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NSF to Fund Selected Secure Data Demo Projects
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NSF to Fund Selected Secure Data Demo Projects

The National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics has awarded over $10 million to fund multiple organizations’ proposals for the National Secure Data Service Demonstration Project.

The chosen projects will develop a platform for shared services to support informed decision-making through streamlined data access, enhanced data linkage and strengthened privacy protections, according to America’s DataHub Consortium, or ADC.

The NSDS projects are expected to advance ethical data use and data security for individuals and organizations, ADC added.

The organizations were selected following a competitive process; they include NORC at the University of Chicago, Mathematica, BrightQuery, University of Southern California, The Coleridge Initiative, Clarivate and Westat.

NCSES Director Emilda Rivers said ADC’s work in the NSDS program led to the development of tools that use privacy-preserving technologies and the establishment of models for a comprehensive data concierge service.

“It’s been an exciting couple of years for the ADC in its support of the five-year National Secure Data Service Demonstration project mandated by the CHIPS and Science Act,” Rivers noted.

Managed by Advanced Technology International, ADC is used by the NCSES to facilitate the NSDS pilot projects.

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DOD Developing CHAPPIE for CBRN Defense
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DOD Developing CHAPPIE for CBRN Defense

The Department of Defense has introduced CHAPPIE, a quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle, or QUGV, being developed for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear—a.k.a. CBRN—field operations.

The U.S. Space Force said Tuesday CHAPPIE is one of two QUGVs at the Buckley Space Force Base repurposed for CBRN operations.

What Are CHAPPIE’s Main Features?

CHAPPIE is an unmanned system that is enhanced with remote CBRN sensing capabilities. It has an updated inventory of detectors that separates it from other systems utilized for CBRN defense.

The QUGV is still under development to enhance its capabilities, including its agility, mobility and ability to navigate challenging terrains. With emerging innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence and sensor technologies, there is the potential to boost CHAPPIE’s ability to detect and respond to threats quickly and more accurately. 

Dominic Garcia, section chief of the Installation Office of Emergency Management, started the QUGV project in 2022 after he received $1.24 million from the Small Business Innovation Research Grant through AFWERX, the technology and trial experimentation division of the Air Force Research Laboratory. The developers managed to conduct tests at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Dugway Proving Ground in just 20 months. At present, the project is 90 percent complete.

“This QUGV is not only an operational game-changer for CBRN defense but also serves as a proof of concept for technological innovation within the Air and Space Forces,” said Garcia. “The AFWERX vehicle allows end-users from the force, regardless of rank, to collaborate directly with industry to develop what the multi-capable warfighter needs at the speed of relevance, not 10 to 15 years later.”

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DIU Issues RFI for National OnRamp Strategy
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DIU Issues RFI for National OnRamp Strategy

The Defense Innovation Unit has released a request for information to determine the potential of creating a cooperative agreement supporting its National OnRamp initiative.

According to the notice posted on Sam.gov on Nov. 1, the possible cooperative agreement aims to help non-traditional companies, particularly in the dual-use and commercial technology sectors, to rapidly deploy services critical for military use.

DIU is seeking a possible entity that will manage its OnRamp hubs and help boost its presence across the United States. The company will also supervise the digital efforts for the National OnRamp. In addition, the recipient will be responsible for accomplishing requirements analysis for government needs and reviewing unsolicited applications to identify potential projects.

What Is DIU’s National OnRamp Initiative?

The National OnRamp strategy is designed to streamline engagement between the Department of Defense and non-traditional companies. It is also meant to boost its nationwide presence to enhance relationships with the academic sector, startups and commercial companies.

There are currently five DIU offices and eight geographic regions, along with OnRamp hubs in Phoenix, Dayton, Seattle, Wichita and Honolulu. DIU plans to expand further to include more hubs, flagship DIU offices and a physical presence through a distributed team, which may involve public-private partnerships.

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State Department Eyes AI Marketplace for Personnel
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State Department Eyes AI Marketplace for Personnel

The State Department is working to develop a new artificial intelligence marketplace that would deliver specialized AI capabilities to its employees across the agency, Nextgov/FCW reported Friday.

Matthew Graviss, chief data and artificial intelligence officer at the State Department, said the agency expects the planned AI marketplace to serve as a flexible vehicle for approved AI software offerings.

Why Does the State Department Need an AI Marketplace?

According to the report, the marketplace will initially address the model and data requirements for specific use cases and AI guardrails to help ensure security for the department’s end users.

“You have chief information officers, chief data officers throughout various bureaus of the State Department who we want to help in accelerating their modernization through artificial intelligence,” Graviss stated.

“So what we’re going through right now is those requirements of ‘What can we do as an enterprise provider to help them accelerate their journey? How do we support them in allowing them to connect their data, their workflow, to AI tools so that they can gain efficiency and effectiveness in servicing their missions, their ambassadors [and] their diplomats overseas?'” he added.

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SBA Reports Record Number of Certified SBs, Launches New Platform
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SBA Reports Record Number of Certified SBs, Launches New Platform

The Small Business Administration announced that it certified more than 17,000 small businesses in fiscal year 2024, up 40 percent from federal contracting certifications recorded in FY 2023.

MySBA Certifications Platform Goes Live

SBA said Monday a new online tool, called MySBA Certifications, is now live and has started accepting applications.

The online platform, which was first announced in late July, is designed to improve the digital experience for small enterprises when applying for and managing multiple federal contracting certifications.

The agency expects MySBA Certifications to reduce the paperwork burden for certifying businesses and enable companies to manage all federal contracting certifications in a single place and access resources to help them win contracts.

“To increase opportunities for America’s small business owners, the SBA has rolled out MySBA Certifications, a streamlined technology tool that makes it easier for entrepreneurs to apply for multiple certifications with a single application,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman.

Proposed Expansion of Rule of Two

Guzman also cited the agency’s proposed expansion of the Rule of Two to increase contracting opportunities for small businesses.

In late October, SBA started soliciting feedback on a proposed rule that would apply the Rule of Two to multiple-award contract task and delivery orders as part of a push to encourage the participation of small enterprises in multiple-award contracts.

Under the Rule of Two, an agency must set aside the award for small businesses when there is an expectation of receiving bids at reasonable prices from two or more small business contract holders under the multiple-award contract.

Comments on the proposed rule are due Dec. 24.

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Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth on NGA Maven, GEOINT AI
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Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth on NGA Maven, GEOINT AI

Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, discussed GEOINT artificial intelligence and advances with the NGA Maven program during a fireside chat at a four-day conference held in October in Omaha, Nebraska.

During the event, the NGA director cited the role of GEOINT AI in targeting, warning and navigation safety and NGA’s progress with Maven, the agency said Tuesday.

Under the Maven program, AI and computer capabilities are integrated into analytic workflows to help detect and extract objects and features in video and imagery.

“NGA Maven is now a program of record that is being employed by real-world combat commanders,” Whitworth said. “NGA Maven has made its mark recently in the combination of a graphical user interface that is very agile.”

NGA’s Joint Mission Management Center

The vice admiral also discussed digital twins and NGA’s relationship with the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force through the Joint Mission Management Center, or JMMC.

Through JMMC, NGA employees work with Space Force operators to gather and distribute space-based intelligence.

“You’ve got to have a place for people to sit, discuss priorities, set thresholds and then use really good technology,” the 2024 Wash100 awardee noted. “And we’ve got some good technology that combines opportunities with requirements.”

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Air Force Opens New STRIKEWERX Innovation Lab in Louisiana
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Air Force Opens New STRIKEWERX Innovation Lab in Louisiana

The Air Force Global Strike Command’s Office of the Chief Scientist has opened a new STRIKEWERX Innovation Lab in Bossier City, Louisiana, as an addition to the company’s Innovation Hub at the Cyber Innovation Center.

The facility features augmented reality and virtual reality headsets, modeling and simulation computers, three 3D printers, a handheld 3D scanner, a prototyping space and a design studio with teleconferencing capabilities, STRIKEWERX said Monday, adding that the lab expands the Innovation Hub’s footprint by 2,000 sq. ft.

According to Cyber Innovation Center President Kevin Nolten, the laboratory will empower airmen “to bring to life ideas for their projects and improve the outcomes of our STRIKEWERX Design Sprints.”

AFGSC Chief Scientist Donna Senft agreed, noting that the Innovation Lab will provide airmen with the tools to fabricate prototype solutions to work problems they encounter.

Potential Impacts of the Lab

The new facility will allow airmen to experiment with the latest AR/VR capabilities, work with the latest software development programs and develop prototypes of physical solutions. The laboratory also provides a demonstration and presentation space to promote increased industry and academic collaboration, STRIKEWERX explained.

Following the Innovation Lab’s completion, the CIC has successfully delivered 78 solutions to the U.S. Air Force.

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Army Project Office Discusses Acquisition Needs, Focus Areas
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Army Project Office Discusses Acquisition Needs, Focus Areas

Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army, a project office handling acquisition programs related to human capital solutions for the U.S. Army, held its first Broadcast to Industry event in October.

The event, which took place virtually and was attended by IPPS-A leaders and over 200 people, sought to help businesses understand how they can support the project office, according to a news article posted Monday on the Program Executive Office Enterprise website.

Open APIs

Speakers tackled a variety of topics, including IPPS-A’s embracing of modern software acquisition practices, the office’s adoption of return-on-investment thinking, a shift to government-owned continuous integration/continuous delivery pipelines and a need for open application programming interfaces, a.k.a. open APIs.

Commenting on the API requirement, IPPS-A Project Manager Col. Matthew Paul said, “I have 67 unique system interface agreements. It is really hard to manage, and it creates a lot of overhead.” He went on to underscore the need to pivot to unified data reference architecture and establish an API strategy.

Flexible Requirements

Paul also discussed the need for flexibility in acquisition requirements, as in the case of the Accessions Information Environment program, which delivers a defense business system used by recruiters for soldier enlistment.

“Every three months, we revisit the requirements and our backlog. And we rack and stack and change our priorities based on user feedback and the evolving mission,” the project manager said.

Modular Contracts

In line with requirement flexibility, Paul said modular contract structures are also necessary, as illustrated by IPPS-A’s Army Military Pay. The contract “is structured around three-month increments, with planning at the front end and a retrospective at the back end, with two-week sprints in between. Within the three-month period, we are constantly evaluating contractor performance. And every three months, we reprioritize as necessary. The intent is to always remain centered around customer value,” the project manager explained.

Better User Experience

Another key focus for IPPS-A is better software user experience. Paul said customers become frustrated when software requires too many steps or even formal training to operate proficiently. Enhancing user experience can be achieved via more intuitive interfaces and artificial intelligence.

Communicating With Industry Partners

IPPS-A Deputy Project Manager Patrick McKinney, who was also part of the Broadcast to Industry event, said partners in industry are critical to his organization’s success. “We want you to better understand our requirements, so you are better equipped to respond to our requests for proposals,” he added.

For his part, Paul his commitment to communicate with industry partners “early and often” regarding new business opportunities, adding, “My goal is to provide you with a minimum of 18-months’ notice before we embark on a new procurement action, so you can align your bid-and-proposal resources.”

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NASA Sends Quantum Communications, Solar Wind Experiments to ISS
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NASA Sends Quantum Communications, Solar Wind Experiments to ISS

NASA has launched a set of scientific instruments and experiments on the SpaceX Dragon capsule as part of its International Space Station resupply mission. The space agency said the spacecraft lifted off with over 6,000 pounds of supply on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday at 9:29 p.m. Eastern time.

The capsule docked at the forward port of the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module on Tuesday. 

New ISS Experiments

Scientists on the space station regularly conduct experiments in microgravity across a range of disciplines, from space science to biology and biotechnology. 

As part of the SpaceX 31st commercial resupply mission, NASA sent the Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment, or SEAQUE, from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California. 

SEAQUE is a technology demonstration that will explore how quantum technologies can improve communications across vast distances. If successful, the experiment may pave the way for quantum communication systems globally and in space. 

The commercial resupply mission also brought to the ISS the COronal Diagnostic EXperiment, a study on solar winds. The CODEX uses a solar coronagraph that blocks out sunlight to reveal details on its outer atmosphere. 

NASA said the experiment aims to understand the elements that heat up solar wind to a million degrees hotter than the surface of the Sun and catapults it outward to travel across the solar system at almost a million miles per hour. 

Research on how space impacts Antarctic moss and different materials also arrived at the ISS. 

SpaceX Launch to the ISS

The mission marks the 11th SpaceX launch under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract. The first-stage Falcon 9 booster and the Dragon capsule used during the flight previously supported four other missions. 

Dragon will remain docked to the ISS for a month and will return to Earth in December with research and cargo. It is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida.

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NAVAIR Provides Navy, USMC With Digital Tools
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NAVAIR Provides Navy, USMC With Digital Tools

The Naval Air Systems Command is providing the Navy and the Marine Corps with digital applications to help the services with their launch and recovery tracking operations.

The command’s latest offering is the E-28 dashboard, a tool that monitors international military sites and provides visualizations of collected data to defense stakeholders, NAVAIR said Monday.

Built for the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Program Office by Tarun Patel of Digital Application Developer, the E-28 dashboard allows users to view airfield gear status, planned inspections and manning and supply deficiencies. The tool also informs decision-making and provides users with enhanced situational awareness.

What Does E-28 Do?

According to Patel, the dashboard enables warfighters to solve problems faster and face adversaries more efficiently. To date, the developer has delivered 14 digital tools to the Navy, including the Nimitz Launch and Recovery Readiness Tool, which supports real-time observation for aircraft carriers.

Justin Homme, Nimitz-class level two integrated product lead, described the dashboard tools as ‘complete game-changers,’ noting that they reduce work hours and increase safety and visibility.

Following the E-28 digital dashboard’s demonstration in October, Patel will again showcase the tool to a NAVAIR command leadership team. The demo will occur in the coming months once the system is fed with several months of data.

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