NDAA Continues to Advance Despite Setbacks
The Senate returned from their Thanksgiving recess with the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act still on their holiday wish list.  While the House passed its version of the bill in September, traction has been harder to gain in the Senate.  Leadership in the Senate have made several attempts to limit debate on the bill and move legislation forward more quickly, however it remains to be seen if Democrats and Republicans can strike the right balance of amendments to garner the votes needed to pass a bipartisan package.  Unlike previous years, many of these amendments are not targeted at the research community or science and security.  Instead, they focus on political hot button issues, such as a commission to investigate the Afghanistan withdrawal, aid to Ukraine, and some provisions altogether unrelated to defense.  If the Senate is unable to agree on amendments through their own process, the chamber is expected to pass the bill “as is” (i.e., the House version) and move to negotiate supplemental provisions with the House during conference.  With only five days left on the current legislative calendar, lawmakers are running out of time to work out their differences.  The NDAA has been passed on time every year for the last six decades; while it is expected that this year’s authorization will follow suit, Lewis-Burke continues to monitor progress closely.

NATIONAL SECURITY NEWS

Biden Taps New Acquisition Undersecretary
President Biden formally announced that William LaPlante will be nominated as the Pentagon’s next Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment (DOD A&S).  LaPlante formerly served as the head of acquisition for the Air Force during the late Obama Administration before departing to the MITRE Corporation, a federally funded think tank, to lead its national security portfolio.  LaPlante has been a vocal proponent of modernizing DOD’s acquisition and procurement programs during his time both inside and outside the Pentagon.  Serving as a member of the Defense Science Board, LaPlante co-chaired a task force on how DOD could be more agile in software development among other actions.  LaPlante is the second person President Biden has nominated for the role.  Michael Brown, Biden’s first nominee, withdrew from consideration this summer after the Pentagon launched an internal investigation into the hiring practices at Brown’s current office, the Defense Innovation Unit.  If confirmed, LaPlante will oversee one of DOD’s most embattled offices, routinely facing criticism for its expensive programs and poor results in recent years.  The nomination of a modernizer and noted critic of the office’s actions may signal a broader shift in acquisition and procurement under the Biden Administration.
 
DOD A&S Updates Guidance for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0
The Department of Defense’s Office of Acquisition and Sustainment (DOD A&S) recently provided updated guidance on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), resulting in the creation of CMMC 2.0.  The CMMC is a framework of standards for cybersecurity practices across academic, industry, and other Defense Industrial Base (DIB) organizations that contract with and support DOD.  The framework was created to enhance the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), due to concerns of an increase in cybersecurity attacks against defense contractors and other DIB organizations.  DOD conducted an internal assessment and reviewed hundreds of public comments to create CMMC 2.0 with the goal of streamlining the CMMC accreditation process, especially for small- and medium-sized businesses. 
 
The CMMC 1.0 framework had five levels of requirements and processes that organizations were required to implement to ensure the security and protection of CUI related to a DOD-funded project.  The new CMMC 2.0 framework only has three levels of requirements.  This change eliminates levels 2 and 4 of the 1.0 framework, removes CMMC-unique practices, and all maturity processes from the CMMC model.
 

CMMC 1.0 Level 1: Basic Cyber Hygiene Level 2: Intermediate Cyber Hygiene Level 3: Good Cyber Hygiene Level 4: Proactive Level 5: Advanced/Progressive

CMMC 2.0 Level 1: Foundational Level 2: Advanced Level 3: Expert

 
More information on the structure, implementation, and changes in the CMMC 2.0 framework can be found in our CMMC 2.0 Overview and Fact Sheet.  Lewis-Burke recommends that staff who handle cyber or information security, as well as contracting officers, become aware of and understand the new CMMC 2.0 requirements.

---

DOD Releases FY 2023 BAA for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
The Department of Defense recently released the fiscal year (FY) 2023 broad agency announcement (BAA) for its Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).  Through partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, SERDP works to develop environmental technologies and address environmental issues relevant to DOD’s mission.  SERDP supports basic and applied research focused on environmental restoration, munitions response, resource conservation and resiliency, and weapons systems and platforms, among other interests.  All private sector organizations are eligible to apply to this BAA.  This includes, but is not limited to, small businesses, large businesses, and educational institutions.  DOD anticipates funding multiple awards at $10 million total.  Awardees will be selected through a “multi-stage review process” which requires a pre-proposal, a full proposal, and an oral presentation to the SERDP Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for final approval.  Pre-proposals are due by January 6, 2022, at 2:00 PM ET.  Full proposals are due by March 3, 2022, at 2:00 PM ET, and presentations to SERDP SAB are anticipated to occur in September – October 2022.

Pre-proposals submitted in response to this solicitation should directly address one of SERDP’s FY 2023 Statements of Need (SON), which can be found on the SERDP website.  On November 10, 2021, SERDP held a webinar providing an overview of this solicitation’s SONs and the submission process.  During the webinar it was noted that PFAS-related research will likely see a lower success rate compared to other topics.  SERDP also noted that although there are no broad requirements for investigations to be held at DOD labs, it is advised that PFAS related research be conducted at DOD labs to ensure familiarity with the subject.  Proposals will be evaluated based on their relevance to SERDP’s mission and the proposer’s ability to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the environmental issue outlined in the SON.  More information on SERDP and the solicitation can be found here or at www.sam.gov under notice ID “W912HQ22S0001.”

DOD Armed Forces Pest Management Board Releases BAA for Disease-carrying Arthropods
DOD’s Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) is seeking pre-proposals for research on the protection of deployed military from arboviruses carried by pests like bed bugs and filth flies.  AFPMB is particularly interested in research concerning arthropod-borne pathogen diseases like Lyme disease, malaria, and dengue fever, among other arboviruses.  Pre-proposals should support advanced technology development in the following mission areas:

• Personal protection technology/systems which prevent arthropod bites;
• New or improved vector control technology/methods/systems; and
• New active ingredients and formulations of novel public health pesticides.

 
Full proposal requests will be sent via email if the pre-proposal is selected.  Funding will be awarded up to $300,000 per year for three years.  State and local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industry organizations are all eligible to apply.  This announcement is open until October 30, 2024, and pre-proposals may be submitted at any time before the deadline.  Prior to submission, proposers are encouraged to discuss their research with AFPMB technical contacts, which can be found in the full BAA on the AFPMB website or on www.grants.gov under funding opportunity number “AFPMB-BAA-22-01.”
 
Air Force Announces New Digital Campaign Consortium
The Department of Defense’s Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Materials and Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting a Digital Transformation Technologies and Processes (DTTP) consortium to partner with Air Force leadership in order to integrate digital engineering practices and tools across the department.  This solicitation for a DTTP consortium is part of the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Digital Campaign, which is the Command’s initiative to advance Air Force activities to “modern digital capabilities and processes.”  The consortium will provide applied research, workforce training, and technology integration methods through partnerships between corporations and universities to AFRL with the goal of establishing a network of Air Force acquisition and sustainment centers.  The goals to be met by the DTTP consortium include but are not limited to:

• “Early assessments using mission analysis (to explore operational value of proposed materiel solution);
• Shrinking development time to get to production via paperless reviews, acceptance & audits;
• System modeling which enables operational and system functional insights across acquisition and operations communities;
• Digital thread capability to facilitate the Authoritative Source of Truth data to be used to re-compete work;
• Methods for efficient validation that enterprise or system concepts meet strict surety, safety, security requirements;
• Optimized test throughout the system lifecycle by delivering mature test articles/systems developed through MBE/MBSE practices;
• Enhanced standardization and common interfaces across enterprise which enable alternate solutions, rapid product development and enhanced manufacturing flexibility; and
• Model-based capabilities which enhance logistics and maintenance of fielded capabilities.”

 
AFRL anticipates awarding a cooperative agreement of no more than $49 million in combined federal funding and cost share.  Cost share for this agreement is anticipated to be up to 50 percent.  More information on funding and cost share agreements can be found in the full announcement under federal award information.  Non-profit organizations, universities, and research centers are encouraged to apply.  Full proposals are due January 7, 2022, by 4:00 PM ET.  More information is available on the AFMC website or on www.sam.gov under notice ID “FA8650-22-S-5720.”
 
Army and IARPA Announce Joint AGILE Program BAA for Design of New Computing Architecture
The Army Research Office (ARO) and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) released a broad agency announcement (BAA) for the Advanced Graphic Intelligence Logical Computing Environment (AGILE) program.  AGILE will design and eventually develop a first-of-its-kind computing architecture optimized for “large-scale data-analytic applications, as well as other classes of large problems.”  AGILE will specifically focus on “developing new system-level intelligent mechanisms for processing, moving, accessing, and storing large, unstructured, time-varying data streams and structures that allow for the scalable and efficient execution of dynamic analytics workflows.”  The program will be broken into two 18-month phases.  Phase one will develop a system-level model of the computer’s architecture in order to assess the computer’s performance.  Phase two will develop a Register Transfer Level (RTL) design, a node level design, and a full system design.  Further details of expected outcomes as well as requirements for each phase can be found in the full BAA.
 
Proposers from academia, non-profit, and private industry are eligible to apply.  Non-U.S. based entities and foreign citizens may participate as part of a U.S. based team.  Multiple awards are anticipated under this BAA with the amount of funding dependent on the availability of funds and quality of proposals.  All proposals should be submitted through www.grants.gov no later than January 18, 2022, at 4:00 PM ET.  More information is available in the full BAA which can be found here, or on www.grants.gov under funding opportunity number “W911NF-22-S-0001.”
 
IARPA Requests Information for Evaluating Neural Text Generation Models and Methods in Explainable Neuro-linguistic Programming
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) recently released a request for information (RFI) for standard practices related to neural language models (NLMs) and their ability to identify “human-like” content on the internet produced by artificial intelligence (AI).  Language generation technology has increasingly been successful in creating text that mirror the “sense and soundness” of content generated by humans.  Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) has faced challenges in identifying the difference in linguistic features between AI and human generated content, due to NLM’s ability to encode such structures, as well as in producing “ground truth” datasets that aid machines in evaluating explanations.  The goal of this RFI is to:

• Identify “novel human or automatic techniques” that evaluate the “sense and soundness” of AI generated language;
• Discover new derivation methods for “human-interpretable explanations from NLM text classifiers;” and
• Develop techniques to measure the “quality of local explanations derived from NLMs.”

 
All responsible entities are eligible to apply, however submissions from federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) and university affiliated research centers (UARCs) should include “reflection upon how they would support program efforts as a potential test and evaluation partner.”  Responses are due by December 10, 2021, at 5:00 PM ET and must be submitted via email to dni-iarpa-rfi-22-01@iarpa.gov.  More information is available on IARPA’s website or on www.sam.gov under Notice ID “RFI2201.”
 
DARPA BTO Releases New Program for Biomanufacturing in Space
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office (BTO) released a broad agency announcement (BAA) for its Biomanufacturing: Survival, Utility, and Reliability beyond Earth (B-SURE) program.  The goal of B-SURE is to uncover the capabilities of the foundations of biomanufacturing for use “beyond Earth.”  B-SURE aims to explore questions concerning alternative feedstock utilization by microbial systems, as well as the impact of variable gravity and galactic cosmic radiation on the productivity of common biomanufacturing host organisms.  The program is split into three tracks:

• Alternative Feedstock Utilization: This track will investigate alternative feedstocks and their ability to be consumed by host organisms at certain quantity and purity levels.
• Variable Gravity: This track will research the biomanufacturing impact variable gravity may have on cellular performance, as well as the predictive relationship between terrestrial analogs and orbit molecule production.
• Variable Radiation: This track will research the biomanufacturing impact variable radiation may have on cellular performance, as well as the predictive relationship between terrestrial analogs and orbit molecule production.

 
Proposals should address one of the three tracks, and must use saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, and one other relevant organism.  DARPA anticipates making multiple awards for this 18-month program.  Federally funded research and development centers and government entities are eligible to apply.  Proposers are required to assemble teams, include a plan for data sharing and associate contractor agreements, and address ethical, legal, and societal implications.  Proposers are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract, although one is not required.  Abstracts are due by December 9, 2021, at 4:00 PM ET.  Full proposals are due by January 25, 2022, by 4:00 PM ET.  More information can be found in the full BAA here, or at www.grants.gov under funding opportunity number “HR001122S0010.”
 
DARPA BTO Announces Proposers Day for Cornucopia Program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office (BTO) will be hosting a proposer’s day on December 15, 2021, for its Cornucopia Program.  Cornucopia is a forthcoming funding opportunity expected in December, focusing on how to produce food from microorganisms such as bacteria, microalgae, and fungi.  Cornucopia will eventually develop systems that will produce nutritious and edible food for warfighters in remote settings and on extended missions.  Only potential proposers may attend this event.  Proposers’ days serve as critical networking opportunities for proposers as well as facilitate teaming arrangements.  Proposers who register will be able to develop a profile of their work and capabilities as well as submit a pre-recorded presentation used to aid in teaming.  Interested proposers must register for the event at https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/32825/ by December 8, 2021, at 5:00 PM ET.  Due to limited capacity, registration may close prior to December 8. 

DARPA I2O Releases Automating Scientific Knowledge Extraction and Modeling BAA
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) released a broad agency announcement (BAA) for the Automating Scientific Knowledge Extraction and Modeling (ASKEM) program.  ASKEM develops a knowledge-modeling-simulation ecosystem using artificial intelligence (AI) to help experts manage heterogeneous data.  Solutions will be demonstrated in exercises involving epidemics (i.e. COVID-19) and space weather impacts.  ASKEM's goal is to enable future leaders to prevent damages by adversaries, disasters, and global changes.  Modeling automation tools sought must:

1. “extract model components from documents and code while abstracting away from implementation details like math framework, language, and platform;
2. decompose and compose distinct model and simulator components;
3. integrate all elements and processes in the modeling pipeline to enable full traceability and reach back to knowledge during modeling and simulator design.”

 
ASKEM will be develop and demonstrate technologies in the following four technical areas (TAs): TA1) machine-assisted knowledge discovery and curation; TA2) machine-assisted modeling; TA3) machine-assisted simulators; and TA4) workbench for human-machine interaction and integration. DARPA anticipates funding multiple awards for TAs 1-3 and a single TA4 award.  Each proposal may address any single TA, a combination of TA1 and TA2, or a combination of TA2 and TA3.  No other TA combinations will be accepted.  Further details can be found in the full BAA.  All responsible sources are eligible to apply.  Cost sharing is not required.  A proposer's day will be held on December 8, 2021.  Abstracts are due on December 13, 2021, at 12:00 PM ET.  Full proposals must be submitted no later than February 7, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET.  The full BAA can be found here, or on www.grants.gov under funding opportunity number “HR001122S0005.”

WHAT WE'RE READING
 
Overcoming the Climate Crisis through Space Technology
Senior National correspondent for Politico, Bryan Bender, and Politico fellow, Jonathan Custodio, examine the latest use of satellite technology to help mitigate the effects of climate change by monitoring deforestation and mining through radio signals, and aid efforts to forecast forest fires, and measure soil saturation to prevent flooding, among other practices.  In this article, Bender and Custodio uncover the essential role satellites have played in recent history to understanding and challenging climate crises.  Additionally, the authors analyze the prioritization efforts of this Administration and Congress related to satellite investments, as reflected in the President’s budget request and annual appropriations language, both of which call for increases to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Earth observation technologies.  Better utilization of satellite technology has allowed the government to leverage private-public partnerships that solidify US leadership in this space, like Planet Labs’ partnership with several non-profits, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, and the state of California to create a Carbon Mapper that detects greenhouse gas emissions globally every day.  Satellite technology has also opened the door for global data sharing, a key to detecting and preventing climate crises early.  While recognized as a top priority by numerous experts, the practice of sharing data globally has been an obstacle to tackling climate change for government leaders.  Many industrialized nations have been hesitant about providing access to data collected by satellites across government agencies, as well as by the public.  The capacity of satellite data for application and “ground analysis” has also posed problems.  This technology has been a game changer in diagnosing and diminishing the damage of climate change so far, but to fully utilize the capabilities of satellite technology, experts suggest greater global cooperation and that satellite data be incorporated into public weather forecasts.
 
Lessons Learned from 20 Years of Online Influence Operations
Writing for Lawfare, 2^nd Lieutenant Jacob T. Rob and Professor Jacob N. Shapiro analyze the recent history of online influence operations to draw conclusions about how to best posture defense against such operations in the future.  In this comprehensive summary of the major broad strokes in contemporary digital influence, the authors draw concrete lessons from nefarious operations and subsequent policy discourse taken place between 2004 and present day.  This history includes terrorist videos deployed across social media for propaganda and recruitment purposes, state-sponsored professionalization of online digital influence as exemplified by Russian troll factories, Islamic State disinformation campaigns, the targeting of U.S. journalism and elections by states and proxies, social media platforms’ roles in such operations, and the current spate of misinformation in the COVID-19 “infodemic.”  The authors acknowledge that the extent of their analysis is limited to the most observable (and therefore detectable) incidents, and that much more activity likely goes unnoticed or unreported.  They recommend a wholistic approach to improving our susceptibility to disinformation campaigns, including: better transparency and access to data for independent researchers from social media companies; sustaining the grassroots networks springing up to research and combat disinformation and augmenting these with regulation; and creating a new institution to synchronize a global approach to researching and countering disinformation, akin to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) for the global information environment.