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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: April 21, 2023
CBO Describes Its Cost-Estimating Process
(Congressional Budget Office) The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, often called the Budget Act, established the House and Senate Committees on the Budget to set broad federal tax and spending policy. To support those committees in carrying out their responsibilities, it also established the Congressional Budget Office and required CBO to prepare estimates of the cost of legislation at certain points in the legislative process. Various provisions that act—primarily sections 202, 402, and 424—govern CBO’s preparation of cost estimates. Read More
CBO Explains How It Develops the Budget Baseline
(Congressional Budget Office) The Congressional Budget Act of 1974, often called the Budget Act, established the House and Senate Committees on the Budget to set broad federal tax and spending policy and identify priorities for allocating budgetary resources. To help those committees carry out their responsibilities, the Budget Act also established the Congressional Budget Office and required it to produce an annual report on federal spending, revenues, and deficits or surpluses, as well as subsequent revisions to that report as may be necessary. Read More
NSWCCD to Hold Virtual Industry Day for Follow-On Stealth Tech Development Contract
(Executive Gov) Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division is set to hold a virtual industry day on April 26 to provide details for a follow-on stealth technology development support services contract vehicle. The new procurement effort covers the provision of engineering, scientific and technical services to support ship design applications, stealth technology development and fleet support implementation under various NSWCCD programs to improve the survivability and sustainability of naval platforms, according to a notice posted Monday on SAM.gov. Read More
US Must Be More Aware of ‘Adversarial Side’ of AI, DHS Official Warns
(NextGov) As emerging technologies like recently-popular artificial intelligence tools become more integrated in daily life, the Department of Homeland Security is turning its attention to the problematic features of these nascent technologies. Speaking during a GovCon Wire panel on Tuesday, Dimitri Kusnezov, the under secretary for the DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate, discussed how his office is working to mitigate potential harms within AI systems as they become a more ubiquitous part of society. Read More
Two reports examine financial health of defense industrial base and speed to adopt innovative technologies
(Federal News Network) It’s been decades since the last time the Defense Department took an in-depth look at how its contract policies affect the financial health the defense industrial base. That long-awaited report is now out. Meanwhile, a separate, outside study is examining what DoD needs to do to speed up its adoption of innovative technologies. To take a deeper look at both of those studies, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked with Stephanie Kostro, executive vice president for Policy at the Professional Services Council. Read More
DOE Accepting Comments on Unified Data Framework for Biological, Environmental Research
(Executive Gov) The Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research is seeking public input on the development of a unified framework for next-generation data management and analysis. A notice posted Monday on the Federal Register states the BER is requesting comments on technologies needed to develop a more unified data infrastructure and research areas that may benefit from the framework. The office is also looking to identify current data sets that should be integrated into existing data infrastructure to facilitate research and determine barriers to accessing or integrating data from various sources. Read More
Short, Sweet, Simple: Tips For Effective Government Communications
(Government Executive) When governments use an authoritative tone and present information in a formal manner—as opposed to incorporating colorful graphics or casual language—residents are more likely to do what officials ask of them, a January study found. That shows that government agencies should choose their words and aesthetics carefully when presenting critical information to residents, experts say, because communications styles can significantly affect officials’ images and influence policy outcomes, said study author Elizabeth Linos, an associate professor for public policy and management at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Read More
ICEAA’s NewsBrief is a collection of articles relevant to the cost estimating and analysis community that is delivered weekly to current ICEAA members. To advertise in NewsBrief, contact iceaa@iceaaonline.org.