In response to members’ requests about “What ACT-IAC is focusing on”, the information below identifies the most important topics ACT-IAC is addressing and how members and government can get involved. We plan to update this page on a regular basis as new topics emerge and old ones are retired.
Government members who want more information should contact Mike Howell at MHowell@actiac.org.
Industry who want to join ACT-IAC or hear more information should contact April Davis at ADavis@actiac.org or Carol Miller at cmiller@actiac.org.
The President's Management Agenda (PMA) was released March 20, 2018. The President’s Management Agenda lays out a long-term vision for modernizing the Federal Government in key areas that will improve the ability of agencies to deliver mission outcomes, provide excellent service, and effectively steward taxpayer dollars on behalf of the American people. ACT-IAC leadership decided to focus ACT-IAC’s projects and activities for the coming year on supporting the PMA. The attached document shows the alignment of ACT-IAC’s projects and activities with the PMA Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) goals. Download this document to see how ACT-IAC is supporting the PMA goals.
Acquisition Innovation⇒ Acquisition innovation featured at Acquisition Excellence Conference
Some of the activities within ACT-IAC include:
Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Artificial Intelligence⇒ Download the ACT-IAC Artificial Intelligence Playbook
Intelligent Automation marries artificial intelligence—including natural language processing, machine learning, and machine vision—with automation. This convergence of technologies produces automation capabilities that dramatically elevate business value and competitive advantages. It is already helping companies transcend conventional performance tradeoffs to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and quality. The White House recently issued an executive order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (February 11, 2019.)
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Blockchain⇒ Emerging Technology COI Shark Tank: Blockchain Projects Using Data as a Strategic Asset
Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Customer Experience⇒ ACT-IAC Associates Webinar: Chatbots, AI and The Future of Customer Experience
ACT-IAC's Customer Experience Community of Interest (CX COI) developed a playbook intended to help government leaders improve service to citizens, with guidance on how to establish a customer experience office or program, which can transform services across an entire agency. Whether customers are veterans, college students, taxpayers, immigrants, seniors, employees, or other federal agencies, the framework and recommendations provided in this playbook can be applied to improve any government service. Download playbook now. Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Data Driven Decision MakingThe Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 and the Federal Data Strategy created challenging new requirements for federal agencies. ACT-IAC undertook the Data-Driven Decision Making project to help government agencies address these requirements. The project report contains a data management maturity model, a self-assessment tool, and keys to success based on interviews with thirteen federal agencies. The report is available on ACT-IAC's website at: https://www.actiac.org/advancing-data-driven-decision-making-public-sector. "The ability to curate data and to use supporting technologies like data analytics, robotic process automation, and artificial intelligence to make better decisions is critical to the delivery of government missions. In order to derive the best value from data, it must be managed strategically. Projects and programs focused on data management and appropriate use will help the government achieve its strategic goals, enhance services to citizens, and improve government operations," said Federal Deputy CIO Margie Graves. Due to the importance and timeliness of this topic, ACT-IAC is pursuing several activities to address the increased focus on managing and using data. CURRENT AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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Healthcare⇒ Join the New ACT-IAC Health Community of Interest (COI)
Recent ACT-IAC activities have focused on cybersecurity for Health IT and the application of mobile technologies for healthcare solutions. Future plans include continued investigation into the application of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for healthcare applications. The Health COI held it's kick-off meeting in early September and are now accepting applications for various leadership positions. Click here for more information. Some specific activities include:
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IT Modernization⇒ Download the IT Management Maturity Model Version 2 Now
Agencies are challenged to provide a secure environment as access becomes increasingly open and legacy systems potentially lack the flexibility to adapt to these changing needs. Modernizing legacy systems can be very challenging, risky, costly, and resource intensive; but, with the right strategic approach, the risks can be mitigated and costs lowered. ACT-IAC is continually developing resources to assist agencies successfully plan and manage their legacy system modernization efforts. Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Current Projects:
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Workforce Management
Through the Evolving the Workforce Community of Interest, ACT-IAC endeavors to:
Links: Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Zero Trust CybersecurityIn May 2018, the Federal CIO Council Services, Strategy, and Infrastructure Committee asked ACT-IAC to evaluate the technical maturity, availability for procurement, and important issues related to potential federal agency adoption of zero trust cybersecurity. Zero trust approaches could radically transform and improve cybersecurity and data protection and sharing. And, the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract could provide the means for agencies to acquire those capabilities. The project began with market research, presentations and demonstrations, and evaluation of the underlying trust algorithms. The report was completed on April 18, 2019. Click here to read the report. Current and Upcoming Projects and events
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Acquisition policy is an overarching topic for ACT-IAC. Our activities focus on innovation of the acquisition process to deliver technology solutions. 
Artificial intelligence, using the data from complex systems that have been gathered from a variety of sources, combined with predictive analytics, and machine learning technology, is being used by many agencies in creative ways to analyze data, determine patterns, and project outcomes. Government applications of AI are proliferating, and a growing number of federal agencies are exploring the applications of AI to their organization’s core missions and operations. ACT-IAC is assisting the Government by providing insight on how AI can enable them to better meet their mission.
ACT-IAC is actively engaged with the assessment and evaluation of the Blockchain technology – a transparent, trusted, publicly accessible ledger that allows for secure transfers of encrypted information. Through our Emerging Technology Community of Interest (COI), Blockchain events, and the Institute of Innovation, ACT-IAC is becoming the collective point of knowledge for this distributed database. 
People deserve government services that are easy to find, use, and understand, on par with services delivered by the private sector. Improving the citizens’ experience with government requires technology, people, process improvements, and culture change. Customer experience is the overall perception that customers have of an agency, organization, or service.
Nearly four-fifths of executives at healthcare providers and payers say their information technology has been compromised by cyber-attacks. Since many organizations achieved their interconnectivity by evolution, resulting in inadequate controls, investment in cybersecurity needs to become part of a cohesive, coordinated digital strategy. Effective, low-cost mechanisms are already in place to shield against many elements of the cyber threat. However, far too often executive leaders wait until they are compromised to test their response plans or do not fully embrace cyber as a business risk.
Many federal agencies rely on decades-old, obsolete technologies to support critical mission programs, essential functions, and daily operations.
Developing a Workforce for the 21st Century is a key driver of transformation identified in the 2018 President's Management Agenda and is part of ACT-IAC's strategic priority.