/
OMB Guidance Advocates Use of US-Made Construction Materials in Infrastructure Projects
Published on
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.

/
Treasury Requests Input on Sensitive Tech Investment Oversight
Published on
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.

Trusted AI and Autonomy Forum

Listen to public sector leaders and technology experts as they talk about the opportunities and risks associated with generative AI and related tools at ExecutiveBiz’s Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Forum on Sept. 12. Register here.

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

/
IARPA Solicits Info on High Specific Power Photovoltaic Systems
Published on
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.

/
CISA Requests Comments on ReadySetCyber Information Collection Initiative
Published on
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.

/
United Launch Alliance Delivers Critical Orion Spacecraft Target for Artemis II Mission
Published on
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.

/
FCC Considers Implementing Voluntary Cybersecurity Mark for Smart Devices
Published on
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.”

/
USAF Commercial Venture Arm Opens Solicitation Process for Strategic Funding Increase Program
Published on
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.

/
CISA Cyber Safety Board Launches 3rd Cloud Computing Review
Published on
CISA Cyber Safety Board Launches 3rd Cloud Computing Review

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cyber Safety Review Board will conduct a study on private and public sector approaches to protecting cloud-based identity management and authentication.

The review marks the third such audit initiated by CSRB to address attacks on cloud computing environments, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday.

The board will investigate the malicious targeting of Microsoft Exchange Online in July 2023, which affected accounts owned by U.S. government agencies. After the review, CSRB is expected to make recommendations to improve cyber defense practices of government, industry and cloud service providers.

“Cloud security is the backbone of some of our most critical systems, from our e-commerce platforms to our communication tools to our critical infrastructure,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas commented. “Actionable recommendations from the CSRB will help all organizations better secure their data and further cyber resilience,” the previous Wash100 award winner added.

CISA Director Jen Easterly, another Wash100 inductee, echoed Mayorkas’ remarks. “The Board’s findings and recommendations from this assessment will advance cybersecurity practices across cloud environments and ensure that we can collectively maintain trust in these critical systems,” she said.

Earlier this month, the board released a report and corresponding actions needed in response to the hacking of federal and business accounts by ransomware group Lapsus$, which occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Army V Corps Introduces HIMARS Capabilities to Allied Partners in Germany
Published on
Army V Corps Introduces HIMARS Capabilities to Allied Partners in Germany

U.S. Army V Corps hosted an event in Grafenwohr, Germany to enhance High Mobility Artillery Rocket System interoperability with allied forces.

The European HIMARS Summit brought together representatives from NATO countries to discuss how they utilize, operate and maintain the M142 HIMARS and to explore ways to improve their operability and sustainment of the air-transportable multiple rocket launcher, the Army said Friday.

“European HIMARS initiative operation is for training and sustainment, part of V Corps’ initiative focus on our allies and partners is to develop their capability and capacity for HIMARS,” said U.S. Army Col. Wilbur Hsu, commander of 41st Field Artillery Brigade.

During the event, V Corps showcased how to transport HIMARS using a replica C-130 aircraft, highlighting the flexibility and transportability of the launch rocket system.

HIMARS is part of Lockheed Martin’s multiple launch system portfolio and carries six guided MLRS rockets or one tactical missile system mounted on a 5-ton medium tactical vehicle.

1 … 529 530 531 532 533 … 2,658