WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, the Department of War announced a new capability, the Secure Space Network, to break down barriers to classified defense work.
The initiative will allow more “defense suppliers to participate in classified development, collaboration, and production by broadening regional access to accredited secure workspaces,” said a Sept. 3 press release at war. gov. The secure work places are called SCIFs, Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities.
About 50 mobile units and “related information systems” will be deployed across the United States, the press release said. The locations were not announced; however, the units were described in the press release as “rapidly deployable” and can be positioned at military installations, industryfocused sites such as APEX Accelerators, and other mission-relevant locations.
APEX Accelerators are part of a nationwide network managed by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, according to apexaccelerators.us, and are supported by federal, state and local partners. The primary goal of the program is to help businesses enter and succeed in the government supply chain through education, training and hands-on support for government contracting.
The Oklahoma APEX Accelerator (OkAPEX) is Oklahoma’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center. OkAPEX centers are located in participating local technology centers across the state, according to oklahoma.gov/careertech/ business-and-industry/ okapex.html.
“We must make it easier for capable companies to contribute at every level of the mission,” said James R. Mismash, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Growth and Director of the Office of Small Business Programs.
He went on to say in the press release that “industry has identified access to classified environments as a major barrier, and the Secure Space Network directly addresses that challenge by opening the door to classified work for more companies. With strong partnership across the agency and support from Congress, this effort will strengthen our supplier base and help deliver the capabilities our warfighters need faster and at greater scale.”
Goals of the Secure Space Network include removing barriers to classified collaboration, strengthening the defense industrial base, and accelerating delivery of critical capabilities, said the recent press release.