NSF Creates 10 Inaugural Regional Innovation Engines in 18 States; Sethuraman Panchanathan Quoted
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NSF Creates 10 Inaugural Regional Innovation Engines in 18 States; Sethuraman Panchanathan Quoted

The National Science Foundation is investing up to $1.6 billion over 10 years in 10 teams designated as its first Regional Innovation Engines.

NSF announced Monday that it is infusing an initial $150 million in innovation hubs covering Florida, Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New York and the Great Lakes region.

The NSF Engines aim to translate research and development into economic competitiveness across different regions in the U.S. The awardees come from industries ranging from semiconductors to energy, defense and aerospace, medicine, textiles and agriculture.

Regional hubs who make significant progress toward established goals may receive up to $160 million from NSF in the next decade, according to the foundation.

“NSF Engines hold significant promise to elevate and transform entire geographic regions into world-leading hubs of innovation,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.

OMB Seeks Public Comments on Privacy Impact Assessments
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OMB Seeks Public Comments on Privacy Impact Assessments

The Office of Management and Budget has begun soliciting public feedback on how to improve the use of privacy impact assessments, or PIAs, to mitigate privacy risks associated with artificial intelligence, data capabilities and other technological advances.

OMB wants responses to several questions, including potential improvements to PIAs that could help better understand assessment of privacy impacts and risk mitigation strategies of agencies and how can agencies improve awareness of PIAs among stakeholders, according to a request for information published Tuesday in Federal Register.

Interested stakeholders can share their insights on privacy risks specific to the training, evaluation or use of AI that agencies should consider when conducting PIAs and on the role of PIAs in helping agencies identify and report on their use of commercially available information containing personally identifiable information.

Comments are due April 1.

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Register here to attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 21 and hear federal leaders and industry experts discuss the latest developments in the field.

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FirstNet Authority Board OKs ‘Network Evolution’ Resolution; Joe Wassel Quoted
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FirstNet Authority Board OKs ‘Network Evolution’ Resolution; Joe Wassel Quoted

The First Responder Network Authority Board has approved a resolution to increase network coverage and speed up the transition of the national public safety broadband network to 5G capabilities.

The board cleared Resolution 117, called “Network Evolution,” and raised the authority’s fiscal year 2024 investment budget to $547 million during its virtual meeting on Monday, FirstNet Authority reported.

In August, the FirstNet Authority Board approved a budget package of $451 million to fund operations and pursue network improvements in FY 2024.

“This investment is the next major milestone in the FirstNet Authority’s efforts to expand and upgrade public safety’s network,” said Joe Wassel, executive director and CEO of the FirstNet Authority.

“We are accelerating the evolution of FirstNet’s 5G capabilities and making sure the network continues to deliver the innovation and reliability that first responders need, now and in the future,” Wassel added.

The latest network investment came a month after AT&T completed a five-year initial buildout of FirstNet.

Approximately 27,500 public safety agencies and organizations in the U.S. are using the FirstNet network, which now supports over 5.5 million connections.

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Senate Bill Aims to Boost Space Traffic Coordination in LEO
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Senate Bill Aims to Boost Space Traffic Coordination in LEO

A bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers has introduced legislation that would authorize the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce to create a space traffic coordination system to provide the public access to unclassified information on space activities in low Earth orbit.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a statement published Thursday the Situational Awareness of Flying Elements in Orbit Act, or SAFE Orbit Act, would require the OSC to collect and share relevant data to boost space situational awareness, also known as SSA.

“Building our knowledge of objects orbiting in space and their surrounding environments well help us mitigate the risks associated with space exploration and commercial space development,” Cornyn said.

Under the SAFE Orbit Act, the OSC must make basic services available for public use via an accessible web-based interface at no charge, maintain a public catalog of SSA data and information and develop and implement voluntary industry consensus standards.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.

The OSC recently convened members of its Independent Review Board to review and provide feedback on the Traffic Coordination System for Space program, which aims to provide data and services related to spaceflight safety, space sustainability and international coordination.

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GSA Begins Federal Acquisition Service Catalog Platform Rollout; Robin Carnahan Quoted
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GSA Begins Federal Acquisition Service Catalog Platform Rollout; Robin Carnahan Quoted

The General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service has unveiled a web-based platform designed to manage vendor catalogs on the GSA Advantage! purchasing website.

The new FAS Catalog Platform, or FCP, integrates with the agency’s eMod contract modification tool and replaces the Schedule Input Program meant to facilitate the process of uploading and accessing catalogs for Multiple Award Schedule contractors, GSA said Monday.

FCP provides contractors access to market research data by automatically providing a compliance and pricing report, as well as publishes modifications within two days. It also features automated data validation checks, a central hub to assess catalog actions and statuses and a shared user interface between vendors, contract specialists and vendor support center personnel.

“This is a game-changer because it streamlines the process and reduces the time it takes for contractors to get their catalogs updated,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan.

“By using the great feedback from the pilot program, we’re moving closer to accomplishing one of our big goals: making it easier for people to do business with the federal government and succeed in the federal marketplace,” added Carnahan.

GSA expects to onboard the majority of Schedule contractors in fiscal year 2024 with plans to conduct a pilot for service functionality by the end of FY 2024.

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White House Issues Progress Report on Initiatives From Executive Order on Trustworthy AI Use
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White House Issues Progress Report on Initiatives From Executive Order on Trustworthy AI Use

The Biden administration has disclosed key initiatives to follow through on its Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

The action items include a search for talent to help implement responsible AI use while improving government services and a program to educate K-12 up to college undergraduate students about the technology, the White House announced Monday.

The National AI Talent Surge will help foster research, development and innovation and create policies regarding civil rights, privacy and safety, said Deirdre Mulligan, principal deputy U.S. chief technology officer, and Mina Hsiang, administrator of the U.S. Digital Service. Interested applicants can visit ai.gov/apply for more information.

Meanwhile, a program called EducateAI will be led by the National Science Foundation to provide learning opportunities beginning in the K-12 level. The goal is to lay the foundation for future AI experts that can be recruited into the federal workforce.

On March 21, government officials will join AI industry experts in sharing insights and updates about the future of the technology in the public sector. Register now for the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit.

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DOD Launches 1st AI Bias Bounty to Uncover Risks in Large Language Models
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DOD Launches 1st AI Bias Bounty to Uncover Risks in Large Language Models

The Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has launched the first round of its new artificial intelligence crowdsourced effort to identify biases in generative AI systems.

CDAO is spearheading the first AI Bias Bounty exercise in partnership with ConductorAI, Bugcrowd and BiasBounty.AI to generate novel approaches to algorithmic auditing and red-teaming AI models to find unknown risks in large language models, starting with open-source chatbots, the Pentagon said Monday.

“Given the Department’s current focus on risks associated with LLMs, the CDAO is actively monitoring this area; the outcome of the AI Bias Bounties could powerfully impact future DoD AI policies and adoption,” said Craig Martell, chief digital and AI officer at DOD and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

DOD invites members of the public to participate in the bounty and earn monetary rewards for their findings based on evaluation by ConductorAI-Bugcrowd.

The first bounty exercise will run from Jan. 29 through Feb. 27.

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DIU Requests Proposals for Production-Ready Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle Interceptors
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DIU Requests Proposals for Production-Ready Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle Interceptors

The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking proposals for small unmanned surface vehicle interceptors, or sUSVs, capable of coordinating and cooperating in groups while executing a shared task in contested environments.

DIU said in a commercial solutions opening announcement that it is looking for a group of sUSV interceptors using five primary metrics: production readiness, vehicle performance, sense-and-avoid, autonomous intercept and acceptance of collaborative multi-agent autonomy solutions.

The interceptors must also be able to carry a readily deployable small unmanned aircraft system, or sUAS, to help search for and localize ships of interest and adjust emissions control posture when in the vicinity of specific vessels and aircraft.

DIU encourages partnerships and teaming arrangements to integrate individual companies’ specializations into a single sUSV interceptor offering that is production-ready, affordable and operationally effective.

Responses are due Feb. 12.

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Executive Mosaic Honors CACI’s John Mengucci & Army’s Christine Wormuth With 2024 Wash100 Award
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Executive Mosaic Honors CACI’s John Mengucci & Army’s Christine Wormuth With 2024 Wash100 Award

Executive Mosaic spotlighted CACI President and CEO John Mengucci and Army Secretary Christine Wormuth for their induction into the 2024 Wash100 class on Tuesday.

The coveted Wash100 Award annually honors the most powerful figures shaping the government contracting industry. Its 11th class represents the highest tier of GovCon leaders, who were selected for both their past achievements and forward momentum.

Mengucci’s 2024 win marks his fifth consecutive year as a Wash100 awardee. This year, he was recognized for spearheading innovation and securing major contracts for CACI, which include a $2.7 billion National Security Agency contract and a $5.7 billion blanket purchase agreement with the Department of the Air Force. Read his full profile here.

Wormuth earned her second Wash100 Award this year for her work to architect the U.S. Army’s future. By guiding major initiatives like the Army of 2030 and Army of 2040, Wormuth has continuously demonstrated a strong commitment to transforming the service branch. Click here to read her full profile.

Each year, Wash100 gives you the opportunity to choose your favorite winners through its popular vote contest. Click here to join the competition and cast your votes.

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USAID Leads Request for Information for Proposed AI in Global Development Playbook
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USAID Leads Request for Information for Proposed AI in Global Development Playbook

The United States Agency for International Development, Department of State and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are inviting feedback from experts to guide them in developing a playbook for artificial intelligence in global development.

The AI in Global Development Playbook is a directive from the October 2023 Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, according to a Federal Register notice posted by USAID on Friday.

The agencies are interested in hearing from people located in global majority countries about the barriers to responsible design and deployment of AI technologies in compliance with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

They also want to know the variances in benefits and risks of AI among marginalized, disadvantaged and similar groups, as well as in different cultures and geographical regions.

The Potomac Officers Club will hold its 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 21 in Falls Church, Virginia. Join experts from government and industry in discussing the increasing integration of AI into the public sector’s processes and operations. Register now.

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