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DIU Launches Pilot to Install EV Chargers at 8 Military Bases
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DIU Launches Pilot to Install EV Chargers at 8 Military Bases

The Defense Innovation Unit has selected TechFlow, a San Diego-based energy-saving technology manufacturer, to support a pilot project to install electric vehicle chargers at eight military bases across the U.S.

DIU said Thursday it will partner with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and the Army Reserve to place a combination of Level 2 and 3 chargers for both government and private-owned vehicles.

“EV technology is not novel, but its use in military installations is, especially when combining Level-2 and Level-3 chargers for overnight and fast-charging use cases within the same military base,” said Benjamin Richardson, director of the DIU Energy Portfolio.

The Department of Defense has plans to roll out EV chargers to additional domestic military installations in the future.

A total of seven vendors have been selected to support the EV charger installation effort. 

AIR to Conduct Study on Advancing Equitable Outcomes Through ARP Implementation
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AIR to Conduct Study on Advancing Equitable Outcomes Through ARP Implementation

The American Institutes for Research will conduct a multi-year study on programs funded by the American Rescue Plan to build evidence of their effectiveness in advancing equitable outcomes across the federal government.

The General Services Administration said Thursday the evaluation aims to determine whether the legislation delivers on its commitment to advance equity through a whole-of-government approach.

“This new evaluation will create a critical roadmap to ensure that the work of the Biden-Harris administration continues to provide effective and equitable benefits to the American people,” said Susan Rice, White House domestic policy adviser.

The ARP was signed into law in March 2021 to help Americans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on public health and the economy.

The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill provides financial assistance to employees, families, communities and small business owners affected by the pandemic.

“To date, ARP has helped power a historically equitable recovery,” said Gene Sperling, White House senior adviser and ARP implementation coordinator. 

GSA’s Office of Evaluation Sciences will support the study in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget’s Evidence Team and the ARP Implementation Team.
 

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Michael Duffy: CISA Cloud Project Unveils Microsoft 365 Security Configuration Baselines
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Michael Duffy: CISA Cloud Project Unveils Microsoft 365 Security Configuration Baselines

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a set of recommended security configuration baselines for Microsoft 365 to guide cloud security projects across the federal government.

The baselines were released as part of the Secure Cloud Business Applications project launched in April to secure sensitive federal information assets stored in the cloud, according to Michael Duffy, associate director at CISA.

Federal civilian executive branch agencies are encouraged to pilot the recommended Microsoft 365 security configuration baselines and submit feedback to CISA.

SCuBA developed the baselines based on the foundational work of the Federal Chief Information Officers Council’s Cyber Innovation Tiger Team, a consortium of security experts from the government.

The project is scheduled to release another set of security configuration baselines for Google Workspace in the coming months to help agencies build up their network security practices.

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ClearShark to Offer Cybersecurity Software Products Under DOD Agreement
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ClearShark to Offer Cybersecurity Software Products Under DOD Agreement

ClearShark, a reseller of information technology offerings to the federal government, will distribute cybersecurity software products and services to Department of Defense organizations under an enterprise-wide blanket purchasing agreement.

The company said Thursday it will serve as a contract agent under the Enterprise Software Initiative BPA to provide DOD custoners access to cybersecurity software from 11 vendors including Forcepoint and Okta.

The contract also includes offerings from CyberArk, Fidelis Cybersecurity, Fortinet, Illumio, LogRhythm, Ping Identity, RedSeal, SailPoint and Tychon.

Brian Strosser, president of ClearShark, said EIS serves as a software acquisition platform through which defense and intelligence agencies can acquire cybersecurity products with pre-negotiated terms, conditions and price discounts.

ESI has a five-year base period of performance and five one-year options.

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Mitre’s OSTP RFI Response Affirms National Microelectronics R&D Strategy Proposal
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Mitre’s OSTP RFI Response Affirms National Microelectronics R&D Strategy Proposal

Mitre has validated the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s proposed national strategy to advance microelectronics research, development, supply chain security and manufacturing.

In a response to OSTP’s request for information, the nonprofit company proposed a systematic, time-based and nationwide approach to sustain the strategy after implementation.

The National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Microelectronics Leadership developed the strategy as part of efforts to drive future technological discoveries, bridge the transition from R&D to manufacturing, and expand, train and support the industry’s workforce.

The strategy is intended to serve as a guide for industry leaders to ensure that their activities align with the CHIPS and Science Act.

To help boost the strategy’s impact, Mitre’s Center for Data-Driven Policy analyzed the draft and enumerated six key challenges related to job creation in the industry. The team also cited intellectual property concerns but found no major omissions in the document.

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GAO: DOD Needs Department-Wide Biodefense Strategy
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GAO: DOD Needs Department-Wide Biodefense Strategy

The Department of Defense and its medical intelligence arm need to formulate a comprehensive strategy for emerging biological threat preparedness and response, the Government Accountability Office said.

In a report published Thursday, the government audit agency urged DOD, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Center for Medical Intelligence and intelligence agencies to work together to strengthen biodefense programs.

While the DOD coordinates with internal and external parties to conduct research and development on vaccines, it is not fully aware of the range of its biodefense capabilities and gaps, GAO said.

The office found similar limitations in the NCMI, which lacked formal roles and responsibilities for disseminating medical intelligence.

GAO recommended that the Defense Department identify strengths and gaps, bolster strategy and provide guidance on prioritizing biological threat responses in joint exercises. The office also called for better coordination and sharing of confidential medical data, including conducting outreach activities and clarifying roles and relationships with customers.

The report warned of a “top national security threat” arising from attempts by foreign entities such as China to obtain and exploit U.S. genetic information from laboratories that process COVID-19 tests. GAO suggested that the DOD fortify its partnership with policymakers in the monitoring and warning of such security and health risks.

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DOE Issues RFI for $250M Rural Utility Cybersecurity Support Program; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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DOE Issues RFI for $250M Rural Utility Cybersecurity Support Program; Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The Department of Energy is soliciting public insights on a program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that seeks to improve the cybersecurity posture of electric utilities owned by small investors, rural communities and municipalities.

The current administration is allocating $250 million in funding for the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program over five years to help utilities improve incident response, enhance their workforce’s cybersecurity skills and strengthen their systems, assets and processes, DOE said Thursday.

The request for information seeks feedback on ways to improve threat information sharing, risks related to technologies fielded on the electric grid, opportunities to advance partnerships, national efforts to improve cybersecurity of rural utilities and selection criteria for funding awards, among others.

According to the department, the RMUC Program will offer technical and financial support to help municipal and rural utilities enhance operational capabilities, deploy cyber platforms and increase their access to cybersecurity support services.

“This new program reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to improving energy reliability and connecting our nation’s rural communities to resilient energy infrastructure and the transformative benefits that come with it,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Responses to the RFI are due Dec. 19.

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Air Force Sets Dec. 2 Unveiling Date for Northrop B-21 Bomber; Gen. Charles Brown Quoted
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Air Force Sets Dec. 2 Unveiling Date for Northrop B-21 Bomber; Gen. Charles Brown Quoted

The U.S. Air Force has scheduled the event to unveil the B-21 Raider bomber aircraft for Dec. 2 at a Palmdale, California, manufacturing site operated by prime contractor Northrop Grumman.

A team of company and service personnel will continue testing efforts after the Raider’s public debut to assess weapon system performance, the Air Force said Thursday.

The branch awarded the Long Range Strike Bomber contract in October 2015 to replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers as its flagship bomber fleet. Northrop’s team members on the B-21 program are BAE Systems, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, Janicki Industries, Pratt & Whitney and Spirit Aerosystems.

“We last introduced a new bomber over 30 years ago. As we look to the threats posed by our pacing challenge; we must continue to rapidly modernize,” said Gen. Charles Brown Jr., chief of staff at USAF.

Staying true to its seven Operational Imperatives, the branch is banking on the aircraft’s long-range strike capability, advanced communications, open architecture and sophisticated sensors, weapons and supporting systems.

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Marines Test Medium-Range Intercept Capability Prototype, Rafael’s Tamir Interceptor
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Marines Test Medium-Range Intercept Capability Prototype, Rafael’s Tamir Interceptor

The U.S. Marine Corps completed a series of three trials with a live-fire test of its Medium-Range Intercept Capability prototype system and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Iron Dome Tamir interceptors at the White Sands facility in New Mexico.

The Marines demonstrated the capability of the MRIC prototype, along with the service’s radar and battle management systems, to continuously launch Tamir missiles to counter various aerial threats in complicated scenarios, Rafael said Wednesday.

“The three tests that took place this year proved that the performance of the MRIC system with IRON DOME interceptors is good and provides a dedicated launcher solution for the Marines,” said Don Kelley, project manager for ground-based air defense for PEO land systems.

Rafael said the Tamir interceptor can intercept cruise missiles, mortars, rockets, precision-guided missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Pini Yungman, executive vice president and head of air and missile defense directorate at Rafael, said the test shows that the company’s technology can provide optimal performance by integrating into existing systems.

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Lt. Cmdr. Megan Silvester: DISA’s Procurement Process Should Keep Pace With Emerging Tech, Cyber Standards
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Lt. Cmdr. Megan Silvester: DISA’s Procurement Process Should Keep Pace With Emerging Tech, Cyber Standards

Lt. Cmdr. Megan Silvester, an official at the Defense Information Systems Agency, said DISA should enhance its procurement process to integrate new cybersecurity standards and emerging technologies into its offerings, FCW reported Thursday.

“Building a ship isn’t the same as developing software, and in many cases, IT evolves at a faster pace than the acquisition process,” Silvester, product owner of DISA’s account tracking and automation tool, said during a virtual event Thursday. “This creates a real challenge for our customers.”

She noted that improving such processes could help DISA ensure that its cloud offerings “support the mission and not detract from it.”

According to the report, DISA has initiated efforts to enhance the integration of data into product development and acquisition practices, including the release of the Data Strategy Implementation Plan in August.

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