A new National Institute of Standards and Technology report examines how blockchain technology may help companies identify and trace products throughout the manufacturing supply chain.

The “NIST Internal Report 8419” report offers multiple case studies exploring the potential of data storage and sharing platforms such as a distributed ledger to update the traceability process, the agency said Wednesday.

These investigations include a proof-of-concept demonstration in the aviation sector, a digital supply chain process for the Department of Defense and a blockchain integration effort that involves a production line of a Fortune 500 company.

NIST said its networked control systems team will work with the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to pursue additional research on blockchain-based traceability.

According to the agency, blockchain goes through a pair of validation steps and creates a digital thread for goods moving through the supply chain. The approach allows technology users to access open data and verify product authenticity, NIST added.

The Office of Management and Budget has released new guidance meant to help federal agencies implement the “Build America, Buy America” provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The guidance document will help agencies ensure that programs are covered by Made in America conditions for construction materials, iron and steel and manufactured products, Made in America Director Celeste Drake wrote in a blog post published Wednesday.

Drake said OMB expects the guidance to help agencies transition to new policies; come up with transparent processes for considering waiver requests; apply policies to help manufacturers and grant recipients understand new procedures; and use waivers as a strategic measure toward greater domestic sourcing.

The document offers direction for determining U.S.-made construction materials.

Drake noted that implementing the law’s provisions will help strengthen the U.S. industrial base and supply chains, drive investments and support job creation, U.S. companies and workers.

The Department of Defense is looking to invest in what it calls “microelectronics commons” to help both the domestic industry and academia move small novel technologies from the development laboratory to the commercial production line.

“The notion is that eventually the commons becomes self-sustaining,” said Victoria Coleman, chief scientist of the U.S. Air Force.

Coleman, who is responsible for originating the concept during her previous stint at the University of California, Berkeley, said the goal is to establish a national facility that can be used by professors and businesses and run as a business with profit margins.

She noted the U.S. must regain a capacity to design and produce microelectronics in order to avoid relying on a potential foreign to produce defense system components.

“What it means is that, first of all, we will not be relying on our on our peer adversaries to prove out our innovations,” the Air Force chief scientist said.

“We can invest a little money on what we think might pay off. But in order for us to prove out our innovations, we depend on them, and that is an unacceptable situation to be in.”

DOD asked for input from industry in February on the department’s vision to form a public-private partnership that will consist of distributed regional innovation hubs nationwide as part of the National Network for Microelectronics Research and Development.