GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (3/29–4/2)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers wind energy, Microsoft's $21 billion augmented reality googles contract, DoD's review of CMMC auditing entities, DoD's review of the CMMC program, Energy and AI, and the FAR Council's regulatory agenda.

Technology

GovExec – The U.S. Just Set Ambitious Offshore Wind Power Targets – What Will It Take to Meet Them?

• "The United States’ offshore wind industry is tiny, with just seven wind turbines operating off Rhode Island and Virginia. The few attempts to build large-scale wind farms like Europe’s have run into long delays, but that may be about to change."

Defense

Breaking Defense – IVAS: Microsoft Award By Army Worth Up To $21.9B

• "The Army awarded Microsoft a five-year contract to produce a militarized version of its HoloLens augmented reality goggles. With options to extend for another five years and a maximum potential value of $21.88 billion, the award is a major vote of confidence in a program whose 2021 funding Congress cut by $230 million."

NextGov – DOD Concludes Review of First CMMC Certification Organizations

• "The Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program marked a milestone with the Defense Contract Management Agency finishing its review of the first of a new crop of auditing entities."

FedScoop – CMMC is under an internal DOD review

• "One of the most consequential programs in defense contracting is getting a second look by the Biden administration. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) — the new cyber standards all defense contractors will need to adhere to to bid on contracts — is under an ongoing “internal assessment,” according to a Department of Defense spokeswoman."

Energy

FedNewsNet – ‘It’s going to touch everything.’ Energy Department weaves AI into mission-critical work

• "The Energy Department, in all aspects of its work, is turning to artificial intelligence to accelerate its output. DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) is using artificial intelligence to monitor threats to the electric grid. Its inspector general is looking at AI to flag potential fraud."

Regulations

GCJ – FAR Council Publishes Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, Includes Items for Small Business

• "Today, the Department of Defense ("DoD"), General Services Administration ("GSA"), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") (together, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council), published its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda."

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