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Dataminr Launches Crisis Response Program to Support Nonprofits; GovCon Expert Dana Barnes Quoted
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Dataminr Launches Crisis Response Program to Support Nonprofits; GovCon Expert Dana Barnes Quoted

Dataminr announced on Wednesday that the company has launched its Crisis Response program to provide free, limited-term licenses and training for qualified nonprofits to address their need for real-time information during or in the aftermath of major emergencies.

“Historically, local nonprofits on the ground have carried much of the risk during humanitarian crises, while having limited access to critical tools and resources,” said Jessie End, vice president of Social Good at Dataminr.

Jessie End continued to explain that providing more equitable access to crucial information when it matters most. She mentioned the that Crisis Response program is a natural evolution of Dataminr’s long-held dedication to positive social impact.”

Dana Barnes, president of Government with Dataminr and an influential member of Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Expert program, sent his thanks via LinkedIn to Jessie End and Dataminr CEO Ted Bailey for driving the company’s efforts with the program to use artificial intelligence for good.

“Crisis response support is a key component of Dataminr’s social good efforts,” GovCon Expert Dana Barnes explained. “Our Crisis Response Program will provide free, limited-term licenses and training for qualified nonprofits of all sizes.”

Dataminr’s numerous employee volunteers will help its Crisis Response program support a large number of organizations, including those often under-resourced. The Crisis Response program will offer training and support to participating nonprofits for up to eight weeks. Organizations must be registered nonprofits and actively responding to a crisis in order to qualify.

Currently, significant partners with Dataminr, including the United Nations and Direct Relief, are using First Alert, the company’s product for its public sector customers to deliver real-time breaking news alerts for first response within minutes instead of a matter of hours or even days.

About Dataminr

Dataminr delivers the earliest warnings on high-impact events and critical information far in advance of other sources. Recognized as one of the world’s leading AI businesses, Dataminr enables faster response, more effective risk mitigation and stronger crisis management for public and private sector organizations spanning global corporations, first responders, NGOs, and newsrooms.

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NASA Reports $71.2B Economic Output From FY 2021 Agency Programs; Bill Nelson Quoted
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NASA Reports $71.2B Economic Output From FY 2021 Agency Programs; Bill Nelson Quoted

NASA’s investments in space missions and research and development projects such as climate science contributed over $71.2 billion to the economy in fiscal year 2021, according to a new study of the agency’s second economic impact.

The study, conducted by the Voorhees Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, showed the benefits of agency activities reached all 50 states and supported over 339,600 jobs nationwide.

Since the first report in 2019, NASA’s economic output rose by 10.7 percent, due in part to the Moon to Mars campaign. The program yielded almost $2.2 billion in tax revenue, while climate change research and technology investments generated close to $810 million.

Apart from financial and labor benefits, the agency has also been instrumental in the creation of 2,000 spinoffs of its products, processes, technologies or expertise since 1976.

“NASA partners with small businesses, industry, academia, and other government agencies to address engineering challenges, and to transfer out our technologies, capabilities, and data all for public benefit here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

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Government, Industry Stakeholders Agree on EV Infrastructure Security Measures
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Government, Industry Stakeholders Agree on EV Infrastructure Security Measures

Public and private sector representatives who attended a forum hosted by the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director agreed that both sectors must collaborate to assess cybersecurity standards across the electric vehicle ecosystem in order to address opportunities for harmonization and improvement.

The White House on Tuesday published a summary of the forum, which is part of a multi-industry collaboration to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Kemba Walden led the event where representatives from the automobile industry were in attendance, along with officials from the departments of Transportation, Energy and Homeland Security.

Participants agreed that the construction and deployment of EV charging infrastructure should be expedited, with solid cybersecurity safeguards in place.

They also committed to working together to assess the state of standards as well as research and development for IT security in EV charging and supply and equipment.

Government officials said they will use the $7.5 billion allocated by the infrastructure law to invest in projects that will promote EV and EVSE security and resilience.

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Senators Get Update on Administration’s Classification System Reform Efforts
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Senators Get Update on Administration’s Classification System Reform Efforts

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., announced that the White House is leading an effort to reform the classification system as stated by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, in a letter. 

Haines said in the letter that agencies are taking part in a White House-led process that seeks to gather insights on challenges related to the standardization of information management, declassification, classification and the control of sensitive data.

The DNI letter was in response to a call by Wyden and Moran for the Biden administration to update the executive order that establishes rules for government classification and declassification to address urgent concerns in the current system that undermine national security.

“I’m pleased that the Biden administration is committed to reforming the classification system and investing in new declassification technology. I’ll continue watching closely to ensure the White House gets it done and ultimately heeds my call to update the executive order governing classification,” Wyden said in a statement published Wednesday.

Haines also informed the lawmakers of current efforts within the Intelligence Community to improve the declassification process.

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DIU Seeks Proposals for Blockchain-Based Data Protection Tech Development Program
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DIU Seeks Proposals for Blockchain-Based Data Protection Tech Development Program

The Defense Innovation Unit has asked vendors to propose commercial technologies that would enable the integration of components on a Web3 or Blockchain platform designed to ensure the security of data within a federated data system.

DIU said the proposed system should allow for cross-domain or classification-level sharing, use quantum-resistant cryptography, support the use of the common access card, operate as an on-premises platform, integrate with managed service offerings and leverage distributed learning capabilities across domains.

The platform should be deployed on existing hardware systems, include plans to support role-based access control in the future and integrate entity-related application systems using commodity hardware, encryption and cryptographic data structures. 

“We expect a minimal viable product to be delivered in the form of data storage, authorized access, and classification level-based access control,” the DIU notice reads.

Proposals are due Nov. 11.

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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture, Missile Defense Reviews; Lloyd Austin Quoted
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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture, Missile Defense Reviews; Lloyd Austin Quoted

The Department of Defense has issued the public versions of the National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review, DOD News reported Thursday.

“By weaving these documents together, we help ensure that the entire department is moving forward together, matching our resources to our goals,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said in a statement published Thursday.

The 2022 National Defense Strategy highlights the need to strengthen deterrence against China and cites the threats posed by Russia, Iran, North Korea and violent extremist organizations.

The NDS also outlines DOD’s four top defense priorities: defending the homeland, paced to the growing multidomain threat posed by China; deterring strategic attacks against the U.S., allies and partners; deterring aggression while being prepared to prevail in conflict when necessary; and building a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem.

Gen. Austin said the strategy cites integrated deterrence, campaigning and measures that build enduring advantages as ways to advance those priorities.

The 2022 Nuclear Posture Review will advance several measures to ensure a secure and effective deterrent while reducing the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. strategy. These include adopting a strategy and declaratory policy that maintain a very high bar for nuclear employment; taking steps to strengthen extended deterrence and allied assurance; retiring the B83-1 gravity bomb; and canceling the nuclear-armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile program.

The 2022 Missile Defense Review calls for the U.S. to continue to invest in the development of missile defeat capabilities to maintain deterrence and cites the need for the country’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense posture to be comprehensive, mobile, layered and ready to counter adversary missiles.

“To be most effective, it must also be integrated and interoperable with Allies and partners, and underpinned with increasingly robust domain awareness capabilities within a pliable missile defense network,” the document reads.

USSOCOM Seeks Mobile Workstation Concepts
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USSOCOM Seeks Mobile Workstation Concepts

The U.S. Special Operations Command is interested in working with vendors to design, build and test mobile workstations for the transportation of military personnel and server storage to mission areas.

SOCOM said in a notice posted on SAM.gov that SOFWERX, a public-private innovation factory that helps connect industry with military programs, will host a three-day virtual assessment event in January for interested offerors to present their ideas for the support truck prototype project.

The command is seeking three workstations that can accommodate at least four passengers and six racks of server storage, supply multiple internal and external 20A 120 volts alternating current power receptacles and feature a climate-controlled work environment.

The selection process is divided into four phases, with the last phase culminating in federal acquisition regulation or non-FAR contracts with partners that meet SOCOM requirements. 

The main virtual assessment event will run from Jan. 3 to Jan. 5 where selected participants will have the chance to pitch and demonstrate proposals through a one-on-one session with a SOCOM panel of assessors.

Interested parties can submit their concepts for the mobile workstations from Oct. 28 to Nov. 28. Following a review of the submissions, proposers who meet the requirements will receive an invitation to the event on or around Dec. 9. 

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DMI Acquires Ambit Group to Expand Portfolio Within Federal Market; CEO Sunny Bajaj Quoted
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DMI Acquires Ambit Group to Expand Portfolio Within Federal Market; CEO Sunny Bajaj Quoted

DMI, the digital transformation services organization, has acquired data analytics, cybersecurity and mission support company Ambit Group in an undisclosed transaction.

The acquisition will advance DMI’s collection of digital services and extend its customer and contract vehicle portfolio within federal markets, the Bethesda, Maryland-based company stated on Thursday.

“With this addition, we combine Ambit’s comprehensive data management, analytics, and cybersecurity services with our cross-industry, digital transformation expertise to help drive the next generation of digital government,” DMI founder and CEO Sunny Bajaj commented.

Bajaj also emphasized the high demand for IT modernization and new technological innovations.

DMI offers enterprise consulting, transformation and maintenance services to both public and private sector clients. The company uses a streamlined suit of agile software development and engineering solutions powered by business strategy, domain-specific knowledge and technical prowess.

With a focus on federal agencies, Ambit targets the area of mission performance development by providing digital enhancement services across the areas of homeland security, regulatory and civilian services.

“With Ambit’s track record of success in this space, coupled with DMI’s extensive experience and range of services, this pairing represents an unstoppable force,” said Ambit co-CEO Kim Hayes.

The company has worked in the fields of finance, national security, and science with a variety of federal clients including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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Akima Infrastructure Services Receives $63M Award to Bolster Operations at Two DOE Nuclear Facilities
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Akima Infrastructure Services Receives $63M Award to Bolster Operations at Two DOE Nuclear Facilities

Akima Infrastructure Services, a subsidiary of Akima, has secured a potential four-year, $63 million, from Consolidated Nuclear Security, to enhance staff proficiency in engineering, professional and technical services for the Department of Energy.

The agreement covers two of the department’s facilities, the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and its Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, which are crucial in managing the U.S. nuclear supply, the Herndon, Virginia-based company announced on Thursday.

The Y-12 National Security Complex handles the production, surveillance, dismantlement and storage of nuclear assets. Additional operations at the facility are designed to reduce global nuclear threats by identifying, discarding and protecting nuclear material.

Duncan Greene, president of Akima’s Mission Systems, Engineering and Technology group commented on the company’s history of support for the DoE’s mission.

 “This award from CNS will allow us to continue this partnership and provide the DOE with support to operate critical nuclear security facilities effectively and efficiently,” he stated.

Akima received this award under the CNS Engineering Professional and Technical Basic Ordering Agreement through the DOE Integrated Contractor Purchasing team to consolidate procurement processes and reduce the cost of ownership for the department’s contractors.

Consolidated Nuclear Security is composed of various member companies within the realm of government contracting. The organization works to reinforce the efforts of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

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CISA Names Former Microsoft Specialist Matt House as CDM Program Manager
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CISA Names Former Microsoft Specialist Matt House as CDM Program Manager

Matt House, a former modern work specialist within Microsoft‘s U.S. federal civilian business unit, has been appointed program manager of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation initiative.

In this role, House will collaborate with federal agencies and industry on deploying cybersecurity tools, dashboards and integration services designed to secure federal networks against threats, according to CISA’s LinkedIn post.

House brings more than two decades of industry experience in areas such as program management, software engineering, cybersecurity and information technology.

He has previously supported government-wide efforts across the Department of Homeland Security, including the implementation of the EINSTEIN intrusion detection system and the CDM dashboard.

House served as director of cybersecurity services at InfoReliance and vice president of the technology solutions business unit at EGlobalTech.

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