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Navy Awards JWCC Task Orders to Google, Oracle for Cloud Capabilities
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Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector. Dahut comments about Google's new JWCC task order from the Navy

The Department of the Navy’s Program Executive Office Digital and Enterprise Services, or PEO Digital, has awarded Google Public Sector and Oracle America competitive task orders under the Joint Warfighting Capability Cloud, also known as JWCC, contract vehicle to support secure and rapid cloud migration and digital transformation.

DON said Monday that the companies will provide Google Cloud Platform, or GCP, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, landing zones, expanding its cloud portfolio.

“As part of DON’s multi-cloud strategy, this Google Cloud landing zone will expand the DON’s cloud portfolio, giving Sailors and Marines – from headquarters to the tactical edge – access to industry-leading capabilities and services to support secure, rapid cloud migration and optimization,” Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector and a four-time Wash100 winner, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Navy Awards JWCC Task Orders to Google, Oracle for Cloud Capabilities

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What Cloud Capabilities Will Google & Oracle Offer DON?

The GCP and OCI landing zones will introduce cross-cloud communications and multi-cloud interoperability, secure cloud computing across classification levels through Impact Level 6, and air gapped options for edge operations. Google and Oracle will also provide private infrastructures and dedicated connections designed to increase resiliency and reduce network disruptions. Additional access to artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, including generative AI, is also included in the task orders.

“As we work to enhance and modernize our cloud computing infrastructure, a multi-cloud strategy with GCP and OCI is essential to increasing DON’s technical and warfighting capabilities,” commented Genoese Zerbi, deputy director of the Neptune Cloud Management Office, a.k.a. CMO. “This collaboration with Google and Oracle enhances our existing capabilities by combining powerful cloud-native services with mission-critical performance, directly supporting sailors and marines from headquarters to the tactical edge.”

What Is the Role of Navy’s Neptune CMO?

PEO Digital’s Neptune CMO was stood up in 2023 to serve as a hub for the acquisition and delivery of cloud services across DON. Neptune CMO previously partnered with Microsoft for the Azure Government Secret cloud offering.

INL Receives First Project Pele Nuclear Fuel Delivery From BWXT
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Idaho National Laboratory logo. INL received BWXT's TRISO fuel

Idaho National Laboratory has confirmed the first delivery of tri-structural isotropic, or TRISO, particle fuel at its Transient Reactor Test Facility, marking a milestone in the development of a mobile microreactor for the Department of War under Project Pele.

What Is TRISO?

TRISO, an advanced nuclear fuel, is produced from uranium, carbon and oxygen formed into a small kernel coated in multiple layers, creating a structure able to withstand high heat, radiation and corrosive environments, INL said Tuesday. Thousands of kernels, each the size of a poppy seed, are combined into compact fuel forms intended to power nuclear reactors.

INL Receives First Project Pele Nuclear Fuel Delivery From BWXT

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BWX Technologies, which secured a Pentagon contract in 2020 to support Project Pele, manufactured the fuel from its facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“This is real nuclear microreactor fuel delivered at its final destination, rather than some letter or memorandum promising to make fuel at a later date,” noted Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.

“When it comes to fuel fabrication, to reactor design, engineering and manufacturing, BWXT continues to lead because we are not only performing that work day-in and day-out for our customers, but we are also delivering,” added Joe Miller, president for government operations at BWXT.

How Will Project Pele Support War Department Missions?

Project Pele aims to construct a 1.5-megawatt transportable power system to supply the energy needs of the U.S. military. The reactor is designed to fit into four standard-sized shipping containers to be easily transportable.  

BWXT is currently building the Pele prototype, which INL is expected to begin testing by early 2027. The Department of Energy, the U.S. Army and the War Department’s Strategic Capabilities Office are partnering on the project.

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Lawmakers Revive AI Civil Rights Act to Prevent Algorithmic Discrimination
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US Capitol. Democrats reintroduced the AI Civil Rights Act to prevent discriminatory algorithms.

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., have reintroduced the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act, which seeks to stop companies from using biased algorithms that influence decisions affecting civil rights and access to essential opportunities. The reintroduction was announced Tuesday by the office of Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., one of the House co-leaders for the proposed legislation.

Lawmakers Revive AI Civil Rights Act to Prevent Algorithmic Discrimination

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What Types of Algorithmic Decisions Would the AI Civil Rights Act Cover?

The legislation applies to companies developing or using algorithms in critical decision-making areas, including housing, employment, lending, healthcare and education. It would prohibit algorithmic discrimination based on protected characteristics and require independently audited impact assessments before and after algorithm deployments.

The bill also requires transparency about when an algorithm is involved in a decision.

Why Are Guardrails on Algorithms Needed?

Bill sponsors referenced cases highlighted by civil rights organizations in which algorithms reflect inequities in the data used to build them. They said automated decisions are already shaping major life outcomes, and oversight is needed to ensure those systems do not replicate discrimination.

How Are Civil Rights Advocates Responding?

Supporting groups said many algorithms incorporate data influenced by longstanding inequities, which could result in unfair outcomes when applied at scale. They pointed to concerns involving mortgage approvals, hiring decisions and other processes where discrimination has been documented.

According to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the bill establishes accountability and transparency measures to help ensure algorithms do not automate bias. Other national advocacy organizations, labor groups and civil rights associations also voiced support for the standards included in the proposal.

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Army Issues RFI for CAML Munitions Pallet Development
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US Army logo. The Army's PAE Fires CAML Product Office seeks industry input on CAML pallet production.

The U.S. Army’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher Product Office has started seeking industry feedback on potential vendors capable of designing, building and testing munitions pallets for CAML, an autonomous or optionally crewed, highly mobile, air-transportable fires launcher.

Army Issues RFI for CAML Munitions Pallet Development

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According to the request for information published on SAM.gov Monday, interested contractors have until Dec. 15 to send their responses.

What Are the Army’s CAML Pallet Requirements?

The selected contractor should have the technical skills, facilities, tooling and personnel to develop and produce a munitions pallet for CAML within 12 months of contract award. 

The pallet must integrate all munitions and launcher electronics without hindering autonomous loading or unloading onto a separately developed mobility platform. It must not exceed 60,000 pounds and should be capable of being raised and lowered electronically. Palletized missiles must also be able to be erected to the required firing angle on command.

In addition, the pallet should support command-and-control launch functions through external interfaces, draw its primary power from a separately developed mobile power unit and include any necessary environmental conditioning.

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David Bottom Departs SEC, Joins Consulting Services Group as CISO
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David Bottom. The former SEC CIO has joined Consulting Services Group as CISO.

David Bottom has stepped down as chief information officer at the Securities and Exchange Commission to join Consulting Services Group as chief information security officer.

“It has been an honor to serve at the SEC with colleagues dedicated to protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation,” Bottom wrote in a LinkedIn post Monday. 

In his announcement, the former CIO at SEC highlighted his new focus at CSG, a company that provides consulting, global telecommunications, DevSecOps, IT, intelligence analysis and logistics support services for public and public sector customers.

“At CSG, I look forward to advancing the company’s cybersecurity strategy and capabilities, applying my experience at the SEC, DHS, White House and Intelligence Community to enable our current and future clients to meet the complex challenges they face. I welcome opportunities to collaborate on future initiatives that drive innovation, resilience, and stronger security across public and private sectors,” Bottom noted.

Who Is David Bottom?

Bottom served as CIO at SEC between January 2020 and September 2025, according to the agency’s website.

Before joining the commission, he was on special assignment to the CIO in the Office of Management and Budget, where he led federal cloud and artificial intelligence deployment efforts.

His government career also included time serving as CIO and chief data officer at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, as well as director of the IT directorate and deputy director of enterprise operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

He previously served as chief innovation officer within IBM’s federal intelligence practice.

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate has a master’s degree in information systems management from George Washington University.

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HHS Appoints Martin Kulldorff as Chief Science Officer for ASPE
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Martin Kulldorff. The biostatistician and epidemiologist has joined HHS ASPE as chief science officer.

The Department of Health and Human Services has named Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist, chief science officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, or ASPE.

HHS Appoints Martin Kulldorff as Chief Science Officer for ASPE

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In a statement published Monday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is pleased to welcome Kulldorff to his team “to help develop bold, evidence-based policies to Make America Healthy Again.” 

What Does ASPE Do?

ASPE provides policy advice to the HHS secretary. The department’s in-house think tank coordinates research and evaluation efforts, oversees special initiatives and planning processes across HHS, and generates cost estimates and analyses for policy options across public health and human services.

Who Is Martin Kulldorff?

Kulldorff most recently served as chair of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP.

The former Harvard Medical School professor helped create the CDC and Food and Drug Administration vaccine and drug safety surveillance systems by developing epidemiological and statistical methods for the Vaccine Safety Datalink and Sentinel systems. 

He previously served on the ACIP COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group and on the FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.

Kulldorff has over 200 peer-reviewed publications.

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War Department Plans to Cap IT Products Purchased Through Resellers
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The Department of War's logo. DOW plans to put a price cap on certain IT products procured through resellers

The Department of War plans to impose a 5 percent cap on fees that value-added resellers charge for certain IT products, according to a draft memo obtained by Federal News Network.

The undated document from Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said the change will affect IT products under special item number, or SIN, 3341 sold through the General Services Administration’s schedule contract.

SIN 3341 covers the acquisition of new electronic equipment, such as desktops and laptops, storage devices, servers, routers, switches, and audio, video and communications equipment.

War Department Plans to Cap IT Products Purchased Through Resellers

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What Are the Acquisition Changes DOW Wants to Implement?

DOW is not the only agency looking into government purchase of IT products from value-added resellers. In June, GSA sent a letter to 10 companies to understand the role of value-added resellers and to figure out how original equipment manufacturers can sell directly to the government.

Sources also told Federal News Network in October that GSA also plans to cap markups at 5 percent, but there will be exceptions that would require approval from contracting officers.

Duffey referenced GSA’s plan in the draft memo, adding that DOW contracting officers will “determine fair and reasonable pricing by considering the unique factors of a given acquisition.”

“Finally, and in general, we will apply the same common-sense approach to avoid paying excessive pass-through costs and avoid paying non or low-value added price markups across the complete range of the procurement,” the official added.

The Pentagon will also require value-added resellers to disclose the manufacturer’s price and percentage markup in price proposals. Vendors will need to submit justifications for markups above 5 percent.

What Other Actions Has the Government Taken to Save Taxpayer Dollars?

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the government’s procurement processes have undergone changes to save taxpayer dollars.

In September, for instance, GSA established the Office of Centralized Acquisition Services, or OCAS, within the Federal Acquisition Service to coordinate and consolidate the purchase of common goods and services. OCAS is expected to reduce duplicative purchases and save money by taking advantage of the government’s buying power.

The Department of Government Efficiency also recently revealed that several agencies canceled 103 contracts with a total ceiling value of $4.4 billion, resulting in up to $103 million in savings.

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LLNL Tests Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Evaluate If Nuclear Warheads Can Survive Enemy Defenses
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Kim Budil, director of LLNL. Budil said the recent experiment support nuclear deterrence efforts

Researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have conducted an experiment at its National Ignition Facility, or NIF, to see if U.S. nuclear warheads, such as the W87-1, can survive attacks from enemy missile defense systems.

During the test, LLNL said Monday that it used weapons-grade plutonium samples that were exposed to pulsed thermonuclear neutron radiation to mimic the extreme conditions a warhead may encounter when entering enemy territory.

“By directly exposing these plutonium samples to extreme environments that are only possible at NIF, we are producing unmatched scientific data that will guide the future of the deterrent,” stated Kim Budil, director of the LLNL.

How Did LLNL Perform the Test?

The test utilized small samples extracted from a legacy W87-0 warhead pit from the late 1980s and from a newly produced W87-1 pit at Los Alamos National Laboratory. According to LLNL, the samples were sealed within specialized hardware and placed inside a high-fluence 14-megaelectron-volt neutron environment.

A cryogenic-compatible X-ray, neutron and blast snout, or CryoXNBS, enabled researchers to expose the samples to high thermonuclear fusion neutron fluences and collect data from the experiment. CryoXNBS is a diagnostic enclosure that features a 22-kilogram steel case and real-time diagnostics.

How Is LLNL Advancing the US Nuclear Stockpile Modernization?

Data from the experiment will be shared with the National Nuclear Security Administration in support of the government’s effort to modernize the U.S. nuclear stockpile for deterrence.

LLNL is also working on the W87-1 nuclear warhead to replace the aging W78, which was first introduced in 1979. The government plans to use the W87-1 on the Air Force’s Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. The warhead is expected to be ready for deployment in the 2030s.

The test also follows a recent directive from President Donald Trump to start testing nuclear weapons. According to the president, while the U.S. maintains the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, other countries are conducting nuclear testing.”

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Commerce Dept Signs LOI With xLight for Free-Electron Laser Prototype
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Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The Commerce Department partnered with xLight to build free-electron-laser prototype.

The Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Research and Development Office signed a non-binding letter of intent with xLight to offer up to $150 million in proposed federal incentives through the CHIPS and Science Act.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology said Monday the award supports the construction and demonstration of a free-electron laser, or FEL, prototype for extreme ultraviolet lithography.

“With the support from Commerce, our investors, and development partners, xLight is building its first free-electron laser system at the Albany Nanotech Complex, where the world’s best lithography capabilities will enable the research and development that will define the future of chip manufacturing,” said Nicholas Kelez, CEO and chief technology officer of xLight. 

How Will xLight’s Free-Electron Laser System Impact the Semiconductor Industry?

The FEL system is designed to serve as an alternative light source for EUV lithography, enabling high-volume production of semiconductors beyond the 7-nanometer node. It has the potential to advance lithography performance, productivity and cost-efficiency in commercial fabs.

“xLight’s FEL platform represents the kind of breakthrough innovation that restores American leadership, secures our supply chains, and guarantees that the next generation of semiconductors is born in the United States. This is the CHIPS program at its best,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

xLight intends to test its prototype at the Albany Nanotech Complex with non-profit NYCreates starting in 2028. The project will use current EUV lithography machines and the facility’s research ecosystem to explore next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.

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NNSA Requests Industry Feedback on AI Capabilities for National Security
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NNSA logo. NSNA issued a request for information to identify potential applications of artificial intelligence capabilities.

The National Nuclear Security Administration has issued a request for information to identify potential applications of artificial intelligence capabilities that support its mission, advance scientific research and strengthen national security.

NNSA Requests Industry Feedback on AI Capabilities for National Security

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“This RFI is a critical step in harnessing the immense power of AI to enact the White House’s vision for America to lead in every aspect of AI,” said NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams in a press release published by the Department of Energy.

How Will the RFI Advance the Genesis Mission?

According to a sources sought notice posted Monday on SAM.gov, NNSA seeks to embed advanced AI technologies into its core operations to streamline nuclear weapons development and address emerging global threats. The RFI will prioritize classified AI development and deployment capabilities, data curation management for AI training, AI model development, partnership models and operational considerations. Responses to the notice will be accepted until Jan. 23, 2026.

The effort aligns with the Genesis Mission executive order issued on Nov. 24, which mandates the creation of a unified AI platform designed to leverage federal scientific datasets for training foundation models and developing AI agents to advance hypothesis testing, streamline research processes and drive scientific innovation.

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