Technology Modernization Fund announces investments in nuclear safety and AI governance

July 19, 2024

WASHINGTON — The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is taking proactive steps to enhance national security and technological innovation through two strategic investments. A total of $13.8 million has been allocated to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), targeting critical upgrades in nuclear emergency response capabilities and the establishment of comprehensive AI safety standards.

“Across government, we’re focused on the secure, accessible, and responsible use of technology so that we can best serve the American people,” said Robin Carnahan, General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator. “Any opportunity to grow the TMF – whether through partnerships like these or direct investments from Congress – will help us drive effective, impactful, and cost-effective IT modernization.”

“As a TMF Board, we’re focused on providing agencies with agile and responsive funding to accelerate legacy technology modernization that underpins mission critical services,” said Clare Martorana, Federal CIO and TMF Board Chair. “With these investments, the Department of Energy will now be able to undertake essential work to safeguard our Nation and the Department of Commerce will break new ground to advance the science of AI safety and facilitate safe and responsible AI innovation within Federal government.”

“With these strategic investments, we’re addressing two of the most pressing technological challenges facing our government today,” said Larry Bafundo, TMF Executive Director. “Modernizing our nuclear emergency response systems and establishing AI safety protocols are crucial steps in ensuring our technological infrastructure keeps pace with evolving threats and opportunities.”

Department of Energy: Modernizing nuclear emergency response

DOE will receive $3.8 million to modernize its critical nuclear emergency response infrastructure. This investment will focus on upgrading the Radiological Response Data Portal (R2DP), a system central to the agency’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) operations.

The modernization effort aims to transform the 15-year-old R2DP into a state-of-the-art platform capable of real-time data aggregation, analysis, and visualization from multiple agencies. The upgraded system will benefit a wide range of users, including NEST assets, partner agencies, and decision authorities at federal, state, and local levels. The improved R2DP is expected to enhance the nation’s ability to assess and react to nuclear and radiological threats, ultimately improving public health and safety.

“This investment from the Technology Modernization Fund into updating the Radiological Response Data Portal, the central nervous system of NEST responses requiring visualization of real-time sensor data feeds, will improve response times, accelerate the interpretation of data to protect public health, and better inform decision-makers in government for the next decade-plus,” said Kasia Mendelsohn, Acting Director, Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. 

Department of Commerce: Pioneering AI safety for a smarter future

DOC will receive $10 million to support the growth of its U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI). This investment addresses a critical gap in the federal government’s technological infrastructure, as agencies currently lack standardized processes for evaluating AI systems before deployment.

AISI will focus on creating evaluation tools, testing AI models and safeguards, issuing guidance on AI safety and risk management, and conducting technical research. By establishing a centralized resource for AI testing and evaluation, this investment aims to save the federal government billions of dollars while facilitating the safe and responsible implementation of AI technologies in government operations.

“This TMF funding comes at a pivotal time for the AI Safety Institute. AI will be the defining technology of the 21st century, and the science of AI safety is critical to the future of our economic and national security,” said Director Laurie E. Locascio, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST. “This funding will build the foundation of the newly established AI Safety Institute, allow us to speed up the development of AI testing capabilities, and help us provide federal agencies with the tools they need to safely deploy AI in ways that benefit the American people.”

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About the TMF: The Technology Modernization Fund is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure, and user-centric way. The TMF invests in technology projects across government, providing incremental funding, technical assistance, and oversight throughout execution to ensure the success of its investments.

The TMF is overseen by the Technology Modernization Board, which is composed of government IT leaders representing proven expertise in technology, transformation, and operations. TMF investments have supported projects ranging from modernizing the payment system used by the government’s second largest revenue-collecting agency to helping to develop a new customer relationship management platform to maintain crucial international partnerships. For more information, visit tmf.cio.gov.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.