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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: October 4, 2024
White House issues guidance for purchasing AI tools to US agencies
(FedScoop) New federal guidance for acquiring artificial intelligence solutions directs U.S. agencies to take steps to manage risks, promote competition and share information within the executive branch. The White House Office of Management and Budget on Thursday publicly released its anticipated memorandum on responsible AI acquisition in government (M-24-18), charting an initial path forward for agencies to buy products that use the booming technology in a safe and responsible way and placing new criteria on those contracts. Read More
Space Force’s new ‘lexicon’: Move to define concepts wins praise, courts concerns
(Breaking Defense) A new memo from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman sets out to redefine how the Space Force conceptualizes space operations, reframe the service’s missions and create new “terms of reference” for official use. More than just an updated dictionary, it’s a move that “lays down a marker for the Space Force,” Doug Loverro, former head of Pentagon space policy, told Breaking Defense. “This is actually a lot more important to forming the force then selecting uniforms and songs.” But it’s also generated some concern in the military space community. Read More
Health Care Transparency: CMS Needs More Information on Hospital Pricing Data Completeness and Accuracy
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) Knowing what hospitals charge for services, like knee surgeries, could help promote competition and lower prices. In 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started requiring hospitals to put prices online. In 2024, the agency updated requirements to make price data easier to access and compare across hospitals. If hospitals don’t report all required data, the agency follows up to get it. But health plans, employers, and others raised concerns about data quality. For example, they said data was less useful if it included unusually high or low prices—which could be errors. Read More
OPM announces leave transfer program for feds affected by Helene
(Government Executive) The Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday announced that it would establish a temporary leave-sharing program to help federal employees who need time off from work to recover after Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across more than half a dozen states. The storm, which made landfall as a category 4 hurricane in Florida last week, has reportedly caused at least 180 deaths in the U.S. and created widespread flooding and other storm damage as far north as Virginia. 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.