News

Adaptive Launch Solutions, a satellite integrator and multi-manifest hardware provider, has agreed to conduct launch services with Firefly Aerospace's launch vehicle in response to small satellite demands from government operators and commercial owners. Firefly said Wednesday its Alpha rocket will be used in four ALS-led smallsat launches starting 2021 under a multi-year agreement.

Cherokee Nation Operational Solutions has secured a one-year, $42M contract to help the Defense Health Agency prepare military treatment facilities for the implementation of a new electronic health records system.

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has been named a certified third-party assessment organization by the accreditation body of the Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to help determine defense contractors' compliance with the new security standards. The CMMC Accreditation Body authorized Kratos to assess whether companies observe security practices that follow DOD's industrial cybersecurity requirements, Kratos said Wednesday.

The Department of Defense's artificial intelligence hub has released a draft request for proposals for services under a blanket purchase agreement to develop or prepare datasets that are ready for use in AI applications. According to the draft RFP, the selected vendor will help DOD components to move cloud services to the Joint Common Foundation by providing JCF libraries with datasets, machine learning models and source code and updating the catalogs of both DOD and JCF.

The Federal Communications Commission seeks technology and related services to automate repetitive tasks and reduce manual work within the Universal Service Administrative Company, an FCC-supported nonprofit. FCC said Wednesday in a SAM notice it requires robotic process automation services and tool to help USAC meet strategic goals, streamline workflows, lessen operational risk, transition from manual transactional processing and enhance functionality for users.

John Kamensky, a senior fellow with the IBM Center for the Business of Government, wrote in an article published Thursday on Nextgov that agencies should go beyond the Federal Data Strategy by taking into consideration four recommendations to promote intergovernmental data sharing.

Nino DiCosmo, president of L3Harris Technologies’ public safety and professional communications division, has said the U.S. must build on efforts to integrate the First Responder Network Authority to innovate emergency communications.

The U.S. Navy plans to issue a request for proposals in January to help field a next-generation lightweight torpedo concept as part of the service’s compact rapid attack weapon program, National Defense Magazine reported Wednesday.

Northrop Grumman's aerospace systems business has received a potential seven-year, $53.7M indefinite-delivery requirements contract to provide component repair services for the U.S. Air Force's high-altitude remotely piloted aircraft.

Voyager Space Holdings has agreed to acquire a majority stake in XO Markets and its largest subsidiary Nanoracks. Houston-based Nanoracks offers commercial space services for satellite deployment and research across more than 30 nations. "With Voyager, we're confident in our expanded team's ability to continue to deliver game-changing technology industry-wide," said Jeffrey Manber, CEO of Nanoracks.

BWX Technologies plans to collaborate with two Department of Energy-funded national laboratories to design and develop a small nuclear reactor through a cost-sharing agreement potentially worth $106.6M over seven years. DOE will contribute $85.3M to the microreactor development project, the company said Wednesday.

Coalfire Federal has been certified by the accreditation body of the Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to conduct audits to determine compliance of defense contractors with mandatory cybersecurity standards set by the Pentagon.

Textron's aviation arm has handed over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a mission-oriented variant of the Beechcraft King Air 350CER turboprop aircraft in support of the agency's emergency response missions and aerial survey efforts.

The Department of the Navy intends to offer and award a potential five-year, $16.5M contract to Ultra Electronics' advanced tactical systems business for software and system engineering services in support of the Command and Control Processor System's adjunct processor multi-link interface unit.

The U.S. Coast Guard's ninth Legend-class national security cutter has sailed to its South Carolina homeport from Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Mississippi.