Washington Update – March 13, 2019

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

View full report: Tufts Washington Update — March 13, 2019

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Administration and Hearing Updates
    • Lewis-Burke Summary of the FY 2020 President’s Budget Request for Research, Education, and Healthcare
    • Senate Committee on Investigations Holds “China’s Impact on the U.S. Education System” Hearing
    • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Holds Hearing on U.S. Leadership in Science and Technology
  • Agency Updates and Funding Opportunities
    • Air Force Office of Scientific Research Releases FY 2020 Young Investigator Program BAA
    • Department of Energy Releases $52 Million Funding Opportunity for Transportation Fuel Research in Heavy-Duty Vehicles
    • Department of Defense Releases FY 2020 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative BAA
    • Federal Aviation Administration Releases New Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Defense Policy Newsletter

March 5, 2019 | Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
 
IN THIS ISSUE


On the Front Lines: FY 2020 Budget Debates Loom; Military Oversight Issues Emerge 
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees (HASC and SASC) are expected to tackle a variety of issues starting this month with the anticipated delivery of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget request to Congress the week of March 11.  Many reports state that the President will adhere to the existing budget caps from the Budget Control Act but will also ask for $174 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) that are not subject to the caps to achieve an overall DOD budget of $750 billion.  Congress sees this as a short-term budget gimmick that inappropriately utilizes a warfighting fund.  Congress would rather have a two-year budget deal that raises the caps for defense and non-defense spending by 3 percent, slightly higher than inflation, to ensure longer-term budget certainty.
 
While the budget debate will dominate broader conversations, Congress is poised to address a number of policy issues and Department of Defense (DOD) realignments, including the Army Futures Command reorganization, the establishment of a U.S. Space Force under the Department of the Air Force, and the re-establishment of U.S. Space Command.  Members of Congress expressed skepticism over the Army Futures Command (AFC) reorganization during a HASC Subcommittee on Readiness hearing last year, and the reorganization faced pushback from members of the Maryland delegation, who feared it would impact the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in their state.  Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) attempted to attach an amendment to the defense appropriations bill last year that would prevent Congress from funding the effort until the Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed a review.  Even with these concerns, the Army has completed its AFC headquarters establishment in Austin, activated the AI Task Force and AI Hub at Carnegie Mellon University, and transferred authority for the Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to Army Futures Command in the past two months.
 
Congress will address multiple research issues through the lens of implementing the National Defense Strategy and the National Biodefense Strategy.  Major areas of interest will include cybersecurity, involvement in foreign theaters such as Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan, personnel and readiness, and artificial intelligence (AI).  Other issues anticipated during congressional posture hearings associated with the FY 2020 defense budget include the need to fill multiple vacant appointed positions at the Department, including the Secretary of Defense; sexual assault in the military; increased partnerships and alignment among the DOD laboratories, academia, and industry; and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson’s delayed review of S&T, known as Air Force 2030.  Both the House and Senate will debate balancing near term readiness needs against DOD’s long-range investments in research and development (R&D) to address critical technologies such as cyber, AI, quantum information sciences, and microelectronics.
 
With a Democratic majority in the House, HASC Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) and other Democrats on the Committee have expressed interest in reducing defense spending by scrutinizing administration priorities that contribute to the $750 billion budget, such as:

  • Troop deployment at the U.S. border
  • Nuclear weapon modernization
  • Readiness issues with perceived wasteful spending on outdated weapons
  • Climate change and national security
  • Balancing security roles of the DOD with funding at the State Department and US Agency for International Development

Even with these new priorities, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a member of the HASC, believes the Committee can make bipartisan progress.  Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute on February 28  he said,  “the Armed Services Committee remains an island of opportunity in a sea of legislative chaos.”
 
On the other side of the Capitol, SASC Chairman Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and Senate Republicans will continue to push for more DOD funding for readiness and modernization, including supporting the domestic industrial base, test and evaluation infrastructure, cybersecurity, and biodefense.
 


VIEW FROM THE HILL

Senate Committee on Investigations Holds Hearing on “China’s Impact on the U.S. Education System”
Confucius Institutes (CIs) impact on universities continues to be a concern for Congress.  This follows a  February 28 hearing by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s (HSGAC) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) entitled, “China’s Impact on the U.S. Education System.”  Although the hearing focused primarily on CIs, there were important implications for all institutions of higher education, particularly around immigration and Department of Education (ED) reporting.  Two reports were released in conjunction with the hearing: a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “CHINA Agreements Establishing Confucius Institutes at U.S. Universities Are Similar, but Institute Operations Vary,” and a PSI staff report, “China’s Impact On The U.S. Education System.” 
 
Chairman Rob Portman (R-OH) and Ranking Member Thomas Carper (D-DE) expressed the need for increased transparency and reciprocity between institutions and China.  In his opening statement, Senator Portman referenced statements made by officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) that identified CIs as threats.  Several senators highlighted the PSI staff report observation that China has provided over $158 million in funding to U.S. schools for CIs.  Policymakers have continued to express concerns that the funding compromises academic freedom and requires U.S. institutions to comply with Chinese law.  The hearing also raised two issues in the context of CIs, which have implications for institutions that do not have CIs: foreign gift reporting requirements under section 117 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and the requirements of the Exchange Visitor Visa (“J-1”).  Lewis-Burke’s full analysis of the hearing is available here.
 
It is extremely likely that future legislation and policies will continue to focus on ways to combat perceived attempts by China to influence academia and research.  In his written testimony, Deputy Undersecretary of Education MIthcell Zais noted that ED continues to confer with the Department of Defense to support the protection of U.S. intellectual property, a result of a directive included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.  These types of directives will continue to be included in future legislation, with the potential to expand to visa and higher education legislation as well.  It is anticipated that as reports of academics’ ties to foreign governments continue to surface, this issue will continue to be a priority for Congress.
 


NATIONAL SECURITY NEWS

White House and DOD Push to Accelerate AI Development and Adoption 
The Trump Administration continues to push federal agencies to prioritize investments in artificial intelligence (AI), one of its top R&D priorities, following President Trump’s executive order on February 11 to establish the American AI Initiative.  At a Center for New American Security (CNAS) discussion on February 28, White House officials said the fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget will prioritize and increase R&D investments in AI, particularly at the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense (DOD).
 
The American AI Initiative will seek to accelerate the integration of and maintain U.S. leadership in AI.  Among other actions, the executive order would:

  • Prioritize R&D funding at federal agencies who conduct foundational AI research, though this doesn’t include new funding for programs.The order specifically directs agencies to explore opportunities to collaborate with industry, academia, non-profit organizations, and other entities.
  • Call on federal agencies to make data, models, and resources accessible to researchers and industry who develop AI.
  • Direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to lead the development of technical standards and establish guidance for developing safe and trustworthy AI systems.
  • Call on federal agencies who provide educational grants to consider AI a priority area for existing fellowship and training programs, in order to help build an AI workforce. The order highlights programs that fund early-career university faculty who conduct AI research as an example of programs that agencies should consider.
  • Have federal agencies develop and implement plans to ensure research and development in AI is protected from “strategic competitors and foreign adversaries.”

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) plans to publish two notices in the Federal Register for public comment in the next few weeks.  One will seek justification for which federal data sets should be made available to researchers and industry while balancing privacy and security concerns.  The other will provide guidance for federal regulatory agencies in advancing the creation and adoption of new AI technologies, such as AI-powered medical diagnostic devices.  The initiative will be coordinated by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which was established at a White House summit last year.  
 
Following the executive order, DOD released its AI Strategy. DOD’s strategy acknowledges China and Russia’s investments in AI for military uses and that the U.S. must pursue the integration of AI in military operations to maintain its strategic advantage and deter or defeat adversaries in future conflicts.
 
DOD will seek to leverage AI capabilities to address mission needs, such as situational awareness, decision-making, improving safety and predictive maintenance of military systems, and streamlining business processes. Still, the Department notes that partnerships with academia, industry, and other entities are crucial to helping the military achieve the full potential of AI, and the strategy notes the DOD’s intent to increase investments in academic partnerships and to invest in “innovation districts,” or concentrated areas of researchers and businesses that develop AI.  The strategy also lays out the Department’s plan to build a stronger AI workforce and ensure the military’s leadership in AI ethics and safety.
 
Under the strategy, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) will serve as the focal point for leading DOD’s efforts to adopt AI in military operations, focusing on short term needs such as planning, policy, and implementation.  JAIC’s work will complement that of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and other DOD laboratories, which will focus on long term R&D investments for future capabilities.  DOD’s strategy indicates that it will increase investments in AI R&D, with the focal point being DARPA’s AI NEXT campaign, though more insight into DOD’s investments will not be clear until the President’s budget request is released this month.
 
Pentagon Submits Space Force Plans to Congress
The Pentagon delivered its legislative proposal to Congress on February 28 to create a U.S. Space Force within the Air Force.  The vision for Space Force was first debuted in “Space Policy Directive-4”, which was signed by President Trump on February 19.  Plans call for the new branch to be led by two four-star generals.  Media reports revealed that the plan says the Space Force will cost $72 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020, and costs could reach $2 billion over five years.
 
As reported by Lewis-Burke Associates LLC (Lewis-Burke) last fall, President Trump previously advocated that the Department create an independent branch separate from the Air Force, which had faced pushback from Members of Congress and the Air Force due to potential concerns over costs and efforts in creating a new organization in DOD.  However, the directive notes that it will become necessary to create a Department of the Space Force as the U.S. Space Force matures.  The executive order also follows a Presidential Memorandum to the Secretary of Defense to establish a U.S. Space Command as a Unified Combatant Command.  It is unclear whether lawmakers will support the Pentagon’s Space Force plan, as Members have expressed concern about the bureaucracy of a separate Service.
 
DOD expects to formally establish U.S. Space Command in 60 to 90 days, although it will first seek a “technical revision” to the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to ensure its plan for Space Command is in line with the language in the law.  Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson stood up a U.S. Space Force planning task force on February 22 to lay out key phases of the transition.
 
Along with the creation of the Space Force, DOD is standing up a Space Development Agency to help the military “develop and field capability more quickly.”  Fred Kennedy, head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office, was tasked with studying the Space Development Agency and selected to serve as the agency’s first director by Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin.  A plan for the new agency is due to Griffin by March 1 to stand up the agency no later than March 29.  Air Force Secretary Wilson expressed skepticism regarding the unique mission of the Space Development Agency compared to existing research, development, and acquisition organizations, according to a report in Breaking Defense on February 28.
 


FUNDING AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Department of Defense Releases DURIP BAA
The DOD basic research office released the broad agency announcement (BAA) for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) competition.  The full FY 2020 DURIP solicitation issued by each military Service is available at www.grants.gov by searching “FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2019-0001” (Air Force), “W911NF19S0005” (Army), and “N00014-19-S-F007” (Navy).

Department of Defense Releases MURI BAA
On behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of Naval Research released the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) which is part of the University Research Initiative. The full fiscal year (FY) 2020 MURI solicitation issued by each military Service is available at www.grants.gov by searching “N00014-19-S-F005” (Navy), “W911NF-19-S-0008” (Army), and “# FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2019-0002” (Air Force).

ONR Seeks Proposals for Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP)
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP).  The full ONR FOA is located at www.grants.gov under solicitation number N00014-19-S-F006.

Army Futures Command Releases BAA
The Army Futures Command’s Army Applications Lab (AAL) released a special notice Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) through the Army Research Laboratory’s long term BAA “W911NF-17-S-0003” requesting white papers for “research and development solutions in support of new technologies and translational research-based approaches that support the identification, alignment, and exploitation of applied research and technology with the Army Future Force Modernization Enterprise.” Lewis-Burke learned that AAL anticipates releasing a second BAA in the near future for more specific topics that will be proposed via a “shark tank” type forum where Army leaders will be able to immediately issue a contract for up to $160,000. More information on the AAL special notice can be found here.

DTRA Releases Three University Research Alliance Draft Solicitations
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announced three draft University Research Alliance (URA) broad agency announcements (BAAs).  A University Day in support of the BAAs will be held in Lorton, VA, on March 22.  Lewis-Burke’s full analysis of the three draft BAAs is available here.

DTRA Chem Bio Defense S&T to Hold Conference in November
DOD’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Chemical and Biological Technologies Department will host its 2019 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology (CBD S&T) Conference at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 18-21, 2019.  The event offers a networking opportunity for university researchers to interact with members of the DTRA chemical and biological technologies defense program and other DOD scientists.  Registration information, when published, can be found here.

DOD CDMRP Releases FY 2019 Solicitations
The Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) published funding opportunity announcements in the following research programs:

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Breast Cancer
  • Peer Reviewed Medical
    • Lewis-Burke’s analysis of the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program is available here.
  • Defense Medical Research and Development Program
    • Combat Casualty Care Research Program
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Details on each opportunity are available at: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/default.  Interested applicants may subscribe here for real-time updates, including forthcoming solicitations.
 
DOD CDMRP to Host Informational Webinars for Proposers
For the first time, the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) will post a series of webinars for proposers in order to offer insight into the types of funding opportunities and how to craft competitive proposals.  CDMRP already hosted two webinars entitled “Funding Opportunities and Strategies for Success” on February 11 and “High Risk/High Gain Funding Opportunities” on February 28.  Both are available for the public to view on CDMRP’s website.  The next webinar, “Team Science Funding Opportunities,” will be posted on March 11, 2019.  The full schedule for CDMRP webinars can be found here

Military Health System Research Symposium Calls for Abstracts
The Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) released its call for abstracts, including a separate competition for young investigators, and will accept submissions through March 15, 2019.  Details on the submission process, topic areas and descriptions, and information on the 2019 MHSRS are available here.

DARPA BTO Releases BAA for Bioelectronics for Tissue Regeneration (BETR) Program
DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO) released the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Bioelectronics for Tissue Regeneration (BETR) program.  The BETR program seeks to develop a system that will facilitate communication between the body and a bioelectronic interface that will track and speed the healing process following an injury.  DARPA ultimately aims to strengthen warfighter resiliency by shortening the injury recovery time before re-deployment.  The BAA is available here.

ARO Releases BAA for DOD Advanced Computing Initiative (ACI)
The Army Research Office (ARO) and the National Security Agency (NSA) released a broad agency announcement (BAA) for the fiscal year (FY) 2019 Department of Defense (DOD) Advanced Computing Initiative (ACI).  More information is available in the full BAA, located at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “W911NF-19-S-0007.”

DARPA DSO Announces Proposers Day for ONISQ Program
DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO) announced a Proposers Day for the Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) program.  The ONISQ program seeks to “demonstrate quantitative advantage of Quantum Information Processing (QIP) over the best classical methods for solving combinatorial optimization problems using Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices.”  Additional information is available in the special notice, located at www.fbo.gov under solicitation number “DARPA-SN-19-35.”

DARPA DSO to Host Proposers Day for Competency-Aware Machine Learning (CAML) Program
DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO) announced that it will hold a Proposers Day for the Competency-Aware Machine Learning (CAML) program, in advance of a planned Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).  The CAML program seeks to develop machine learning systems that are aware of and able to communicate their competency to human partners, in order to facilitate better collaboration between humans and autonomous systems.  The full BAA can be found at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “HR001119S0030.”

DARPA I2O Releases BAA for Guaranteeing AI Robustness against Deception (GARD) Program
DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for its Guaranteeing AI Robustness against Deception (GARD) program.  The GARD program seeks a new generation of defenses against attacks on machine learning (ML) models, specifically to develop more advanced defenses against physical world attacks “in a variety of pertinent modalities,” including audio and video.  The full BAA is available at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “HR001119S0026.”

DARPA MTO Releases BAA for Digital RF Battlespace Emulator (DRBE) Program
DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) released its Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for its Digital RF Battlespace Emulator (DRBE) program.  The DRBE program, which is funded under DARPA’s Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI), supports the ability of critical RF systems, such as radars and Electronic Warfare (EW), to train and test themselves in newly-adopted artificial intelligence (AI) environments.  The program seeks to create a new breed of high-performance computing (HPC), known as “Real-time HPC.” The full BAA is available at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “HR001119S0023.”


ANTICIPATED OPPORTUNITIES
 
Minerva Research Initiative FOA Expected This Month
Lewis-Burke has learned that DOD is anticipated to release the Minerva Research Initiative funding opportunity announcement (FOA) in March.  Minerva, jointly administered by the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy at DOD, is the premier defense social science research opportunity.  Topics for 2019 are likely to be similar to previous years, with some new topics added.  All topics will connect to the National Defense Strategy and those that align closely with strategy are likely to viewed more favorably.  This year’s solicitation will include a separate section asking proposers to briefly articulate the basic research contribution of their project.  Previous topics have included Sociopolitical (In)Stability, Resilience, and Recovery; Economic Interdependence and Security; Fundamental Dynamics of Scientific Discovery; Adversarial Information Campaigns; Automated Cyber Vulnerability Analysis; and Security Risks in Ungoverned and Semi-Governed Spaces.  More information on Minerva and previously funded research can be found here.   

DEPSCoR Solicitations Expected Soon
Lewis-Burke has learned that the DOD Basic Research Office will soon release two Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) opportunities for fiscal year (FY) 2019.  DEPSCoR was re-authorized in the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and is intended to expand research opportunities in states that traditionally receive the least funding in federal support for university research.  The first solicitation would provide additional funding for each military Service to award additional Young Investigator Program (YIP) and Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) grants to researchers at institutions in states that meet the criteria for DEPSCoR.  The emphasis on DEPSCoR awards for young investigators aligns with the DOD’s objective of cultivating young researchers to support defense research and development programs throughout their careers.  The second solicitation will be a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for DEPSCoR-eligible states to conduct basic research.  The BAA will include funding opportunities for new defense researchers to partner with existing DOD-funded researchers in DEPSCoR states.  DOD seeks to facilitate the mentorship of early career defense researchers to increase their success in meeting DOD’s mission-focused research needs.

NHLBI and DOD CCCRP Announce Intent to Start Trans-Agency Blood-Brain Interface Program
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in collaboration with the Department of Defense Joint Program Committee-6 (JPC-6) Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCRP), released a notice of intent (NOI) for a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that will establish a trans-agency program to “support collaborations between hematologists/vascular experts, neuroscientists, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) tissue chip developers for high risk/high reward research.”  The future FOA will solicit innovative projects that “stimulate the development of human-based neurovascular-blood model to identify targets for diagnostics and regulation of the blood-brain interface” in both normal and pathological states.  The FOA is expected to be published in summer 2019 and applications due in fall 2019.

DARPA DSO to Release BAA for SAIL-ON Program
DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is expected to release a broad agency announcement (BAA) for the Science of Artificial Intelligence and Learning for Open-world Novelty (SAIL-ON) program.  The SAIL-ON program aims to develop underlying scientific principles, engineering techniques, and algorithms that will allow artificial intelligence (AI) systems to operate effectively in novel situations in dynamic environments, a crucial for military applications of AI.  Though details are not yet available, DARPA anticipates releasing the BAA in early March.  More information is available at www.fbo.gov under solicitation number “DARPA-SN-19-31.”
 


WHAT WE’RE READING

Special Operations Command to Request Big Boost to S&T Budget
National Defense reports that Lisa Sanders, Director of Science and Technology (S&T) for Special Operations Forces (SOCOM), announced a plan on February 7 to increase funding for S&T in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and years to follow.  The planned increases for S&T from FY 2020 to FY 2024 will contribute to technology budget activities, with a special focus in four areas: tactically relevant situational awareness platforms; communication and navigation systems for all environments; tailored lethality technologies; and biotechnologies.  Sanders stated that for FY 2020, the S&T Division is asking for $130 million, which she noted is substantially higher than the $35 million S&T accounts were funded at a few years ago.  Read more here.

Inside Army’s Cutting-Edge Research Lab That’s Helping Drive a Big Modernization Push
WashingtonExec describes the Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL) unique role in driving cutting-edge modernization research, highlighting the Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory as the “nation’s premier laboratory for land forces.”  The Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory specializes in foundational disruptive research and technology forecasting.  It also acts as the “beginning and end” of the Army’s supply chain for technologies.  The article notes that the lab has a special interest in robotic technologies and systems, which is seen as an important capability in an emerging “multidomain” battlefield.  Read more here.

Academia a Crucial Partner for Pentagon’s AI Push
An op-ed published in the February issue of National Defense by the Vice President of Purdue University’s Discovery Park posits that research universities play a crucial role in providing the DOD with advanced scientific outcomes and a reliable workforce pipeline.  The article explores how collaborative relationships between DOD and academia allow for a “trusted capability to produce open, verifiable solutions” to addressing DOD needs, specifically in advanced artificial intelligence (AI).  Citing the National Defense Authorization Act, the article emphasizes the need for AI talent to “dominate the AI technology landscape.” For example, Purdue’s Integrative Data Science Initiative pushes students to have some level of data science and AI “literacy” no matter their majors.  Read more here.

Microsoft Workers Call on Company to Cancel Military Contract; Microsoft Stands By Its $480 Million Pentagon Contract
Multiple reports emerged in late February that a group of Microsoft employees are pushing back against their company’s $480 million contract with the Army to build augmented reality headsets for the battlefield.  In the open complaint letter, now signed by more than 100 employees, employees stated their objections to helping “increase lethality” of technologies.  As described in reports from The Washington Post and Bloomberg, the letter called for cancelling the contract and for Microsoft to publish an explicit policy on the acceptable uses of its products, enforced by an independent ethics board.  However, on February 26, DefenseOne reported that Microsoft plans to fulfill its Army contract.  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the company won’t “withhold technology” from democratic governments and that the company plans to “remain engaged as an active corporate citizen.”  Read more about the employee letter here and the President of Microsoft’s rebuttal here.

Washington Update – February 26, 2019

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

View full report: Tufts Washington Update — February 26, 2019

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Congressional Updates
    • Analysis of Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations Minibus Package
    • Drug Pricing Legislation Introduced with Implications for Tech Transfer
  • Funding Opportunities
    • National Science Foundation Releases Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes
    • National Science Foundation Releases Production Engineering Education Research Solicitation
    • Office of Naval Research Seeks Proposals for Manufacturing Engineering Education Program
    • Department of Defense Releases Defense University Research Instrumentation Program Competition
    • Department of Energy Announces $66 Million Funding Opportunity for Genomics-Based Research
    • Department of Energy Announces $20 Million Funding Opportunity for Data Science in Chemistry and Materials Research
  • Appendix A
    • Analysis Charts of Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations Minibus Package

Washington Update – February 11, 2019

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

View full report: Tufts Washington Update — February 11, 2019

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Agency Updates
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration Details Effects of Government Shutdown in Virtual Town Hall
  • Funding Opportunities
    • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Biological Technologies Office Announces Proposers Day for Bioelectronics for Tissue Regeneration Program
    • Defense Threat Reduction Agency Releases Three University Research Alliance Draft Solicitations ……..
    • Department of Energy Announces $20 Million Funding Opportunity for Data Science in Chemistry and Materials Research
    • Department of Energy Releases Notice of Intent for New Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute
    • Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Releases Funding Opportunity for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
    • Economic Development Administration Releases 2019 Regional Innovation Strategies Program

Washington Update – January 28, 2019

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

View full report: Tufts Washington Update — January 28, 2019

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Policy Updates
    • Shutdown Impacts for Higher Education and Research
  • Funding Opportunities
    • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Announces Health Disparities Research Institute for Early-Stage Investigators
    • Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) Releases FY 2019 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Solicitations (PRMRP)
    • Defense Intelligence Agency Releases Centers for Academic Excellence Funding Opportunity Announcement
    • Department of Energy Solicits Proposals for Materials and Chemical Sciences Research for Quantum Information Science

Washington Update – January 11, 2019

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

Full report: Tufts Washington Update — January 11, 2019

Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Congressional and Administration Updates
    • Congress Passes Legislation Establishing a 10-Year National Quantum Initiative
    • Department of Education Releases Whitepapers on Higher Education and Accreditation
  • Agency Updates and Funding Opportunities
    • Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy Releases Funding Opportunity for Nuclear Energy, Geothermal, and Ultra-Durable Concrete Early-Stage Technologies
    • Department of Energy Announces $3.6 Million for Research on Watersheds
    • Department of Energy Office of Science Releases Early Career Researcher Solicitation
    • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Seeks to Replicate Insects’ Neural Systems for AI Under μBRAIN Solicitation
    • Air Force Research Laboratory Issues Presolicitation for ADMIRE Program
    • Army Science Board Soliciting Input on Battlefield Uses of AI

Washington Update – December 18, 2018

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES LLC

Full report: Tufts Washington Update– Dec 18

Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Policy Updates
    • Congress Approves 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report
    • National Institute for Standards and Technology Releases Draft Report on Return on Federal Research Investments
    • Administration Releases Update to STEM Strategic Plan
  • Agency Updates
    • National Institutes of Health Advisory Committee to the Director Holds Wide-Ranging Meeting
    • National Science Foundation Releases Request For Information for Integration Institutes for Cross-cutting Biology
    • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Announces Public Comment Period for Research and Development Plan
    • Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity Releases RFI on Deep Learning
  • Funding Opportunities
    • National Science Foundation Releases HDR Institutes for Data-Intensive Research in Science and Engineering – Ideas Labs
    • National Science Foundation Releases Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure-2 Solicitation
    • National Science Foundation Releases Dear Colleague Letter on STEM Workforce Development Utilizing Flexible Personal Learning Environments
    • DARPA Announces Proposers Day for Materials, Architectures, and Characterization for Hypersonics (MACH) Program
    • Department of Energy Releases Funding Opportunity for Energy-Water Desalination Hub
    • National Institutes of Health Publishes Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration Releases Finalized Solicitation for DRIVE Science Centers

Defense Policy Newsletter – December 3, 2018

DEFENSE POLICY NEWSLETTER

December 3, 2018 | Lewis-Burke Associates LLC

IN THIS ISSUE

VIEW FROM THE HILL

Laboratory for Analytic Sciences (LAS) to Hold Research Symposium in December
DOD Opens Registration for STIx Event in December
DARPA to Host AI Colloquium in March
NDIA to Hold Annual Science & Engineering Technology Conference in April
AFRL Releases FOA for Materials-Related Center of Excellence
ONR Releases FOA for Navy and Marine Corps STEM Education Workforce Program
SERDP Releases FY 2020 BAA
DARPA BTO to Host Proposers Day for Panacea Program
DARPA DSO Releases PA on Sigma + Network and Analytics
DARPA DSO Seeks New Program Managers
IARPA Releases RFI for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities
AFRL Releases Special Notice RFI for Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS)
DHS S&T Releases Request for Comment on Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Program
ARL Releases FOA for Collaborative Alliance on Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG)
Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) Releases Draft BAA
WHAT WE’RE READING
Artificial Intelligence and National Security: The Importance of the AI Ecosystem
Is the Pentagon Modifying Viruses to Save Crops or to Wage Biological Warfare?
Report: Providing for the Common Defense


VIEW FROM THE HILL

Defense Committees Prepare for Changes After Democrats Win Control of the House of Representatives
Following Democrats’ success in regaining the majority in the House for the 116thCongress, defense authorizers and appropriators are preparing for a full workload next session amidst leadership and staff reshuffling.  There have been two years of bipartisan support for increased Department of Defense (DOD) funding to achieve Defense Secretary James Mattis’ National Defense Strategy (NDS), but the new Congress will be forced to address the impact of returning budget caps from the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), also known as sequestration.  The final two years of the BCA law are slated to impose a $70 billion top-line reduction to DOD.  Without a budget agreement to lift the spending caps, the DOD’s annual authorization bill could be stymied, particularly because the new Democratic leadership is likely to impose pressure to balance defense spending with domestic priorities and the rising deficit.  At the same time, reports are emerging that there are insufficient funds to implement the NDS.  Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), who is expected to be Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), has established a new task force to look at tradeoffs in funding defense programs.

At the direction of President Trump to reduce all agency fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget requests by 5 percent, the Pentagon is preparing two budget scenarios for FY 2020, one for $733 billion and a second for $700 billion.  The first scenario would keep DOD on pace with inflation and continue to prioritize the NDS.  Co-chairs of the NDS Commission, an independent body tasked by Congress in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with reviewing and assessing the NDS, defended the larger price tag during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on November 27.  Commissioners stated that the funding in the higher figure is needed to keep pace with our allies and correct the atrophy of DOD’s readiness and modernization.  The second scenario, developed in response to President Trump’s guidance, would result in a $700 billion DOD budget by cutting major accounts like Military Personnel; Operations and Maintenance (O&M); Procurement; and Research, Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E); as well as fixing internal inefficiencies.  Additionally, about $25 billion provided to the Department of Energy for nuclear weapons and $8 billion to the Department of Homeland Security are at risk in the lower budget scenario.  However, it is unlikely that cuts to accounts funding military readiness and modernization or nuclear weapons – the primary deterrent against peer competitor nations like Russia, China, and North Korea – would be successful given their prioritization in the NDS and Congress’ strong support of these programs.  SASC Chairman Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) stated recently that he “considered $733 billion to be the minimum acceptable national defense budget for next fiscal year.”

Any proposed cuts included in the FY 2020 President’s Budget Request will likely target Procurement and RDT&E.  DOD will propose these cuts under the assumption that the new Congress will be inclined to restore the funding, particularly those aimed at major weapons systems contracts in key congressional districts.  Lewis-Burke anticipates that DOD leaders will achieve the President’s desired budget reductions by proposing to slow down weapons technology development efforts such as hypersonics, directed energy, and nuclear command and control, which would translate to reductions in RDT&E accounts including Science and Technology budget activities (6.1-6.3).  One departure from this possibility is that Army leaders have stated that the newly established Army Futures Command will require a boost to its RDT&E funding at the expense of O&M funds.

Congress Approves Reorganization of DHS Cybersecurity Agency 
The agency leading the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection efforts will go through a long-anticipated reorganization, following President Trump’s signing of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018 on November 16.  The bill was originally introduced in July 2017 by House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and its biggest impact will be renaming the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).  DHS officials have long expressed frustration that the agency’s name made it difficult to communicate the agency’s role in cybersecurity, a top priority in the Administration and in Congress, and they believed the change would allow the agency to better communicate its mission, thus enabling it to better recruit talent and establish private sector partnerships.

CISA will have three divisions, each focusing on one of the agency’s three priorities: Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security, and Emergency Communications.  Two other components of NPPD, the Office of Biometric Identity Management and the Federal Protective Service, will be transferred to other DHS component agencies.  Christopher Krebs, the former Under Secretary of the NPPD, is now serving as the Director of CISA.  Prior to joining DHS in March 2017, Mr. Krebs was Microsoft’s Director of Cybersecurity Policy.

In a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, hours after the President signed the bill, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen indicated the initial focus of the new agency would be on long-term cyber risk management initiatives, including working with industry through DHS’s new National Center for Risk Management to map out national critical functions across different critical infrastructure sectors and improving culture and practices in global supply chain operations and procurement.  Director Krebs said a working list of critical infrastructure functions will be drafted before the end of the year, and once it’s complete, the center wants to engage with researchers and stakeholders across different sectors to analyze and rank those functions to prioritize further action.  Lewis-Burke will continue to monitor any developments and impacts to DHS’ interactions with academia on cybersecurity issues.


NATIONAL SECURITY NEWS

Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense Hosts Meeting on Implementing the National Biodefense Strategy
Federal officials agreed the U.S. needs a more coordinated approach to civilian and military biodefense efforts, following a November 14 interagency discussion on the implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy.  The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense hosted the meeting, where officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Government Accountability Office, and the National Security Council discussed how to improve cross-agency coordination.  The National Biodefense Strategy, released in September 2018 by the Trump Administration, outlines measures to manage the risk of biological threats due to naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate events.

The White House, National Security Council, and lead agencies, like the Department of Health and Human Services, are still in the early stages of convening federal agency representatives and understanding the infrastructure needed to build a coordinating committee to implement the strategy.  Lewis-Burke continues to monitor the progress of the National Biodefense Strategy, its implementation, and agencies’ responses to the directed objectives and will continue to provide information on opportunities to engage.

ONR Appoints New Chief Scientist
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has appointed Dr. Craig Hoffman as its new chief scientist.  Dr. Hoffman previously served as Superintendent for the Optical Sciences Division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) following his positions as Associate Superintendent and Acting Superintendent.  Dr. Hoffman first joined the NRL as a National Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow in 1979 and joined the scientific staff as a research physicist in 1981.  His research portfolio included optoelectronic and transport properties of narrow gap semiconductors as well as infrared detectors and laser radiation.  He also previously led NRL’s Optical Sciences Division in research that included organic optoelectronics, quantum dots, nanochannel glass, aerosol optics, biowarfare agent detection, and sensor hardening.  Dr. Hoffman received his B.S. in Physics at Purdue University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University.

DARPA Announces Second Phase of Advanced Electronics Program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) has announced the second phase of its Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI).  The ERI seeks to make foundational advances to the defense enterprise’s electronics capabilities, in light of a widely held prediction of the end of Moore’s law, which observed that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles approximately every year.  The next phase addresses research challenges and issues raised by the microelectronics community during DARPA’s ERI summit in July.  ERI’s next three priorities include strengthening chip security; increasing connections and collaborations between new ERI programs; and demonstrating new technologies for defense applications.  DARPA will continue to look for alternatives to strengthening processing power beyond traditional scaling through new efforts such as the Photonics in the Package for Extreme Scalability (PIPES) program, which aims to convene the advanced microelectronics industry with photonics experts in the research community to develop optical signaling capabilities for military microelectronics.

Creating new technologies and strengthening the manufacturing capabilities of the domestic microelectronics enterprise continues to be MTO’s top priority and a significant concern for many Department of Defense (DOD) officials, following reports of foreign adversaries infiltrating domestic companies and organizations by exploiting the global microelectronics supply chain.  Lewis-Burke anticipates that this next phase will lead to a slate of new programs that may be announced in the next fiscal year.

Federal Advisory Committee Urges Administration’s Cybersecurity Moonshot Initiative to Invest in Key Research and Technologies
U.S. leadership must pursue a “Cybersecurity Moonshot Initiative” similar to President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 moonshot to catalyze national cybersecurity activities and “make the internet safe and secure” in the next 10 years, according to a draft report released in mid-November by the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC).   The advisory committee recommended that the President or Vice President introduce and strategically champion a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation “Cybersecurity Moonshot Initiative” that boosts investments in research and technology in four strategic areas: automated intelligence; quantum communications and quantum resistant cryptography; behavioral biometrics; and 5G communications.  The NSTAC noted that while the foundational technological underpinnings exist or are in development, they require a concerted national research and product development strategy to “bring them to bear against the national cybersecurity challenge.”

The NSTAC envisions the “whole of nation” approach including a “multi-tiered governance model spanning the Government, industry, and academia that align their inherent capabilities and activities toward realizing a safe and secure internet.”  The report recommends using grand challenges to spur innovation and discovery in the four major technical areas.

NSTAC’s report describes the breadth of the effort required to influence human behavior in cyberspace and addresses educational and skills gaps in the key strategic research disciplines associated with enhancing cybersecurity.  It also sets the framework for governance, budget authority, privacy considerations, and policy needed to ensure a safe and trusted internet for Americans.  The report repeatedly emphasizes the role academia plays in the cybersecurity ecosystem and calls for the acceleration of an academic research model in this domain.  The committee further recommended more funding for basic and applied research to create and expand cybersecurity programs aligned with near-term development of enabling technology, as well as increased job rotation and cross-pollination between government, industry, and academia.

It is unclear whether the Trump Administration will adopt the committee’s recommendations for a Cybersecurity Moonshot, but the White House has recently released several strategies aimed at enhancing the nation’s cyber hygiene and resilience, including the National Cyber Strategy, and is expected to launch a large-scale cyber moonshot effort.

The Department of Defense is also increasing its efforts to reign in cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the Department’s information systems and weapons systems.  The Office of the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation is considering establishing a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) focused on cybersecurity vulnerability testing to help it sustain a durable test capability while inserting state-of-the-art research and capabilities.


FUNDING AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Laboratory for Analytic Sciences (LAS) to Hold Research Symposium in December
The Laboratory for Analytic Sciences (LAS) will hold its annual Research Symposium on December 12 at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, NC.  LAS, founded in 2013 as a partnership between the National Security Agency (NSA) and NCSU, seeks to solve the data analytics challenges facing analysts at the Department of Defense (DOD) and the intelligence community (IC).  LAS serves as the primary interface between NSA and the extramural research community.  The symposium provides an opportunity for academia, industry, and small businesses to engage with LAS and government partners and facilitates collaboration to advance the science of analysis.  In 2019, LAS will focus on human-machine collaboration; integrity for analytic methods; forecasting and anticipation; and analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning as its four priority research challenges.  These research areas will support several mission applications relevant to DOD and the IC such as cybersecurity and insider threat, industrial internet of things and critical infrastructure, computational social science, and emerging technology.  Organizations interested in attending may register here, and more information on LAS is available here.

DOD Opens Registration for STIx Event in December
The Department of Defense (DOD) opened registration for the 2018 Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange (STIx), which takes place on December 10-11.  The event showcases DOD-funded basic research and serves as an opportunity to continue engagement with DOD basic research agencies.  Scheduled presentations will discuss “connections in basic science, multidisciplinary work, technological advances that benefit both the warfighter and general society,” as well as best practices related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) recruitment and retention in a TED talk style presentation for a broad audience.  Information on registration and a tentative speaker schedule is available here.

DARPA to Host AI Colloquium in March
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced plans to host a two-day conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development (R&D) programs on March 6-7, 2019 in Alexandria, Virginia.  The 2019 AI Colloquium will provide information on DARPA’s AI R&D to Department of Defense (DOD) researchers and industry stakeholders and will explore the potential applications of AI technologies to DOD missions.  DARPA Deputy Director Peter Highnam said the agency currently pursues more than 20 programs that aim to advance AI into a third wave of “contextual reasoning.”  The Colloquium will also host a panel discussion surrounding the ethics of AI.  DARPA’s announcement of the 2019 AI Colloquium can be found here, and attendees may register here.

NDIA to Hold Annual Science & Engineering Technology Conference in April
The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) will hold its annual Science and Engineering Technology (S&ET) Conference from April 2-4, 2019 at the San Diego Marriot Mission Valley in San Diego, CA.  The conference serves as an opportunity to interact with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Science and Technology leadership, and to gain insight into the Department’s priorities and new initiatives pertaining to S&T.  The theme of this year’s conference will be “Enabling the National Defense Strategy through Science and Technology.”  Registration for the event is expected to open in early 2019, and will be available here.

AFRL Releases FOA for Materials-Related Center of Excellence
On November 30, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (RXCM) released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for a Data-Driven Discovery of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems Center of Excellence (D³OM²S CoE).  AFRL seeks to develop and apply advances in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and decision science to advance materials challenges of interest to the Air Force.

White papers are required and should be submitted by mail to Melissa Gross, AFRL/RQKMC, Bldg 45, 2130 8th ST., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7541 by January 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST.  The Air Force will send a request for proposal (RFP) with further instructions to proposers whose white papers are considered to meet the needs of the Air Force.  Communication between prospective applicants and AFRL representatives is encouraged prior to submission.  AFRL anticipates funding one award of $5 million over a five year period, plus an additional three months to submit a final report.  Only educational institutions within the United States are eligible to apply.  More information is available in the full FOA, located at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “FOA-AFRL-RQKM-2019-5011.”

ONR Releases FOA for Navy and Marine Corps STEM Education Workforce Program
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to increase Navy and Marine Corps science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce opportunities.  This FOA encourages projects that create meaningful STEM education experiences for students and workers, including active learning approaches and 21st Century skill development.  ONR seeks to develop a STEM workforce in order to maintain U.S. technological superiority in the Services and specifically increase naval STEM capabilities.  Funding efforts will be focused on the following STEM education communities: secondary education; post-secondary education; informal science communities; and the current naval STEM workforce.  Projects should align with the following naval research priority areas: augmented warfighter; integrated and distributed forces; operational endurance; sensing and sense-making; and scalable lethality.  Applicants must highlight the importance of naval workforce needs and must submit white papers by June 28, 2019 at 5:00 PM ET.  Applications are due on September 27, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET.  The full grant opportunity is available at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “N00014-19-S-F003.”

SERDP Releases FY 2020 BAA
The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), the Department of Defense’s (DOD) environmental science and technology program, released its broad agency announcement (BAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2020.  The program focuses on improving environmental sustainability and reducing current and future environmental liabilities impacting DOD bases, land use, and operations.  The BAA is soliciting applications for proposals in four areas: munitions response, weapons systems and platforms, environmental restoration, and resource conservation and resiliency.  Proposers can apply in response to either SERDP’s Core or SEED Statement of Needs, which list the agency’s objectives for research in response to DOD challenges.  SERDP recommends that applicants ensure that their proposals clearly and sufficiently respond to the needs statements.  SERDP intends to award a total of $12 million for larger multi-year projects under the Core BAA.  SERDP will also fund smaller awards, not exceeding $200,000, for one-year projects under the SEED BAA.  Pre-proposals for Core projects should be submitted no later than January 8, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET.  Applicants will be notified in February if they are invited to submit full proposals, which are due on March 5, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET.  SEED projects, which do not require pre-proposals, are also due on March 5, 2019 at 2:00 PM ET.  Further information on the submission process is available here.

DARPA BTO to Host Proposers Day for Panacea Program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office (BTO) announced a proposers day for the Panacea program, in advance of a broad agency announcement (BAA).  The proposers day will be held on December 14, 2018 in Arlington, VA.

The Panacea program seeks to integrate systems pharmacology and advanced medicinal chemistry to discover and develop drugs and interventions to better support the physiological resilience and recovery of the warfighter.  DARPA aims to better understand the complex physiological conditions of the human body to address two specific issues affecting military service members: alleviating pain/inflammation without unwanted side effects and mitigating metabolic stress.  Participants must register here by December 72018 at 12:00 PM ET or until the event reaches its capacity of 136 participants.  More information is available in DARPA’s special notice, which can be found at www.fbo.govunder solicitation number “DARPA-SN-19-12.”

DARPA DSO Releases PA on Sigma + Network and Analytics
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) released a program announcement (PA) for the SIGMA + Network and Analytics program, part of the office’s broader SIGMA + Initiative.  The Sigma + Initiative seeks to build on the successes of the earlier SIGMA program to develop a real-time early detection system for the full spectrum of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats at the city-to-region scale.  The Sigma + Initiative consists of three thrusts: sensors, networks, and large field trials.  DARPA released a PA for the sensors thrust earlier this year.  DARPA anticipates funding multiple awards, although there is no predetermined level of funding for individual awards.  Full proposals should be submitted through DARPA’s submission website at baa.darpa.mil no later than January 11, 2019 at 4:00 PM ET.  The full PA is available at www.fbo.gov under solicitation number “DARPA-PA-19-01.”

DARPA DSO Seeks New Program Managers
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) seeks prospective program managers from academia and industry to work on its Complex Social Systems portfolio.  Dr. Adam Russell leads the social and behavioral sciences research portfolio which includes four programs: Ground Truth, Next Generation Social Science (NGS2), Systematizing Confidence in Open Research and Evidence (SCORE), and Understanding Group Biases (UGB).  The agency seeks additional program managers to execute those programs, assist with the transition of results to other programs, and help develop future DARPA programs in complex social systems, human behavior, and development of experimental platforms and semi-automated capabilities to validate social and behavioral science research results and theories.  Those interested should reach out to DARPA DSO directly.

IARPA Releases RFI for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) released a request for information (RFI) on innovative approaches to securing sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs).  Areas of interest for the RFI include advanced materials or techniques to “fully shield” SCIFs from unintended radio frequency (RF) or optical, acoustic, or magnetic transmissions.  The RFI also seeks approaches or technologies that enable more dependable technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM) and secure the operation of wireless devices and networks in sensitive areas.  Responses to the RFI are due on December 31, 2018 at 4:00 PM ET and must be submitted electronically as a PDF to dni-iarpa-rfi-19-03@iarpa.gov.  More information on the SCIF RFI is available here.

AFRL Releases Special Notice RFI for Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS)
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) released a request for information (RFI) on the “best of breed” tools that can add value to the Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) mission.  The RFI specifically seeks to increase technological capabilities and better understand existing tools and research and development (R&D) in DCGS multi-intelligence (Multi-INT) fusion and analytics.  This RFI is meant to help AFRL identify potential DOD laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), academic institutions, and industry vendors that can support the following capabilities:

  • Establish or maintain fusion priorities and mission planning through workflow management;
  • Perform automated or machine-assisted time-dominant fusion and content-driven fusion;
  • Provide situational awareness to decision makers and/or analysts; and
  • Create and disseminate multi-INT products and data.

RFI abstracts are due on December 7, 2018.  More information on the RFI is available here.

DHS S&T Releases Request for Comment on Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Program
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a request for comment in the federal register for technology demonstration under the Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) program.  NGFR seeks to develop and field new technologies for first responders in order to better address challenges facing the DHS mission component agencies.  The request for comment is soliciting information on new research and technologies to support first responders and will help to shape future funding opportunities.  Comments should be submitted no later than January 14, 2019.  Instructions can be found in the federal register notice, available here.

ARL Releases FOA for Collaborative Alliance on Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG)
The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for the Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG) program.  STRONG seeks to develop the foundational sciences for the Army that will enable teaming between warfighters and intelligent agents, specifically on the potential for “influencing individual team members, human or agent, to enhance positive team properties and performance.”  The program is structured around eight annual program cycles from fiscal year (FY) 2019 to 2026.  Each year, new topics will build on the progress from the previous year and broader scientific and technological advancement.  ARL anticipates awarding 10-15 seedling projects each cycle, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for the initial phase.  Projects selected for extensions will be larger in scope and are anticipated to receive between $350,000 and $500,000 per year for up to three years.  For the FY 2019 cycle, full proposals should be submitted no later than December 21, 2018 at 3:00 PM ET.  The full solicitation is available at www.grants.gov under solicitation number “W911NF-19-S-0001.”  More information on STRONG is available here.

Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) Releases Draft BAA
In advance of an industry day on December 6, the Department of Defense Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office/Technical Support Working Group (CTTSO/TSWG) released its draft broad agency announcement (BAA) to identify technologies and approaches that provide near-, mid-, and long-term solutions that enhance the capabilities of the U.S. government to combat or mitigate terrorism.  CTTSO is charged with providing a forum for interagency and international users to discuss mission requirements to combat terrorism, prioritizing those requirements, funding and managing solutions, and delivering capabilities.  CTTSO accomplishes these objectives through rapid prototyping of novel solutions developed and field-tested before the traditional acquisition systems are fully engaged.

The draft BAA describes multi-agency challenges across 10 technical focus areas, such as advanced analytic capabilities; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives; irregular warfare and evolving threats; physical security; and surveillance, collection, and operations support.  The draft BAA describes specific requirements for research and development, including a mapping robot for complex urban environments, large-scale digital forensics in cross-domain environments, blockchain risks and opportunities to the U.S., affordable small unmanned aircraft systems, virtual immersive training environments, and a focus on developing capabilities for subterranean operating environments.  Proposals are also accepted under an “Unspecified requirements (R000)” category for unique innovations that have not yet been identified by CTTSO.  CTTSO anticipates the release of its final BAA in early January 2019 following feedback from the draft BAA and the industry day.  The draft BAA is available here.  Industry day slides describing the solicitation process, submission formats and requirements are available here.


WHAT WE’RE READING

Artificial Intelligence and National Security: The Importance of the AI Ecosystem
The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) published a report on the importance of the AI ecosystem to national security.  The report suggests that the AI ecosystem—which includes skilled workforce and management, digital data capability, technical trust, and investment and policy, among other facets — must be integrated into national security applications for successful AI adoption and management.  The publication also highlights AI investment, adoption, and management in the U.S. and provides a snapshot of international activity in AI.  The full publication can be found here.

Is the Pentagon Modifying Viruses to Save Crops or to Wage Biological Warfare?
National Public Radio (NPR) discusses the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) efforts to genetically modify viruses to save plants.  DARPA currently funds university researchers to use different combinations of insects and viruses to improve crops (e.g. increasing drought tolerance capability).  However, some foreign researchers are raising the alarm on the negative repercussions of genetically modifying insects and viruses, such as biological weaponry.  The full article can be found here.

Report: Providing for the Common Defense
The National Defense Strategy Commission, in a recent report entitled “Providing for the Common Defense,” warns Congress that the U.S.’s military superiority has eroded and that the country may not be prepared for a potential military conflict with China or Russia.  The Commission, established as a bipartisan group of experts in the fiscal year (FY) 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), was tasked by Congress with independently assessing the Administration’s National Defense Strategy.  The Commission recommended that Congress provide 3 to 5 percent growth in the defense budget in order to maintain U.S. military advantage over other strategic powers.  This document is expected to shape the debate regarding defense spending and policies in the next Congress.  The full report can be found here.

Elections 2018: Implications for Research, Higher Education, and Academic Medicine

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

Full report: Tufts – Implications of Election 2018 for Research, Higher Education, and Academic Medicine

Contents:

  • Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….3
  • Forecast for the 116th Congress Overview…………………………………………………..3
  • Top Congressional Issues to be Addressed in Lame-Duck 2018 Session …….. .4
  • Appendix A: Changes to Congressional Committees …………………………………. .5
    • Appropriations Committees………………………………………………………………..5
    • Budget Committees ………………………………………………………………………….7
    • Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee ………………… 9
    • House Education and the Workforce Committee ………………………………..10
    • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ……………………………..11
    • House Energy and Commerce Committee ……………………………………….. 12
    • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ………………. 14
    • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee ………………………….. 15
    • Armed Services Committees …………………………………………………………… 16
    • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee ……….. 17
    • House Homeland Security Committee ……………………………………………….18
    • House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ………………………. 19
    • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ……………………………..20
    • House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ……………………………20
    • House Natural Resources Committee ………………………………………………..21
    • Agriculture Committees ……………………………………………………………………22
    • Senate Finance Committee ………………………………………………………………23
    • House Ways and Means Committee ………………………………………………….25
    • Judiciary Committees ………………………………………………………………………26
  • Appendix B: Massachusetts 116th Congressional Delegation ……………………… 27

Washington Update – November 9, 2018

PREPARED BY LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC.

Full report: Tufts Washington Update– Nov 9

Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Funding Opportunities
    • National Science Foundation Releases Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers
    • National Science Foundation Releases Materials Innovation Platforms Solicitation
    • National Science Foundation Releases Harnessing the Data Revolution Data Science Corps Capacity Building Solicitation
    • Army Research Laboratory Releases Funding Opportunity Announcement for Collaborative Alliance on Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups
    • Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy Announces Grid Optimization Competition
  • Agency Updates
    • Department of Energy Investments in Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Science