Rocket Lab could receive direct funding through the CHIPS and Science Act under a nonbinding preliminary memorandum of terms it signed with the Department of Commerce and plans to use the proposed investment to establish a resilient supply of solar cells used to power satellites and other spacecraft.

The department said Tuesday the company’s space-grade solar cells are radiation-resistant compound semiconductors that could convert light to electricity, powering exploratory science missions, missile awareness systems and other key U.S. space programs.

The proposed $23.9 million CHIPS investment would enable Rocket Lab to generate over 100 direct manufacturing jobs.

“Semiconductors are central to modern life, to our economy, and to America’s future. We are proud to be strengthening that future with the support of the CHIPS Office by expanding our production facilities to meet growing demand for the semiconductors that power the nation’s most critical science, defense and commercial space missions,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.

With the expansion project, the company could increase its production of compound semiconductors by 50 percent within the next three years.

Victor Vigliotti, director of Space Systems Command’s Front Door online portal, said the Front Door has implemented automation and a new customer relationship management, or CRM, tool to help streamline processes and that his team is working to expand the platform beyond SSC.

SSC said Tuesday the Front Door portal seeks to help commercial space companies with emerging technologies facilitate collaboration with the federal government to quickly bring capabilities to warfighters.

“What we’re trying to do now is to expand the Front Door out beyond just SSC,” Vigliotti said.

“We’re working to expand it out all the way across the field commands within the U.S. Space Force, inevitably becoming the Space Force Front Door. And someday connect defense, civil, and intelligence space alike into one unified Space Front Door. This would ensure the U.S. government has full transparency into the interactions and offerings across the commercial sector,” he added.

For companies that submitted information before September 2023, Vigliotti advised them to submit again using the new portal to ensure the tracking of data in the new CRM platform.

Since the Front Door system upgrade, more than 500 businesses have submitted information through the portal.

Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital’s authority to boost investment in defense and national security technologies.

The Investing in Our Defense Act of 2024 would give OSC the authority to make limited equity investments in key technologies, grant the office hiring and pay authorities to develop its workforce and expand DOD’s critical technology areas to include critical minerals, Romney’s office said Tuesday.

The provision to include critical minerals as a key technology priority aligns with Romney’s measure in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence from adversaries such as Russia and China.

“Our legislation will enhance the Department of Defense’s ability to invest in key technologies and would strengthen our national security and help us remain globally competitive with China,” Romney said.

DOD established OSC in December 2022 to help technology developers raise capital to develop platforms for the military and national security markets.

Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific has started seeking white papers and proposals through a broad agency announcement that seeks to pursue research in areas relating to the development of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance—or C4ISR—capabilities, information technology systems, and tech platforms for information and cyberspace operations.

According to a solicitation notice published Monday, NIWC Pacific plans to hold a full and open competition for the BAA and may award procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, grants and other transactions.

“Proposed research should investigate unique and innovative approaches for defining and developing next generation integratable C4ISR capabilities and command suites,” the notice reads.

NIWC Pacific will consider proposals that lie in the areas of basic research, advanced technology development, applied research, prototypes and advanced component development.

Technical topics of interest include general C4ISR; unmanned vehicles; ubiquitous communications and computing environment; science, technology, engineering and mathematics research; advanced power and energy production and efficient use; and cryogenics and quantum.

Proposals and white papers are due June 9, 2025.

Register here to join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Navy Summit on Aug. 15 and hear government and industry leaders, innovators and experts discuss the latest technological advancements, maritime security and more.