AFRL Information Directorate Unveils Facility for Developing Advanced Computing Technologies
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AFRL Information Directorate Unveils Facility for Developing Advanced Computing Technologies

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate has unveiled a new facility in Rome, New York, focused on developing high-technology quantum computing capabilities for the warfighter.

The Extreme Computing Facility features two laboratories for quantum computing, networking and security and two neuromorphic computing laboratories for cognitive machine learning research, AFRL said Monday.

Michael Hayduk, deputy director of the AFRL Information Directorate, said the establishment of the state-of-the-art facility represents “a new era” for advancing the development, integration and deployment of next-generation computing technologies for the Department of the Air Force.

Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility and announced $44 million in additional funding from the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense spending bill to support quantum computing programs at the Rome site.

The new federal funding includes $10 million for distributed quantum networking testbed and quantum cloud computing environment and another $10 million for a Joint All-Domain Command and Control testbed to create an operational-like environment for testing new multidomain technologies.

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Army Seeks White Papers for Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Swarm
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Army Seeks White Papers for Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Swarm

The U.S. Army’s Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office is fielding white papers from vendors with capabilities to develop and demonstrate technologies that can detect, track, identify and/or defeat sUAS swarm systems.

In a notice posted Thursday on SAM.gov, JCO and the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office said they are assessing industry interest in a program focused on fixed, stationary, mobile or mounted DTID technologies, which can be demonstrated by June 2024.

The competitive solicitation is open to commercial available products as well as concept demonstrations from academic institutions and businesses of all sizes.

The service branch aims to select a cost-effective prototype that can respond to a swarm of UAS threats and are compatible with systems operated by Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control.

Interested organizations may submit their white papers until Sept. 6.

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OMB Guidance Advocates Use of US-Made Construction Materials in Infrastructure Projects
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OMB Guidance Advocates Use of US-Made Construction Materials in Infrastructure Projects

The Office of Management and Budget has issued final guidance to increase the use of U.S.-made construction materials, iron, steel and other goods in federally funded infrastructure projects.

The White House said Monday the document supports the implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The guidance seeks to implement the statutory requirements for Buy America preferences for federal financial assistance under BIL, including preferences for U.S.-manufactured steel and iron products and construction materials.

The document also includes a definition of the term “construction materials” and local manufacturing process standards for each construction material cited in the definition.

The final guidance will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and builds on the current administration’s commitment to support U.S. jobs and the manufacturing sector.

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Treasury Requests Input on Sensitive Tech Investment Oversight
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Treasury Requests Input on Sensitive Tech Investment Oversight

The Department of the Treasury has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit feedback that would inform the establishment of a program requiring U.S. persons to officially declare investments in entities located in countries of concern. It would also prohibit such persons from engaging in transactions involving technologies that pose a threat to U.S. national security.

The formation of the proposed program is in accordance with an executive order that intends to address foreign threats to U.S. national security by authorizing the secretary of the Treasury to regulate U.S. investments in geopolitically fraught countries that are involved in developing sensitive technologies, according to a Federal Register notice published Monday.

Per the notice, the program would impose the prohibition and notification requirement for transactions involving high-level technology categories: semiconductors and microelectronics, artificial intelligence and quantum information technologies.

The department wants input on the type of analysis or due diligence U.S. persons should anticipate undertaking to determine whether they are investing in a covered foreign person and seeks recommendations on how to improve clarity or refine the definitions given the program’s overall objectives.

Comments on the proposed rulemaking are due Sept. 28.

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DOE’s Fossil Energy Office Issues RFI for Proposed Responsible Carbon Management Initiative; Brad Crabtree Quoted
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DOE’s Fossil Energy Office Issues RFI for Proposed Responsible Carbon Management Initiative; Brad Crabtree Quoted

The Department of Energy is planning to launch a Responsible Carbon Management Initiative to encourage environmental stewardship, safety, transparency and social responsibility in carbon management projects.

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management on Friday issued a notice of intent and request for information to gain insights from industry and non-industry stakeholders on the best approaches to execute the program.

FECM intends to implement the initiative in two phases. The first phase will include publishing Principles for Responsible Carbon Management, comprised of eleven categories ranging from workforce development to environmental justice.

The second phase will involve a funding opportunity announcement to provide assistance to carbon management project developers looking to comply with the principles and the initiative in general.

“With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, over a hundred carbon management projects have been publicly announced in the United States, with many more likely to emerge in the near term,” FECM Assistant Secretary Brad Crabtree remarked. The initiative will provide a framework “for fostering transparency and learning through greater data and information sharing among industry, governments, communities, and other stakeholders,” he added.

The deadline for comments is on Sept. 11.

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IARPA Solicits Info on High Specific Power Photovoltaic Systems
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IARPA Solicits Info on High Specific Power Photovoltaic Systems

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity has released a request for information on systems-level approaches that could help advance the development of highly durable, high specific power photovoltaic systems for use in terrestrial, space and aerial environments.

IARPA is seeking innovative approaches to enhance the lifetime energy yield of PV systems while improving reliability and achieving greater design flexibility for mobile system designers to tailor solar cells and SC assemblies, according to the RFI published Monday.

Components of interest include optical systems, photon up or down conversion, integrated power electronics, cell architectures and PV materials.

PV materials may include perovskite, III-V and other semiconductor chemistries that can withstand decades of operation in harsh terrestrial and non-terrestrial environments.

IARPA will accept responses to the RFI no later than Sept. 20.

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CISA Requests Comments on ReadySetCyber Information Collection Initiative
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CISA Requests Comments on ReadySetCyber Information Collection Initiative

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is seeking comments on a new endeavor that collects information to provide tailored technical assistance to the government and critical infrastructure sector.

A notice published Thursday in the Federal Register states that CISA’s ReadySetCyber initiative is meant to facilitate voluntary and online-based collection of data from critical infrastructure organizations and state, local, tribal and territorial governments to inform the development of cybersecurity recommendations and services.

Through the program, CISA aims to advance the adoption of its cybersecurity performance goals to reduce cyber threat risks, enable more targeted engagement with sectors and effectively allocate capacity-constrained services to specific stakeholders.

The agency expects to submit an information collection request for ReadySetCyber to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval.

Interested parties have until Oct. 10 to submit feedback on the new initiative.

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United Launch Alliance Delivers Critical Orion Spacecraft Target for Artemis II Mission
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United Launch Alliance Delivers Critical Orion Spacecraft Target for Artemis II Mission

United Launch Alliance added a two-foot auxilliary target to NASA’s Space Launch System for use in the Artemis II manned mission to the Moon.

The target, which is installed in the in-space propulsion stage of SLS, is a critical instrument for testing the Orion spacecraft’s navigation capabilities, NASA announced Friday.

Upon reaching a high-Earth orbit, Artemis II astronauts will demonstrate the Orion’s ability to fly parallel to another large spacecraft using the target and an interim cryogenic propulsion stage. The test results will be useful for docking preparations in future Artemis flights.

ULA performed trials of the target in May at its Delta Operations Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida.

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FCC Considers Implementing Voluntary Cybersecurity Mark for Smart Devices
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FCC Considers Implementing Voluntary Cybersecurity Mark for Smart Devices

The Federal Communications Commission is soliciting public feedback on its plan to give smart device manufacturers the option to qualify for a U.S Cyber Mark on their products.

The agency on Thursday released a factsheet on the voluntary cybersecurity labeling program, three weeks after it issued a notice of proposed rulemaking.

The program would cover Internet of Things devices which, if approved, will bear the Cyber Mark declaring their safety and security for data privacy.

FCC is inviting recommendations on how to develop and qualify compliance with security standards that apply to different devices. The agency is also welcome to suggestions to ensure that the labels will not be exploited for unauthorized purposes.

“[N]ew devices—from smart televisions and thermostats to home security cameras, baby monitors, and fitness trackers…provide huge benefits because they can make our lives easier and more efficient. But this increased interconnection brings more than just convenience; it brings increased security risk,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “That is why the Commission is proposing to put in place the first-ever voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for connected smart devices.”

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USAF Commercial Venture Arm Opens Solicitation Process for Strategic Funding Increase Program
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USAF Commercial Venture Arm Opens Solicitation Process for Strategic Funding Increase Program

The U.S. Air Force is inviting small businesses to bid on its Strategic Funding Increase and Tactical Funding Increase programs for fiscal year 2024.

The notice of opportunity was issued Friday by AFVentures, a commercial investment program established by the Department of the Air Force and AFWERX.

The service branch established STRATFI/TACFI to fill development gaps between Phase II and Phase III projects under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The funding initiative is open to companies that have ongoing or completed Phase II contracts within two years of their submission of a capability package.

Interested parties may submit their capability packages for STRATFI until Sept. 27. The branch has yet to announce the submission deadline for the TACFI program.

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