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NGA Unveils Public Availability of Human Geography Population Datasets; Roger Marin Quoted
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NGA Unveils Public Availability of Human Geography Population Datasets; Roger Marin Quoted

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has opened its human geography population datasets to the public to assist in emergency response operations, human health and security risk assessment and other humanitarian activities.

NGA said Monday it collaborated with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to enable the public availability of its LandScan Global and LandScan High-Definition data sets to enhance data sharing between the government and the public.

LandScan Global shows the distribution of population at about 1 km resolution over an average 24-hour period while LandScan HD provides population distribution at 90 m resolution for select areas worldwide.

Both datasets use land use and infrastructure data from various sources and incorporate occupancy estimates from ORNL’s population density tables project.

“Understanding the geographic distribution of populations is critically important, both in times of crisis and in the development of informed strategies for the future,” said Roger Marin, director of the office of geography at NGA.

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Northrop-Built Autonomous Helicopter Deployed Aboard Navy’s USS Jackson
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Northrop-Built Autonomous Helicopter Deployed Aboard Navy’s USS Jackson

The U.S. Navy has deployed a Northrop Grumman-built Fire Scout autonomous helicopter aboard an Independence-class littoral combat ship to support maritime intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting missions in the Indo-Pacific area.

The MQ-8C on USS Jackson marks the unmanned aircraft system’s first operational deployment to the region, Northrop said Monday.

Lance Eischeid, director of the company’s Fire Scout program, said the helicopter has helped the service branch perform counter-narcotic operations in the first deployment to the Caribbean Sea.

“While Fire Scout will still be active on remaining littoral combat ships, the system is being built into the Constellation-class frigate design, most notably the USS Constellation (FFG-62), as well as other ship classes,” said Capt. Dennis Monagle, a program manager at Naval Air Systems Command.

The Navy plans to utilize the runway-independent aircraft platform on guided-missile frigates and for shore operations as part of the branch’s Expeditionary Advance Base Operations vision.

Northrop envisions its MQ-8C performing other roles such as cargo transportation, anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.

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Gregory Pollock: DOD Looks at Climate Change Challenges Via Scenario Planning, War Games
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Gregory Pollock: DOD Looks at Climate Change Challenges Via Scenario Planning, War Games

Gregory Pollock, principal director for Arctic and global resilience at the Department of Defense, said DOD is considering climate change through war games and scenario planning and is working with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Southern Command to address climate challenges, DOD News reported Monday.

“[It’s] really who adapts to this changing environment best that’s going to win in strategic competition, but we need to get ourselves organized to think about what the commodities of real significance [are, and their] real relevance for the future,” Pollock said Thursday during a virtual panel.

Pollock discussed DOD’s efforts to include climate change considerations in the budget, National Defense Strategy and other strategic documents.

“This is a real recognition on behalf of the department of the ways in which climate change is fundamentally altering the strategic context in which the joint force operates,” Pollock said.

“And we must adapt to those changing circumstances and adapt better and faster than do our competitors,” he added.

Joseph Bryan, senior adviser for climate and chief sustainability officer, also joined Pollock during the panel discussion and talked about how climate change shapes DOD’s capability and relationship with allies and competitors.

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SBA’s Virtual Expo to Feature Tech Startup Presentations; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted
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SBA’s Virtual Expo to Feature Tech Startup Presentations; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted

Twelve companies have won the opportunity to present at the Small Business Administration’s inaugural virtual exposition for projects funded by the agency’s research and technology transfer programs.

America’s Seed Fund Startup Expo will feature presentations on entrepreneurial ventures in the areas of agricultural technology, climate and energy, national security and supply chain resiliency, SBA said Monday.

The federal government awards early-stage R&D funds through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

“With the launch of America’s Seed Fund Expo, we will showcase exceptional entrepreneurs who have leveraged federal research and development funding through the SBIR Program in key industries and connect them to resources to advance their game-changing innovations right here in America,” said Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator of SBA.

Applicants for the competition included businesses with minority-owned, women-owned, small disadvantaged and HUBZone designations.

The winning startup companies are:

  • General Probiotics
  • Nucleic Sensing Systems
  • Shellfish Solutions, doing business as Blue Trace
  • Amorphic Tech
  • FGC Plasma Solutions
  • Hydroplane
  • BadVR
  • Enduralock
  • Psyonic
  • Chromatic 3D Materials
  • Delta Development Team
  • Re:3D
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Brett Holmgren: State Department’s Intell Branch to Form Open Source Coordination Office
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Brett Holmgren: State Department’s Intell Branch to Form Open Source Coordination Office

Brett Holmgren, assistant secretary for intelligence and research at the State Department, said the bureau of intelligence and analysis will establish a new office that will act as a “central point of contact” for training, policy and tradecraft about open source intelligence, Federal News Network reported Monday.

The Strategic Open Source Coordination Office will also test and buy open source tools, deliver them abroad and oversee contracts.

“Being able to leverage open source in a fundamentally different way than we’ve done so to date will allow us to share our best insights at the unclassified, FOUO, or the sensitive but unclassified level, on new platforms to our diplomats overseas,” Holmgren said on FNN’s Inside the IC program.

The new office is part of the bureau’s INR 2025 strategic plan that has five pillars, including elevating strategic analysis and redefining intelligence support to diplomacy.

Holmgren said the INR 2025 strategy also prioritizes digital modernization and diversity in recruitment efforts.

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Army Cancels Strategic Long-Range Cannon Program; Ellen Lovett Quoted
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Army Cancels Strategic Long-Range Cannon Program; Ellen Lovett Quoted

The U.S. Army has decided to drop research work on the Strategic Long-Range Cannon program after Congress directed the service to cease funding the SLRC initiative in the fiscal 2022 appropriations measure, Defense News reported Monday.

The military branch’s decision also “eliminates potential redundancy, and ensures we effectively use tax dollars to achieve modernization objectives,” Ellen Lovett, a spokesperson for the Army, told the publication in a May 20 statement.

“Pursuing the effort could cost billions of dollars even if the science and technology effort succeeded because the Army would have to enter into a development program, procure the system, and create entirely new units to operate it,” Lovett added.

She noted that any unused funding originally earmarked for the long-range cannon will still be directed toward other science and technology projects as per the order of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisitions, logistics and technology.

The other four long-range precision fires projects that are scheduled to reach operational units in 2023 are the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon; Precision Strike Missile; Mid-Range anti-ship Missile; and the Extended Range Cannon Artillery.

Doing Business with the Federal Government
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Doing Business with the Federal Government

How can the federal government support my business?

Doing contract opportunities with the government can give a lot of benefits to any business. Here are several examples, to name a few:

1. Endless business opportunities

The United States government comprises different government departments and agencies known to procure almost everything they need. It means there could be a lot of business opportunities for both large and small businesses.

2. Access to markets in the public sector

When small businesses get into a new market, it can make them grow and be stable. Being able to offer things for public usage is very different.

Therefore in order to get into the market found in the public sector is through the GSA schedules. A GSA contract gives small businesses more chances to reach government buyers and bid on federal government contracts.

3. A long-term deal

The process before getting into the business economy of the government requires a complicated procedure. Yet, once a company successfully works its way in, it will be easier for them to bid for future federal contracts or even foreign business opportunities.

Additionally, government contracts last from one to three years which guarantees a long-term business with the federal. Lastly, during the span of project procurement, the procuring department may refer the business to other federal agencies.

4. Compete for exclusive contracts

The government knows that not all businesses have access to government contracting opportunities. That is why they made specific contracts and contracting programs more accessible to small businesses, such as the set-aside contracts.

5. Guaranteed payments

There are times in the business industry when problems regarding payment occur. However, the government contracting industry strictly adheres to its regulations, especially with the terms stated in the contract.

How do I sell something to the government?

How do I sell something to the federal government?

According to the Federal Acquisition Regulations, a government contract must be offered to large and small businesses. But before a business can get a government contract, it must take a few actions to succeed in the industry.

Small businesses can reach out to an official government organization like the United States Small Business Administration (SBA.gov) to learn more about the necessary steps needed. However, to give you an idea, the following are some steps that small businesses must comply with.

Step 1: Be a member of the System for Award Management (SAM)

Before receiving a government contract, the first step is to register a company in SAM.

 

System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is one of the official websites of the government. The site stores a database of businesses seeking opportunities with federal agencies.

 

Anyone can use SAM without any charge. Also, by registering on the federal government website, any business can:

  • Update or check company status
  • Be qualified for federal government contracting

 

Step 2: Have a Unique Entity Identifier

In April of 2022, the government stopped using DUNS Number and changed it into Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Among the gov websites the authorities have, only SAM.gov creates the UEI.

 

Step 3: Obtain a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

To identify and classify the sizes of all businesses and the statistical data of the economy, the federal statistical agencies use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). A business may apply for multiple NAICS codes, especially if it offers products or services in different markets.

 

Step 4: Verify Your Small Business Status on the Small Business Administration Website

It is required for any company to meet the minimum or maximum size standard to be considered as one of the small businesses. Indeed industry standards vary, but the number of people and the average annual revenue is commonly used to identify a company’s size.

 

How do I sell to the DoD?

Offering products or services to the Department of Defense is not easy for every business. Business owners must have patience and extensive knowledge regarding the acquisition rules to win DoD open contracts.

 

In 1985, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) established a Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). This assistance aims to help small businesses willing to do business with the Department of Defense.

 

Under the program, small businesses may get into the following support networks:

A. Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)

PTACs help small businesses prepare their bids to win government contracts from the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. They can also assist businesses in looking for past contract opportunities or see if it is eligible for small business certification.

 

B. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

SBDCs provide one-on-one counseling and training to small businesses. They also support a business with preparation for business plans and financial and marketing activities.

C. SCORE (Score.org)

SCORE is a nonprofit organization that works with the US Small Business Administration as a resource partner (SBA). Since 1964, the organization has educated and mentored more than 11 entrepreneurs.

 

Before any business establishments may transact for a military contract, they must be registered and meet the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s (FAR) requirements.

 

These are the things needed to obtain:

A. Learn the federal codes and sensitive information about the federal contracting industry.

B. Be at the System for Award Management database.

C. Obtain UEI or Unique Entity Identifier

D. Have a Product Service Codes (PSC) and North American Business Classification System (NAICS) codes.

D. Know the Department of Defense procurement opportunities.

E. Meet the military contractors’ standards and specifications

F. Effectively present a proposal bid and become well versed with the military standards and guidelines.

 

What businesses work with the government?

What businesses work with the government?

United States government is one of the largest heavy spenders in the world. In fact, in 2020, the federal government spent a record-breaking $682 billion worth of awarded federal agencies government contracts. With the allotted government’s significant budget, many companies aim to work with them.

Indeed businesses of any scale are welcome to work in the federal marketplace. Also, a big portion of the available federal government contracts is dedicated to small businesses.

The industry also comes with subcontracting opportunities, which can help a business learn essential things about the industry by working for a prime contractor.

Nonetheless, government contracting is a massive industry that can bring growth and success to both large and small businesses, even to a disadvantaged business. So, if you are looking for a new market to get into, you may want to consider the government contracting industry.

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TMF Contributes to NARA, USDA for Digital Modernization; Clare Martorana Quoted
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TMF Contributes to NARA, USDA for Digital Modernization; Clare Martorana Quoted

The Technology Modernization Fund has agreed to financially assist the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and the Department of Agriculture with the agencies’ records system access and data protection, respectively.

TMF will donate $9.1 million to NARA to evolve and update the system for veteran family benefit requests and records management and contribute $4.4 million to the USDA for the installation of cybersecurity reinforcements in order to maintain a secure network of information, the organization said Monday.

“With the TMF investments in NARA and USDA, we’re moving the needle in deploying technology that is secure by design and building back trust in delivering a Government that meets today’s customer expectations,” commented Clare Martorana, federal chief information officer and board chair of TMF as well as a 2022 Wash100 Award winner.

TMF’s investment will be used to digitally migrate NARA’s paper-based fulfillment tasks for citizen and government agencies to a web-hosted platform. NARA is the official record facilitator of the U.S. and is subject to an annual 1.1 million records requests from veterans and their families in addition to eight million records attainment notices from more than 400 federal agencies and offices. TMF’s donation is aimed to move NARA’s legacy systems to the cloud and enable staff to meet requests needs remotely and securely.

Using TMF’s resources, the USDA intends to embrace a zero trust structure so that shared services and sensitive information may be safeguarded and websites that link users to solvencies are protected. New cybersecurity measures for the department will be instituted for increased threat monitoring, detection and response. The USDA is a hub for rural development activities and initiatives in forest management, nutrition, agricultural research and international trade.

“This is another example of the TMF’s approach to making smart technology investments that provide better service to the public and save money for taxpayers,” explained Robin Carnahan, General Services Administration administrator.

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Parsons Expands Reach in Special Ops, Intelligence Community with Xator Acquisition; CEO Carey Smith Quoted
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Parsons Expands Reach in Special Ops, Intelligence Community with Xator Acquisition; CEO Carey Smith Quoted

Public sector-serving technology and engineering firm Parsons Corporation has signed a $400 million deal to acquire infrastructure protection and C4ISR services organization Xator Corporation.

The business combination is aimed to grow Parsons’ reach to the U.S. special operations command and Intelligence Community sectors, as well as to federal civilian clientele and the global critical infrastructure market, the Centreville, Virginia-based company said Monday.

Carey Smith, CEO, president and chair of Parsons and a four-time Wash100 Award winner, said the Xator purchase adds “solutions and technologies that advance global security” and “continues our strategy of buying accretive, mission-focused companies aligned with global macroeconomic trends.”

Xator’s staff of over 900 employees (90 percent of whom carry security clearances) will bring skill sets in counter-unmanned aircraft systems, intelligence and cyber services, biometrics and global threat evaluation and operations. These capabilities are aimed to bolster Parsons’ offerings for the federal services and critical infrastructure markets, as well as gain a more trenchant relationship with the Department of State, which is undergoing budgetary expansion.

The acquisition is worth a total of $400 million — $343 constitutes Xator’s price tag, along with a net present value of a $57 million tax benefit, the result of 10.7x Xator’s adjusted EBITDA for 2023. The agreement is in-keeping with Parsons’ tendency of acquiring companies with revenue gains and adjusted EBITDA margins of 10 percent or higher that serve to bolster the company’s arsenal with new intellectual property.

“The joining of Parsons’ impressive capabilities in infrastructure and national security solutions, along with Xator’s capabilities in infrastructure protection, engineering, C4ISR, and national security will be a competitive force in the global infrastructure and national security markets,” remarked David Scott, CEO of Xator.

The transaction is scheduled to officially close later this quarter and Xator’s benefits are slated to be visible in Parsons’ 2023 adjusted earnings per share, revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margin.

Parsons consulted with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLc and Latham & Watkins LLP for the transaction and Rees Broome, PC provided Xator consulting services.

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Navy Commissions USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Service
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Navy Commissions USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Service

The U.S. Navy has officially commissioned into service its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship manufactured by Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine during a ceremony held Duluth, Minnesota.

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, dubbed LCS 21, is the second naval vessel to be named after the twin cities of Minnesota and will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, the Navy reported Saturday.

The Lockheed-Fincantieri team completed acceptance trials for LCS 21 in August 2021 and handed the vessel over to the Navy in November 2021 after concluding tests of a combining gear modification.

LCS 21 is designed to support sea control, deterrence, forward presence and maritime security operations and capable of operating in near-shore and open-ocean environments.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; Erik Raven, undersecretary of the Navy; and Vice Adm. Scott Conn, deputy chief naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities. 

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