril, a defense technology company, to enhance the adoption of AI for national security initiatives. 

At $76.34 per share, Palantir’s stock has increased 344.61% year-to-date. AI company NVIDIA is runner-up to Palantir with a 187.71% increase. 

On Tuesday, Palantir also revealed the company received a FedRAMP high baseline authorization from the U.S. government for its two cloud service products. 

AeroVironment’s Stock Loss

AeroVironment recorded a 15.88% loss on Thursday and a 16.03% decrease during the week. In response to the company’s drop in drone sales this year, AeroVironment’s fiscal year 2025 net revenue declined 136.5% year-over-year to $7.54 million. 

Visit GovConIndex.com to view the full list of tracked organizations and learn more about daily GovCon Index performances.

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Senate Bill Seeks Intel Community Partnerships for Tech Access
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Senate Bill Seeks Intel Community Partnerships for Tech Access

Four senators have filed the Enable IC Partnerships Act, a bipartisan bill that would promote public and private collaboration with the intelligence community in the adoption of advanced technologies and development of technical talents.

One of the bill’s proponents, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Az., said the U.S. intelligence community grows stronger once equipped with the tools necessary to tackle foreseen threats to national security.

“This bipartisan effort will make it easier for our intelligence agencies to leverage partnerships to secure state-of-the-art technology and talent, ensuring the U.S. maintains an edge over adversaries,” Kelly remarked.

Kelly’s co-authors in the measure are Sens. John Cornyn, R-Tx.; Mark Warner, D-Va.; and James Lankford, R-Ok. 

Who Are the Potential IC Partners?

A statement from Kelly’s office issued on Friday noted that the intelligence community’s acquisition officials must be able to access public and private capital for the acquisition of technologies suited to address global threats to national security. 

The office also said the lenders that could be explored for potential partnerships under the bill include the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital, as well as private financial institutions.

“Through IC partnerships with federal lending agencies like DOD’s Office of Strategic Capital and fostering greater IC public-private partnerships, we can better equip collectors and analysts with the tools to meet workforce demand and strengthen our national security,” Cornyn said.

Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted that U.S. intelligence operations must meet the rapid rise of the technological capabilities of U.S. adversaries, stating, “This legislation would help give the IC the support, funding and flexibility needed to better protect our national security.”  

Kelly, Warner, Cornyn and Lankford are also co-authors of the proposed Enabling New Agile Buying-power and Leveraging Enhancements in Intelligence Community Acquisitions Act, which seeks to streamline IC’s acquisition of advanced technologies.

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