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Lawmakers Request Follow-Up GAO Study of Federal Advertising Contract Obligations to Small Businesses
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Lawmakers Request Follow-Up GAO Study of Federal Advertising Contract Obligations to Small Businesses

Eight members of Congress have requested the Government Accountability Office to conduct a follow-up analysis of how much advertising money the federal government allocates to small media companies.

The Democratic lawmakers sent their written request Thursday to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro and cited data from the agency’s report four years ago.

GAO found that federal advertising contracting obligations hit $870 million each year from fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2017 and nearly 13 percent of the total annual spending went to small disadvantaged, minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Defense and Homeland Security collectively accounted for almost three-quarters of the contracting dollars awarded to such vendors during the five-year period.

“We believe that the COVID-19 pandemic and legislative actions have impacted federal advertising contracts to such a degree that a follow-up study is warranted,” the lawmakers wrote.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, congresswoman for the District of Columbia, was among the letter’s signatories.

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NSF, DOD Announce Start of Next-Gen Network Tech Research Program ‘RINGS’
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NSF, DOD Announce Start of Next-Gen Network Tech Research Program ‘RINGS’

The National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense have kicked off a program that seeks to advance research and innovation and improve U.S. competitiveness in the field of NextG computing and networking technologies.

The Resilient and Intelligent NextG Systems program of NSF seeks to involve and encourage government, industry and academic partners to take part in joint research efforts to develop next-generation network tech platforms in support of warfighters, DOD said Monday.

NSF announced awards for the RINGS program in April. Projects under this initiative will explore emergent network architectures impacting RAN, edge network elements, enhanced hardware and software capabilities for client devices and other wireless network platforms that are relevant to DOD.

Industry partners in the RINGS program include Apple, VMware, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Ericsson, Qualcomm and Nokia.

“The 5G-to-NextG initiative is particularly pleased to support efforts such as RINGS that promote public and private sector collaboration in continuing research, development, and prototyping that emphasize secure and resilient network operational concepts and their evaluation,” said Sumit Roy, program director for the Innovate Beyond 5G program at the office of the undersecretary for research and engineering at DOD.

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Maj. Gen. Kevin Kennedy Confirmed to Lead Air Force’s Information Warfare Org
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Maj. Gen. Kevin Kennedy Confirmed to Lead Air Force’s Information Warfare Org

Maj. Gen. Kevin Kennedy, director of operations at U.S. Cyber Command since July 2020, has received Senate approval to assume command of the information warfare-focused 16th Air Force, C4ISRNET reported Monday.

He will elevate to the rank of lieutenant general and replace Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, who was confirmed as Cybercom’s next deputy commander last month.

The organization Kennedy will lead at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas is also known as Air Forces Cyber and is responsible for providing IW mission integration support to the military branch.

Kennedy served as assistant deputy chief information officer for digital transformation and assistant chief of staff for cyber effects operations at USAF’s headquarters before he was appointed as head of the Cybercom J3 directorate.

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SBA Seeks to Reverse Drop in Small Biz Contractors With Category Management Reform; Bibi Hidalgo Quoted
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SBA Seeks to Reverse Drop in Small Biz Contractors With Category Management Reform; Bibi Hidalgo Quoted

The Small Business Administration has initiated steps to reform category management as part of efforts to overturn the decline in small business contractors, Federal News Network reported Monday.

“And so as a result, we negotiated with [the Office of Management and Budget] and the White House to have all the socioeconomic firms — that includes service-disabled veterans, women-owned businesses, all place-based HUBZone firms, and small disadvantaged businesses — into tier 2 of category management, which is the rating system that they had created,” said Bibi Hidalgo, associate administrator for government contracting and business development at SBA.

“So that means that 33,000 more additional firms are part of that higher level tiering category, which will create more access for contract opportunities,” she told House Small Business Committee members during a hearing Thursday.

Hidalgo said the change has resulted in positive trends, such as the increase in the number of small business owners being contacted for contract opportunities.

“So we are seeing a difference. They are now reaching out more and more. My staff was just telling me this yesterday: Across the board agencies are reaching out to identify more businesses across all the socioeconomic categories,” she noted.

Hidalgo also talked about contract bundling and SBA’s efforts to address the certification process for women-owned small businesses and other small companies.

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UK Government Drops Uncrewed Fighter Aircraft ‘Project Mosquito’
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UK Government Drops Uncrewed Fighter Aircraft ‘Project Mosquito’

The U.K. air force has decided to cancel an unmanned combat aircraft technology demonstrator following a review of the project and the Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft program.

The decision not to advance Project Mosquito beyond the design stage was informed by capability experimentation and parallel analysis carried out by the Royal Air Force and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the U.K. defense ministry said Friday.

The analysis concluded that smaller and cheaper alternatives could still be explored.

The RAF’s rapid capabilities office will continue to pursue “loyal wingman” concepts as part of the Future Combat Air System Enterprise program, which is expected to be available after 2035.

The RCO will initiate efforts to “pursue the RAF’s unchanged firm commitment to integrate advanced uncrewed capabilities into the near-term force mix with more immediate beneficial value,” said Air Commodore Jez Holmes, head of RCO.

In January 2021, an industry team led by Spirit AeroSystems won a $32 million contract to design and build an uncrewed fighter aircraft prototype under Project Mosquito. Spirit’s team members were Northrop Grumman and Intrepid Systems.

The aircraft had been expected to fly by the end of 2023 alongside F-35 and Typhoon fighter jets.

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Beth Meinert Promoted to SVP, Tapped to Lead MITRE Public Sector; Jason Providakes Quoted
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Beth Meinert Promoted to SVP, Tapped to Lead MITRE Public Sector; Jason Providakes Quoted

Longtime MITRE team member Beth Meinert has been elevated to the role of general manager of the not-for-profit company’s public sector arm.

Ascending from vice president to senior vice president, Meinert will administer the strategic approach and market expansion maneuvers of MITRE Public Sector as well as liaise with notable sponsor organizations, the McLean, Virginia-headquartered company said Monday.

“[Meinert] has been both a pioneer and leader throughout MITRE’s continued transformation, leaning forward in developing whole-of-nation solutions beyond our traditional national security focus,” commented Jason Providakes, MITRE president and CEO.

Providakes, who is a three-time Wash100 Award winner, also stated that Meinert’s dedication to the public good makes her a great fit for her new position, in which she will additionally lead operations of the federally funded research and development centers run by MITRE under the auspices of civilian government agencies. These include the Center for Government Effectiveness and Modernization, the Center for Securing the Homeland, CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare and the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development.

In Meinert’s over 34 years with MITRE, the executive has held roles such as director of the Center for Financial and Economic Transformation and director of Army programs, in which she leveraged her experience as an Army veteran. Across her career, she has advocated for warfighters’ rights, particularly in her work with the company’s Veterans Council.

Prior to her latest promotion, Meinert was vice president and director of the Center for Government Effectiveness and Modernization, which put her in charge of communicating with and retaining the support of government sponsors and partners such as the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among others.

Meinert’s expertise lies in business, technology, finance and economics.

The new SVP and general manager’s promotion follows MITRE’s appointment of former State Department executive Christopher Ford as fellow and director of the newly incepted Center for Strategic Competition earlier this month.

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U.S. Army Places Order for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from Edge Autonomy; Joshua Stinson Quoted
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U.S. Army Places Order for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from Edge Autonomy; Joshua Stinson Quoted

Unmanned technologies manufacturer Edge Autonomy has entered an agreement with the U.S. Army to construct and provide unmanned aerial vehicles.

The San Luis Obispo, California-based company said Monday that the new collaboration will build on an almost 25-year history of equipping the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO allies with its unmanned aerial systems.

“We are committed to advancing unmanned capabilities and supporting the Army in its effort to solve complex national security problems,” asserted Joshua Stinson, chief growth officer of Edge Autonomy, adding that the endeavor is a testament to the company’s interest in helping the U.S. and its constituents abroad defend against bad actors and threats.

The Army is ordering Penguin B and C unmanned aerial vehicles from Edge Autonomy. The former model is semi-integrated and adaptable to customer needs whereas the latter is fully integrated and a turnkey machine that can take flight for a continuous 20 hour stretch.

As a result of the deal, the service branch hopes to keep pace and overtake adversaries in advancements of autonomous technologies.

Stinson also noted that he is honoring own military history with Edge Autonomy’s Army partnership, expressing his pride to assist with their mission objectives in this “major milestone” order.

In February, Edge Autonomy was rechristened as its current name from its prior moniker, UAV Factory, after a merger with Jennings Aeronautics.

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FCC, IMLS Agree to Promote Awareness on Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities
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FCC, IMLS Agree to Promote Awareness on Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities

The Federal Communications Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of Museum and Library Services to collaborate on expanding public awareness of federal broadband funding programs.

The government agencies will jointly work to publicize information about federal funding opportunities for broadband services, provide digital resources and services to underserved communities and develop broadband-related outreach events, the FCC said Friday.

“Libraries are some of our most trusted institutions—and rightfully so. They serve as community hubs connecting library patrons to a host of services, including providing internet access that many may lack at home,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the FCC.

Rosenworcel signed the MOU aimed at expanding digital inclusion with Crosby Kemper, director of IMLS.

“We are honored to work with Chairwoman Rosenworcel to make sure the generous funding provided by Congress and the administration, as well as targeted universal service support, reaches many, even most, of those who historically have been unable even to apply for the funds available to them,” Kemper said.

The agencies also agreed to share data about participation in their respective funding and grand programs and provide information on the availability of high-speed broadband services.

The FCC recently announced that it is committing $244 million to the Emergency Connectivity Fund program to support applications from its third funding window.

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USAF Maj. Gen. Donna Shipton Nominated as Military Deputy to Air Force Acquisition Lead
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USAF Maj. Gen. Donna Shipton Nominated as Military Deputy to Air Force Acquisition Lead

President Biden has nominated U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Donna Shipton, deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, to serve as military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.

Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Défense and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, announced Friday that Shipton is also nominated for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general.

Shipton also serves as commander of the Space Force Element responsible for overseeing Air Force and Space Force personnel assigned to the NRO.

She was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from Clemson University. Her military career includes time serving as director of strategic plans, programs, requirements and analyses at Air Force Materiel Command’s headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

US to Help Romania Deploy Small Modular Reactor Power Plant
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US to Help Romania Deploy Small Modular Reactor Power Plant

The U.S. has allocated $14 million to fund a study in support of its planned development of a small modular reactor power plant in Romania to advance clean energy innovation.

The State Department said Sunday the Front-End Engineering and Design study will serve as basis for SMR facility deployment in the southeastern European country and is part of the government’s global initiatives in response to climate change.

U.S. firm NuScale Power will provide its VOYGR-6 SMR nuclear power plant for the eight-month effort. Romania SN Nuclearelectrica will contribute to the initiative.

“Nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, represent a critical tool in the fight against climate change, and can also enhance energy security and boost economic prosperity,” said Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

SMRs are equipped to complement other clean energy sources while enabling more scalability and flexibility compared to traditional nuclear reactors. The power plants also have a minimal environmental footprint.

“This latest commitment demonstrates the strength and importance of Transatlantic relationships in the pursuit of regional security and energy independence,” said Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Eliot Kang.  

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