EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

The White House has recently launched several initiatives to advance emerging technologies, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and clean energy. These efforts aim to maintain the U.S.'s competitive edge in innovation while addressing critical societal challenges.

The Biden-Harris Administration's National AI Initiative emphasizes responsible AI development, emphasizing ethics and transparency. The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports this through its AI Research Institutes, fostering interdisciplinary research in AI to enhance sectors like healthcare and agriculture. Learn more about the NSF's role.

NASA is another key player, utilizing AI and quantum computing to explore space more efficiently and solve complex problems related to climate change. NASA’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL) is at the forefront of this effort. Explore NASA’s initiatives.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is driving innovation in clean energy technologies, focusing on AI to optimize energy systems and improve grid reliability. The DOE’s Office of Science is also advancing quantum information science, crucial for the next generation of computing technologies. Discover DOE’s contributions.

These initiatives collectively support the U.S. government's vision to lead in emerging technologies, ensuring economic growth and national security. For more detailed information, refer to the White House’s official technology policy page &/or reach out to your local APEX Accelerator for a more in-depth discussion on how your business can be a part of this initiative.

Read more about other Key Technology Areas

DPA Title III: Authorities and Priority Areas

The Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program plays a vital role in supporting national defense by ensuring the availability of critical domestic industrial capabilities. The program operates under several key authorities and priority areas to achieve its mission.

White Paper Submission Process: White paper under the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program involves several key steps. Here’s Simplified explanation and process flow:

1. Preparation:

• Registration: Ensure your organization is registered on the System for Award Management (SAM) and not listed in the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS).

• Format: Prepare the white paper in Microsoft Word format, following specific guidelines:

• Page Size: 8.5 x 11 inches

2. Content Requirements: 

• Cover Page, Domestic Source Proof, DPA Title III Criteria, Biographical Sketches, and Cost Estimate. 

3. Submission Process:

• Electronic Submission: Send the white paper via email to the designated DPA Title III Program Office and copy the Contracting/Agreements Office.

4. Review and Notification:

• Review Criteria: White papers are evaluated based on technical approach, relevance to government needs, and fund availability.

• Notification: Offerors meeting criteria may be asked to submit detailed technical and cost proposals.

5. Additional Considerations:

• Restrictive Markings: Clearly identify any proprietary or restricted data.

• Security: Ensure compliance with security protocols and disclosure regulations.

• Follow-up: If no confirmation is received within 30 days, follow up with a plain text email.

This process ensures that white papers are evaluated efficiently for their potential to address critical defense needs under the DPA Title III Program.

For further details and to stay updated on this FOA Notice ID: FA8650-19-S-5010S, check SAM.gov.

More Information About Our Podcast

The CT APEX Accelerator team has been working on an exciting project behind the scenes during the past few months. We have officially launched our new podcast, CTAPEX: The GovCon Mindset! The episodes will be providing bite-sized pieces of information that is geared towards every government contractor, no matter where you are in your journey. These episodes will be released monthly on two platforms: YouTube and Spotify.

This project was brought to life due to the teamwork between myself, Andres, and Kendy. Andres and I will be your co-hosts, guiding you through the fascinating world of the GovCon space. Though complex, we aim to give you practical tips translated from "government" into language we can all understand. Our database manager, Kendy, has been managing the equipment, video, and audio - ensuring everything works in harmony.

NOW LIVE: Our Rebranded CT APEX Accelerator Website!

We have finally completed the new program website. Reflected there is our mission, vision, and capabilities - always focused on being the bridge between you and your goals in this space. Please visit the site and click around to discover new features we have added. We hope you will be pleased with the easily accessible resources, maps to our offices, training calendar, and direct links to our social media at the top (now including YouTube!).

Check out the Website

YouTube

Spotify

Update on Veteran Owned

Small Business Goals

Last month, the House of Representatives was able to pass a Bill. This may not seem super interesting but there is a section that I think my fellow veterans would be happy to hear. In section 861 of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act is something that should perk your ears up. This section would make the Department of Defense establish a VOSB prime contracting goal and would authorize the DoD to set-aside competitions for VOSBs and, under certain circumstances, issue sole source awards to VOSBs. This is section is titled “Department of Defense Contracting Goals for Small Business Concerns Owned and Controlled by Veterans”.

There are 3 main parts of this Section that are good to hear. The first is it requires the government to set aside contracting goals for VOSBs. Before, Service Disabled and Veteran Owned were grouped together and the minimum threshold was 5% of all contracts. With this, it now means each SDVOSB and VOSB will have a goal no less than 5%.

The Second part of this section is that it would allow contracting officers to have the set-aside authority set up in FAR 19.1405, which provides non-VA Contracting Officers with authority to use SDVOSB set-aside competitions. 

The Third takeaway from this bill is that it allows DoD Contracting Officers to issue sole source contracts to VOSBs below certain dollar amounts. Under the bill, sole source VOSB contracts below the thresholds would be permitted when two conditions are met: (1) the VOSB “is determined to be a responsible source with respect to performance of such contract opportunity” and (2) “in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.”

This Bill would help distinguish SDVOSB and VOSB and begin to award VOSB with similar opportunities that were usually given priority to SDVOSB or other certifications. Updates on if this comes to fruition are expected within the next few months, as Section 861 undergoes the process from becoming a bill to a law.

Link to the Actual Bill

Link to the Article

SBIR/STTR are often talked about in the same breath...

Although both of these programs have the potential to help small businesses with bringing new technology to life; there are slight differences that interested parties may want to consider before pursuing either option.

As mentioned, while both programs encourage collaboration, the nature and necessity of partnerships differ significantly. In SBIR, partnerships are optional. Small businesses have the freedom to conduct R&D independently or collaborate with external entities as needed. This flexibility allows for a broader range of project types, from purely internal innovation to complex projects requiring specialized expertise. This is especially important in terms of prototyping as the agility of a single chain of command is much more productive for companies who are more established and understand their end goal.

On the other hand, STTR mandates a partnership between a small business and a research institution. This requirement is rooted in the program's emphasis on technology transfer. By bringing together the entrepreneurial spirit of the small business with the research capabilities of the institution, STTR aims to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies. This model can be particularly advantageous for early-stage companies lacking the resources or expertise to conduct complex research in-house.

The dynamics of these partnerships can influence project outcomes. In SBIR, the small business typically retains more control over the project direction and intellectual property. In STTR, the partnership often involves shared ownership of intellectual property and decision-making responsibilities.

It's essential to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each partnership model when deciding which program is the best fit for a particular project. SBIR offers greater autonomy but may require additional resources and expertise. STTR provides access to specialized knowledge and infrastructure but demands a higher level of collaboration.

Read more: https://www.sbir.gov/

Or reach out to CTAPEX for more information about your specific project goals.

Thank you all for being wonderful clients of CT APEX.

During program year 2023, we have served over 1,194 individual clients. Our clients have won a total of $460,894,589 in federal, state, and municipal prime and subcontracts awards!

To break it down - throughout the year, our clients were able to obtain a total of 530 Subcontracts and 2,325 Prime Contracts. Congratulations to our clients on an incredible government-contracting year!

Furthermore, CT APEX provided over 2,268 hours of one-on-one counseling to clients to help them through the rigorous government contracting process! One more thing, your success helped create and retain 17,368 CT jobs.

Click here to read our Capabilities Statement.

My name is Kendy Tran and I am the Database Manager here at CT APEX. My role includes supporting our dynamic team of Counselors dedicated to helping you win more contracts.