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OPM Seeks Comments on Human Capital Management Business Standards
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OPM Seeks Comments on Human Capital Management Business Standards

The Office of Personnel Management is soliciting public feedback on proposed business capabilities, service metrics and standard data elements related to human capital talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee performance management and separation and retirement.

OPM will use the insights to inform the development of the final business standards aimed at standardizing human capital management across the federal government, according to a Federal Register notice published Monday.

“The business standards will be used as the foundation for common mission support services shared by federal agencies,” the notice reads.

The agency wants the public to share their input on suggested changes, understandability of the draft business standards and usefulness of the standards to agencies and industry.

Comments are due Feb. 8.

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New Army Office Takes Charge of Zero Trust Implementation
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New Army Office Takes Charge of Zero Trust Implementation

A newly established U.S. Army office is leading efforts to implement zero trust architecture across the service branch to secure access to its applications, data and networked systems.

Maj. Cory Dombrowski of the Zero Trust Functional Management Office said at a Technical Exchange Meeting 9 panel that zero trust architecture will enhance cybersecurity by providing identity and credential management for devices and individuals, using tagging to monitor network data continuously and enabling attribute-based access control.

According to Dombrowski, his office is working on pilot programs to implement zero trust at the tactical edge in collaboration with Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Army Cyber, the Cyber Center of Excellence, Army Material Command and several program executive offices.

In addition, the operational office seeks to develop a civilian and uniformed workforce trained on zero trust.

Other Army network security experts present at TEM 9 also highlighted the importance of zero trust in applications involving identity credentials and access management.

GSA Invites Industry Input on Clean Electricity Procurement; Robin Carnahan Quoted
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GSA Invites Industry Input on Clean Electricity Procurement; Robin Carnahan Quoted

The General Services Administration is seeking information on best approaches to buy carbon pollution-free electricity, in compliance with the Biden administration’s executive order on federal sustainability.

The request for information is intended to give GSA a deeper understanding of clean energy availability in U.S. retail choice electricity markets and aid in the formulation of government incentives, the agency said Tuesday.

“GSA is one of the largest buyers of energy, and we’re a steady customer prepared to make long-term investments. We want to use the government’s buying power to spur demand for clean, carbon free electricity and related distribution methods,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said. “GSA looks forward to partnering with industry to support CFE – when and where our customers need it – to create good jobs, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure a healthier planet for the next generation.”

GSA plans to launch solicitations for retail CFE procurement initially in Texas, where the Electric Reliability Council of Texas operates. Contracts will eventually be awarded to other retail choice regions in the country.

The agency is accepting RFI responses until March 3, with the intention of implementing CFE procurement strategies as early as this year.

DOE, Partners Unveil Strategy to Decarbonize Transportation Sector; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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DOE, Partners Unveil Strategy to Decarbonize Transportation Sector; Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency have revealed a comprehensive strategy to enable the Biden administration’s plan to achieve decarbonization of the transportation sector.

DOE said Tuesday the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization is the first development in the rollout of a 2022 memorandum of understanding and offers a whole-of-government approach to reaching a net-zero power grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“DOE is prepared to implement this Blueprint alongside our partners within the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure all Americans feel the benefits of the clean transportation transition: good-paying manufacturing jobs, better air quality, and lower transportation costs,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Decarbonization of the transportation sector is achievable by developing policies and regulations to facilitate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and sustainable fuels, investing in research and development projects focused on decarbonization technologies and providing workforce training and education, according to the blueprint.

The plan dictates that agencies and their partner organizations must also disseminate complete and comprehensive decarbonization data to help the public understand the benefits of clean mobility options.

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Bowhead Secures $249 USACE Contract to Support High-Performance Computing Modernization Program; Michael Hundley Quoted
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Bowhead Secures $249 USACE Contract to Support High-Performance Computing Modernization Program; Michael Hundley Quoted

Bowhead Total Enterprise Solutions, a subsidiary of UIC Government Services, has won a $249 million, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Under the High Performance Computing Modernization Program Integrated Technical Services-Restricted 2 award, Bowhead will provide technical and professional services necessary to operate the program’s office, Bowhead announced from Springfield, Virginia on Wednesday.

“The effort that went into pursuing this contract, as well as our exceptional track record of providing highly technical and advanced information technology services to the federal government, is a testament to Bowhead’s ability to perform at the highest levels in the federal contracting arena,” emphasized Michael Hundley, senior vice president of operations for UIC Government Services and the Bowhead Family of Companies.

To aid in all stages of planning and executing HPCMP’s mission, Bowhead will support the program’s technical and administrative needs and carry out program management, oversee office and meeting facilities, telecommunications and computer platforms, as well as engineering and logistics for the HITS-R2 system.

“We have the right people and resources in place to begin our work and provide HPCMP with the highly advanced services they need to be successful in solving some of our nation’s critical defense challenges,” said Cary Randolph, senior vice president of systems and information technology at Bowhead.

The five-year contract will be performed at multiple locations across the U.S.

Since its establishment over 25 years ago, HPCMP has attempted to utilize high-performance computing, networking and computational knowledge to accelerate the development of new technologies with a focus on federal defense missions.

HPCMP’s work supports the Department of Defense’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation and Acquisition Engineering programs, the Defense Research and Engineering Network and large-scale software development for the Army.

The program began in the DOD and was later moved to the assistant secretary of the Army, based at the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

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Pentagon Ends COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate With New Memo; Lloyd Austin Quoted
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Pentagon Ends COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate With New Memo; Lloyd Austin Quoted

Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Defense and a two-time Wash100 awardee, has issued a memorandum to rescind COVID-19 vaccination requirements for members of the U.S. armed forces in compliance with the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

The new DOD memo cancels the August 2021 vaccination mandate for service members and the November 2021 memo requiring National Guard and Reserve personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19, DOD said Tuesday.

Austin said the Pentagon will continue to encourage all service personnel to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The Department has made COVID-19 vaccination as easy and convenient as possible, resulting in vaccines administered to over two million Service members and 96 percent of the Force – Active and Reserve – being full vaccinated,” he wrote in the memo.

“Vaccination enhances operational readiness and protects the Force,” Austin added.

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NASA Grants Funding to 14 Research Studies on Space Technology; Michael LaPointe Quoted
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NASA Grants Funding to 14 Research Studies on Space Technology; Michael LaPointe Quoted

NASA will grant $175,000 worth of funding to 14 initial-stage studies under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program as it continues to foster space technology developments that could support future missions. 

The space agency said Tuesday that the awarded endeavors, which are all in their conceptual development stage, include research on fluidic telescopes, space exploration, long-distance lunar characterization, manufacturing techniques and power systems, among others. 

NIAC researchers will look into the feasibility of the Phase 1 projects, map out necessary technology development, identify potential mitigating factors and search for transition opportunities to materialize the concepts. 10 out of the 14 researchers are first-time NIAC funding recipients. 

“These initial Phase I NIAC studies help NASA determine whether these futuristic ideas could set the stage for future space exploration capabilities and enable amazing new missions,” said Michael LaPointe, program executive for the NASA program. 

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House Armed Services Committee Taps Rep. Mike Rogers as Chairman
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House Armed Services Committee Taps Rep. Mike Rogers as Chairman

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., has been appointed chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in the 118th Congress.

Rogers said in a statement published Tuesday the U.S. military should focus on capability and lethality to deter threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

“Over the next two years, the House Armed Services Committee will provide our warfighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world,” he added.

SpaceNews reported that Rogers pushed for bigger defense budgets as a ranking member of HASC in the 117th Congress as part of efforts to enable the U.S. to compete with China and other rising powers.

Sarah Mineiro, Rogers’ former aide and now senior fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, said the chairman will likely address issues related to supply chain security, access to critical minerals and innovation in defense programs.

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DIA CIO Doug Cossa Discusses New Strategy to Maintain AI Competitiveness in US
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DIA CIO Doug Cossa Discusses New Strategy to Maintain AI Competitiveness in US

Doug Cossa, chief information officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said that DIA’s new artificial intelligence strategy is designed to ensure the interoperability of data as well as the technologies reading them.

In an interview with Government Matters, Cossa elaborated on the organization’s upcoming AI initiatives to keep up with adversaries and other countries in the race for technology.

Since DIA supports multiple functions such as foundational military intelligence, it has to deal with massive amounts of global data ranging from people to intent and facilities. The agency intends to make sense of all the information it receives and to share it with government and foreign partners through AI, machine learning and cloud computing, Cossa explained. One initiative is the Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System, which will transition foundational military intelligence into a cloud-based environment.

He also touched on the modernization of the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, which has been in use for more than 30 years. DIA is working to boost the system’s cybersecurity to include zero trust architecture, he stated.

Furthermore, Cossa highlighted his AI talent acquisition strategies, which include celebrating employees to encourage retention, and hiring new recruits with disabilities and making their working environment effective.

Other AI advancements are set to be discussed at the Potomac Officers Club’s 4th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit, which will be held on Feb. 16 in McLean, Virginia. Click on the image below to register.

POC - 4th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit
AFRL Gives Navy Warfare Centers Access to Commercial Quantum Capabilities
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AFRL Gives Navy Warfare Centers Access to Commercial Quantum Capabilities

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate has entered into an agreement with the Naval Research Laboratory and naval warfare centers to facilitate information exchange on quantum computing.

AFRL will provide Navy scientists and engineers access to commercial quantum systems to explore a range of applications, including quantum simulation, quantum machine learning, classical simulation and crypto analysis, the Navy said Tuesday.

As part of the partnership, NRL established a Naval Quantum Computing Program Office to manage access to IBM’s Quantum Hub processor.

The program office is jointly managed by NRL with Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific and other quantum subject matter experts from the 14 naval warfare centers.

“This collaboration will help ensure our warfighters have the tools they need for mission success,” said Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, chief of naval research.

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