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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: October 21, 2022
Paper-Based Government Forms Cost Federal Agencies $37.8 Billion
(Government Executive) Work optimization and waste reduction are the two key factors behind the federal government’s need to update its digital services, with a new report from the Chamber of Commerce outlining the financial and operational benefits that come with modernization. Published by the lobbying group’s Technology Engagement Center, the report, titled “Government Digitization: Transforming Government to Better Serve Americans,” debuted on Monday. It captures the volume of government forms federal agencies rely on to provide government services. These government processes include drivers’ license and passport applications and renewals, social security card applications, and health record access, among others. Read More
AI training bill becomes law
(FCW) President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill to create an artificial intelligence training program for acquisition workforce into law on Monday. The proposal, called the AI Training Act, cleared the Senate in late 2021 after being introduced by the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The bill passed the House in September and was sponsored by the chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and James Comer (R-Ky.). Read More
Pentagon Seeks Information on Updated AI Talent Procurement Contract
(ExecutiveGov) The Department of Defense is seeking information on potential industry sources capable of providing staffing support for its artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science initiatives. The Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, together with the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island, is exploring options for a new AI Talent blanket purchase agreement, according to a notice posted Thursday on SAM.gov. AIT 2.0 seeks to address some roadblocks identified in the original BPAs awarded in September 2020 to scale up the procurement process for AI and data science staffing support. Read More
Management Provisions Added to Defense Spending Bill
(FedWeek) The Senate has added a package of amendments, some of them reflecting management-related bills that have made some progress in Congress, to its version of the annual DoD authorization bill (S-4543) ready for voting after the elections. The DoD bill often is used in that way as a vehicle because it is considered an annual “must-pass” measure that typically is enacted with strong bipartisan support even though many of the individual provisions might not have passed a separate bills. Read More
Army to Discuss EW Software Requirement With Potential Offerors
(ExecutiveGov) The U.S. Army will host an industry day on Nov. 10 as a prelude to a request for proposals for the service branch’s Electronic Warfare Planning Management Tool development project. A notice posted Monday on SAM.gov indicates the service expects to commence the solicitation process in the second quarter of 2023 among prime vendors under the Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services contract vehicle. The Army previously worked with an unnamed original equipment manufacturer to develop EWPMT software and tested the platform during the government’s 2021 fiscal year. Read More
AFRL Demos Exoskeleton to Aid Aerial Porters in Lifting Cargo
(ExecutiveGov) The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Center for Rapid Innovation has demonstrated a pneumatically-powered exoskeleton designed to reduce fatigue and increase the endurance of aerial porters who load and lift large cargo onto aircraft. Forge System is supported by the Radical Improvements in Personnel Performance through Enhanced Development program, a Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research project that aims to improve warfighters’ cognitive and physical performance. “If this is optimized for the aerial porters’ particular missions, it is going to mean that teams will be able to load heavier objects on aircraft much faster using less people, which equates to saving the government and taxpayer money,” said John Florio, deputy director of CRI. Read More
How scientist monitored and early warned potential hazardous near-earth asteroids
(SpaceDaily) An enormous number of near-Earth asteroid (NEA) orbit around the Sun, and among them 2072 NEAs, which are recorded in the Minor Planet Center (MPC) database, belong to the class of potential hazardous near-Earth asteroids (PHAs). These PHAs frequently make close approaches to Earth’s orbit, and therefore, the hazard caused by PHAs is still a very real and ever-present threat. Faced with potential threats of PHA impacts, asteroid defense has been discussed with growing interest. Monitoring and early warning of those PHAs are the premise of planetary defense. Read More
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