The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule amending the department’s authority to determine whether certain transactions involving information and communications technology and services pose risks to national security.

Based on feedback received from the public, the Commerce Department has ruled to revise its interim rule to include potential risk indicators related to connected software applications, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.

Among the indicators are a lack of thorough and reliable third-party auditing of connected software applications, the scope and sensitivity of data collected by connected such applications and the use of these applications to conduct surveillance that enables espionage.

The final rule also specifies “end-point computing devices” and “via the internet” to clarify the terminology of connected software applications.

The Department of Defense has released its inaugural plan meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the enterprise.

The plan outlines ways to lower GHG emissions from installation energy use, such as reducing DOD’s dependence on offsite energy sources by focusing on increasing energy measures and on-site clean energy generation and storage and leveraging available data to inform decisions and evaluate progress.

The document also details measures to mitigate emissions associated with the use of operational energy.

These include reducing OE demand by strengthening platform efficiency; exploring new operating concepts and deploying new equipment; advancing technology innovation and adoption; and substituting current fuels with sustainable liquid fuels.

The plan also offers information on DOD’s tech innovation efforts, such as the Environmental Security Certification and Technology Program.

According to the document, ESTCP supports initiatives that seek to enhance energy efficiency by adapting commercial lighting, heating/ventilation/air conditioning; building envelope and energy management and controls; prototyping low carbon-footprint building materials; and improving control systems cybersecurity.

The National Science Foundation has selected 34 semifinalists for an inaugural competition that seeks to promote regional growth, teaming and innovation in several technology areas, including advanced manufacturing, bioeconomy, microelectronics, quantum, logistics and supply chain and sustainable energy.

NSF said Wednesday it received 188 concept outlines for the Regional Innovation Engines competition and selected the semifinalists after a review of proposals.

The semifinalists are led by companies, universities, nonprofits and other organizations from various U.S. states and territories.

The agency will assess each team’s competitive advantages, workforce development efforts and resources and budget for proposed research initiatives.

NSF plans to announce the teams that will transition to the final round in July.

Each awardee under the NSF Engines competition, which was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, will initially receive approximately $15 million over a two-year period.

According to the agency, semifinalists not selected to secure an award through the contest may be eligible for up to $1 million in NSF Engine Development Award for two years to help develop their initial ecosystems, compete for additional funding and further develop partnerships.

Click here to see the full list of NSF Engines semifinalists.

Laura Stanton, a General Services Administration official, said federal agencies looking to improve employee performance, offer compliance-related courses and flexible learning options and provide training on cloud, software and other information technology areas should consider using the Training Courses Special Item Number on the Multiple Award Schedule.

The departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Social Security Administration and other federal agencies spent more than $46 million on services through the Training SIN in 2022, Stanton, assistant commissioner for the office of IT category at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog post published Thursday.

Stanton discussed how a government agency used the IT Training SIN to facilitate the installation of distance learning options in support of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She cited how the special item number enabled a military base to immediately deploy virtual courses for enlisted personnel and officers and tap the services of small businesses.

“This meant that even during an almost two-year pandemic, more than 75 critical employees received training through one thousand hours of CLP-accredited courses. It also allowed the base to track certificates of completion in real-time,” Stanton wrote.

The Department of Defense has selected an Army Research Laboratory-led project team that aims to advance precision weapons with quantum technology as the winner of the 2024 Applied Research for Advancement of Science and Technology Priorities competition.

The CLassical quantum hybrid constructs to Advance Weapons Systems project will receive $45 million in funding to develop a quantum-based capability that would enable “greater precision at longer range, lower collateral damage and more agile platforms,” the DOD said Wednesday.

CLAWS is among the three finalists selected from the nine proposals received for the ARAP competition. Each finalist team was given the opportunity to brief DOD’s Science and Technology Executive Committee on its proposal.

The winning project was chosen based on its ability to address capability needs, eligibility for applied research funding and capacity to boost collaboration across the U.S. military.

The Army Research Laboratory submitted the CLAWS project in partnership with the Naval Research Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory.