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USAF Awards $100M Digital Transformation & Sustainment Contract to WSU Aviation Research Institute
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USAF Awards $100M Digital Transformation & Sustainment Contract to WSU Aviation Research Institute

Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research won a five-year, $100 million award to provide digital engineering and transformation support to the U.S. Air Force.

The cooperative agreement includes the completion of the digital twins for the F-16 Fighting Falcon and B-1 Lancer aircraft, as well as the sustainment of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber and C-130 Hercules air transport, the university said Wednesday.

Under the terms of the contract, NIAR will develop and integrate digital models and data of the planes across multiple platforms. The institute will also build prototypes, create additive manufacturing capabilities, and demonstrate the modeling tools.

The contract was awarded through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Logistics and Product Support.

“This contract will extend our reach in military sustainment R&D efforts, growing the Wichita workforce and providing additional applied learning opportunities for Wichita State students,” said Melinda Laubach-Hock, director of NIAR’s Sustainment Lab and the program’s principal investigator.

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ICF Widens Energy Grid Modernization Support Offerings With CMY Solutions Acquisition; John Wasson Quoted
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ICF Widens Energy Grid Modernization Support Offerings With CMY Solutions Acquisition; John Wasson Quoted

ICF has acquired power and energy engineering firm CMY Solutions, which offers advanced technologies and data analytics and methods in support of decision-making related to grid modernization, programs and investments.

The organization comprises a team of approximately 50 specialists with experience advising executives of utilities and developers across several continents, ICF announced from its Reston, Virginia headquarters on Thursday.

John Wasson, chair and CEO of ICF and a three-time Wash100 Award winner, said the company is “pleased to welcome” CMY, which strengthens its ability to “support utilities’ needs for grid transformation, reliability, resilience and renewables integration in a much more holistic way.”

“As one team, we will scale our industry-leading energy service offerings and continue to grow our rapidly expanding technology and data management capabilities across the various markets we serve,” said Wasson.

CMY was established in 2016 and has offered its services to clients in the United States, Asia and Europe, including investor-owned utilities, electric municipalities and electric cooperatives. Its personnel are experienced in renewable energy integration, distributed energy resources impact studies and management.

The firm also carries a strong understanding of substation, transmission and distribution system design, protection and control, North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance, system planning and capital strategy consulting.

CMY has previously partnered with ICF, and the two organizations have “a strong track record of delivering positive outcomes” for their clients, said CMY Co-Founder Bryan Cianchetti.

“Our teams share a passion for building a clean energy future and using innovative and technology-enabled solutions— from design and analysis to implementation,” he added.

5 Top Government Contracts Won by Aeyon
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5 Top Government Contracts Won by Aeyon
Photo by pressfoto on Freepik

Aeyon is a Virginia-based consulting company that specializes in supporting national security and civilian agencies with their missions through data analytics, financial management, and digital transformation. A portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital, Aeyon focuses on creating transformation strategies, advanced processes, and comprehensive technologies for the Department of Defense and related civilian agencies. Know the latest and top government contracts won by Aeyon here.

 

NASA Awards Financial Support Services Contract

NASA Awards Financial Support Services Contract
Photo by Herbert Heinsche on Shutterstock
  • Date: December 2022
  • Contract type: Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity with firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders
  • Contract duration: 8 years (Two-year base period with three two-year option periods)
  • Contract amount: $517 million
  • Contracting activity: NASA

In December 2022, NASA awarded the NASA Financial Services Contract with an estimated amount of $517 million to MM Technologies (MMT), a joint venture partnership between MDW and MTS, Aeyon’s subsidiary. The NFSS contract, one of the Government Contracts Won by Aeyon, provides financial support and services at seven NASA research centers, including Agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFCR) in California, Glenn Research Center in Ohio, and Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

Under the NFSS contract, Aeyon provides financial management consulting services supporting NASA’s missions, programs and projects. The contract expands Aeyon’s presence in the booming space industry and streamlines financial operations at NASA’s space centers.

 

U.S. Army Awards Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System Contract

 

U.S. Army Awards Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System Contract
Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) [Image 8 of 8], by Member: 1292905, from DVIDS, licensed under Public Domain
  • Date: February 2023
  • Contract duration: 5 years
  • Contract amount: $18.5 million
  • Contracting activity: U.S. Army

In February 2023, Aeyon won a contract award worth $18.5 million to create and introduce the latest robotic process automation (RPA) tools and improve existing bots for the office in charge of the U.S. Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program. This award aims to improve the IVAS project with better technology, reduced costs, fast data access, and more efficient processes.

Under this contract, Aeyon automates and improves multiple processes and data-sharing for schedule, cost, cybersecurity and other performance activities linked to the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier’s Project Manager for IVAS, the Army’s campaign that innovates how soldiers fight and train using augmented reality.

Aeyon was a previous subcontractor on the military’s first IVAS contract in 2018, where the company’s technology helped government officials in that office to finish financial-related tasks from 12 hours to 2 minutes.

 

U.S. Air Force in Europe-Air Forces Africa Seeks Support for Advisory and Assistance Services

 

U.S. Army Awards Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System Contract
Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) [Image 8 of 8], by Member: 1292905, from DVIDS, licensed under Public Domain
  • Date: March 2023
  • Contract type: Multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract
  • Contract duration: 7 years (five-year base period with two option years)
  • Contract amount: $995,000,000
  • Contracting activity: Air Force Installation Contracting Command

In March 2023, Aeyon was one of the nine companies that won a contract with a ceiling value of $995 million for the U.S. Air Force’s advisory and assistance services. Under the contract, the companies compete for task orders to meet training, intelligence, and engineering demands.

This also provides technical and analytical support for USAFE-AFAFRICA’s policy development, administration and system operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, and other locations. The contract’s expected completion date is by March 2030.

 

Department of the Navy Selects Aeyon for Its Financial Improvement Program

 

Department of the Navy Selects Aeyon for Its Financial Improvement Program
13th MEU Deploying Group Systems Integration Testing [Image 8 of 8], by Sgt Nicolas Atehortua, from DVIDS, licensed under Public Domain
  • Date: April 2022
  • Contract type: Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract
  • Contract duration: 5 years
  • Contract amount: $1 billion
  • Contracting activity: Department of the Navy

In April 2022, Aeyon Company was awarded a contract estimated at $1 billion. This contract holds Aeyon responsible for task orders, including systems consolidation, modernization, financial data environments, and audit remediation.

These services support the Department of the Navy’s Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (FIAR) Program, mainly performed in the National Capital Region and partly at various facilities in the continental U.S. and other locations beyond the continental U.S.

Aeyon leverages its strong track record of helping Department of Defense agencies upgrade their outdated financial systems. During these upgrades, Aeyon’s team of experts use automation technology to clean and transfer data from the old system to a new one. 

 

Marine Corps Awards System Integration Support Contract

Marine Corps Awards System Integration Support Contract
13th MEU Deploying Group Systems Integration Testing [Image 8 of 8], by Sgt Nicolas Atehortua, from DVIDS, licensed under Public Domain
  • Date: April 2022
  • Contract duration:
  • Contract amount: $31 million
  • Contracting activity: Marine Corps Forces Reserve

In April 2022, Aeyon secured an estimated $31 million contract to support the Defense Agencies Initiative systems integration of the Marine Corps Forces Reserve. DAI is a Defense Department’s initiative that modernizes financial management operations and improves decision-making processes for warfighter operations.

Under this contract, Aeyon assists with financial management, advisory services, audit support, and training applications by ensuring accurate financial and appropriation data, identifying critical issues, and maintaining the Manager’s Internal Control Program to meet federal requirements. Aeyon also implements regulatory and legal controls for approved budgets.

Brief History of Aeyon

In September 2021, a merger took place as Artlin Consulting rebranded and expanded its business scope. Enlightenment Capital and Sehlke Consulting joined to create Aeyon. The combination of these companies strengthened Aeyon’s capabilities in data management, automation, financial management, IT support services, and more. Aeyon benefited from Sehlke’s expertise in implementing specialized robotic process automation software tools for various business applications.

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Air Force Tech Institute’s Hypersonics Course Attracts Industry Participants
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Air Force Tech Institute’s Hypersonics Course Attracts Industry Participants

The Air Force Institute of Technology hosted a three-day course to give students, government employees and contractors an introduction to hypersonics.

AFIT said Wednesday more than 200 people attended lectures about hypersonic technology areas such as aerodynamics, power and thermal management, vehicle design and flight experimentation.

Twenty-five AFIT and Air Force Research Laboratory subject matter experts conducted the tutorials.

The overall program included presentations such as an overview of the Air Force Academy’s Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute, networking opportunities and a National Museum of the U.S. Air Force tour where participants learned about the military’s X-plane collection.

AFRL’s high-speed systems division helped AFIT facilitate the course from June 20 to 22.

Air Force Tech Institute's Hypersonics Course Attracts Industry Participants

If you want in-depth insight on Department of Department priorities and challenges in the hypersonics field, join ExecutiveBiz’s 2023 Hypersonics Forum on Aug. 15. Register here.

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NSA Posts Cybersecurity Technical Report for Configuring Cisco Firepower
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NSA Posts Cybersecurity Technical Report for Configuring Cisco Firepower

The National Security Agency has published a report to help network and system administrators configure a firewall security tool that protects devices from traditional and modern risks.

The The Cybersecurity Technical Report, “Cisco Firepower Hardening Guide,” outlines best practices to upgrade Cisco Firepower Threat Defense systems from traditional firewall policies and capabilities, NSA said Wednesday.

Cisco Firepower is a next-generation firewall with a combined operating system that has both application and network layer security features and more modern components that offer application and visibility controls, URL filtering, user identity and authentication, malware protection and intrusion prevention, according to the report.

Organizations that use the firewall are encouraged to implement the recommendations listed in the report to boost network defenses.

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16 Finalists to Compete in NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines Finals; Sethuraman Panchanathan Quoted
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16 Finalists to Compete in NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines Finals; Sethuraman Panchanathan Quoted

Sixteen teams have moved to the final round of the National Science Foundation‘s Regional Innovation Engines competition.

Chosen from 34 participating teams, the finalists will continue focusing on sectors associated with the CHIPS and Science Act, including agriculture, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioeconomy, climate and resilience, microelectronics, quantum computing and several others, NSF announced Wednesday.

The NSF Engines program was established to help keep the United States globally competitive in the area of technological innovation. Selected teams will have the chance to represent emerging innovation hubs as NSF Engines and receive up to $160 million in grants over a 10-year period.

The following are the chosen teams, which will be interviewed later this season and in the fall.

  • Arizona State University
  • Binghamton University
  • Current Innovation NFP
  • FuzeHub
  • The Industrial Commons
  • International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research
  • Kentucky Science & Technology
  • Louisiana State University
  • Michigan State University Foundation
  • New Mexico Trade Alliance
  • North Dakota State University
  • Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • University of Texas at El Paso
  • Wake Forest University School of Medicine

 

“NSF welcomes regional and local organizations to reach out to these finalists and contribute their ideas, talent and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.

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Report: Some Federal Agencies Looking to AI to Deal With FOIA Requests
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Report: Some Federal Agencies Looking to AI to Deal With FOIA Requests

The State Department, Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have started testing artificial intelligence tools to help process large volumes of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, NBC News reported Wednesday.

Eric Stein, deputy assistant secretary for the State Department, said the agency is currently assessing two AI models to help handle FOIA requests.

One of these tools, he said, uses machine learning algorithms to sift through records in centralized archives and databases – which contain over 3 billion records.

Several government agencies have begun testing a Mitre-built AI prototype, dubbed FOIA Assistant, designed to find records in government datasets and recommend redactions of information under the law.

“It’s not perfect,” Jason Baron, a University of Maryland professor who helped test the prototype, said of FOIA Assistant. “But using this type of AI actually could be of enormous help in the future when agencies routinely are finding tens or hundreds of thousands of potentially responsive records that they otherwise would have to review manually, a process that almost assuredly will take many years.”

Though progress is being made, some civil rights and open government advocates have urged caution when implementing AI before standards are fully put in place.

Trusted AI and Autonomy Forum

Join the ExecutiveBiz Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Forum on Sept. 12 to hear public sector leaders and technology experts as they discuss the opportunities and risks associated with generative AI and related tools. Click here to register.

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Linda Neilson Retires as Director of Defense Acquisition Regulations System
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Linda Neilson Retires as Director of Defense Acquisition Regulations System

Linda Neilson, director of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System, has retired after more than four decades of federal service and 15 years in the position, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment announced Wednesday.

While serving as DARS director, Neilson chaired the DAR Council and oversaw the development and maintenance of the Department of Defense’s acquisition rules and guidelines for purchasing goods and services for warfighter support.

Neilson’s career included the positions of deputy division director at Naval Sea Systems Command, contracting officer at Naval Air Systems Command and executive director of acquisition workforce and career management at the Defense Acquisition University. She also served as a member of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, now known as the Office of Defense Pricing and Contracting, where she worked on policy development.

She has managed contracting programs for major weapons systems, submarine repair and overhaul services, facilities and leases and research and development, among other areas.

Dawn Messer has been appointed acting director of DARS for the DPC.

IRS’ New Paperless Processing Initiative Targets Digitalization Starting 2024; Janet Yellen Quoted
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IRS’ New Paperless Processing Initiative Targets Digitalization Starting 2024; Janet Yellen Quoted

The Internal Revenue Service has initiated the next step of its digitalization plan – an effort that would give taxpayers the option to go paperless beginning in the 2024 tax filing season.

On Wednesday, the agency shared that it expects the initiative to enable individuals to electronically submit their selected tax forms as well as non-tax forms, notice responses and other correspondence by Filing Season 2026.

“This ‘Paperless Processing’ initiative is the key that unlocks other customer service improvements,”commented Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

“It will enable taxpayers to see their documents, securely access their data, and save time and money. And it will allow other parts of the IRS to rely on these digital copies to provide faster refunds, reduce errors in tax processing, and deliver a more seamless and responsive customer service experience,” Yellen explained.

With the digitalization of non-tax document submissions, the IRS expects to convert 125 million paper files and accommodate 94 percent of taxpayers online instead of by mail per year.

The electronic filing of 20 additional tax forms, including amendments to Forms 940, 941 and 941SSPR, is expected to result in the paperless processing of 4 million documents per year.

The agency is working toward electronically processing all paper-filed information and tax returns by the 2025 filing season. This would amount to 76 million documents being digitally processed every year, reducing times to refund taxpayers.

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CISA’s Jen Easterly, FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel on Need to Advance Border Gateway Protocol Security
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CISA’s Jen Easterly, FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel on Need to Advance Border Gateway Protocol Security

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Communications Commission hosted a workshop with government agency partners to discuss the need to address security vulnerabilities associated with the Border Gateway Protocol, a set of technical rules that enables data routing on the internet, CISA Director Jen Easterly and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel shared in a joint blog post published Wednesday.

The workshop included discussions on measures that should be taken to bolster the security of internet traffic routing, protections the FCC should implement to safeguard the nation’s communications networks from BGP-related risks and how the public and private sectors can best collaborate to advance the implementation of best practices and standards to mitigate negative impacts posed by these vulnerabilities.

In the blog post, Easterly, a two-time Wash100 awardee, and Rosenworcel commended network operators and internet service providers that have allocated resources to implement Route Origin Validation and Resource Key Public Infrastructure.

They also called on all network operators, chief information officers and chief information security officers to inform ISPs about the significance of BGP security and Route Origin Validation implementation.

The two leaders noted that CISA is working with the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the National Cyber Director to create a roadmap for agencies to reach the recommended BGP security practices.

“BGP security is a global problem that requires a community solution, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and making real progress in the coming year,” they added.

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