Federal Government’s New Framework for Integrating Emerging Technologies into Agency Operations

The federal government is taking a major step towards integrating emerging technologies into federal agency operations with the release of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program’s (FedRAMP) new Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework. This framework, unveiled on June 27, aims to guide both the public and private sectors on how FedRAMP will identify and prioritize the implementation of emerging technologies.

The initial focus of the framework will be on artificial intelligence products and technologies, specifically targeting chat interfaces, code generators, debugging tools, image generators, and associated application program interfaces. Up to three cloud service offerings per capability will be prioritized, allowing for the fast-tracking of up to 12 AI-based offerings for agency use and adoption.

According to a blog post on the framework’s release, the goal is to expedite the inclusion of emerging technologies in the FedRAMP Marketplace, enabling agencies to leverage modern tools to fulfill their missions more effectively. The final framework follows a draft version issued in January, with feedback resulting in key changes, including the requirement for providers to submit public links to industry standard “model cards” to classify AI-enabled cloud services.

As the new framework is implemented, FedRAMP will only accept submissions for prioritization twice in the fiscal year. The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages the FedRAMP program, has been working to modernize the authorization processes to meet the growing demand for cloud services, including leveraging automation to expedite vendor authorization requests.

GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan recently shared with Nextgov/FCW that the agency has been piloting various AI technologies to enhance internal workflows. Additionally, plans are in place to establish an AI advisory committee to explore how agency needs can be enhanced through AI technology adoption. This move towards prioritizing emerging technologies in federal agency operations signifies a significant step towards modernizing and improving efficiency in government operations.