Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.

OPM Launches AI Chatbot to Simplify Access to Federal Workforce Data

The OPM has launched FWD Chat, an AI powered chatbot that allows users to ask questions about federal employment, hiring, departures and workforce trends, providing answers drawn from official personnel data without requiring users to write code or build complex queries, according MeriTalk.

TMF Invests $83.4 Million in Four AI Enabled Modernization Projects

The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is investing $83.4 million in four projects at the Agriculture, State and Transportation departments to modernize federal payroll systems, deploy agentic AI, streamline environmental reviews and automate airline consumer complaint processing, according MeriTalk.

GSA Issues New AI Acquisition Policy for Federal Contracts

The GSA has issued a new AI acquisition policy that can be used immediately ahead of its October 19 effective date, establishing requirements for government data protection, AI performance, contractor accountability and oversight, according to FedScoop.

CMS Proposes New Contractor Model to Strengthen Fraud Prevention

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is exploring a new contractor operating model that would give the agency greater oversight of fraud investigations while leveraging AI, data analytics and other technologies to detect and prevent fraudulent payments before they occur, according to NextGov.

VA Pilots CLEAR Identity Verification to Strengthen Security and Access to Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a pilot using CLEAR’s biometric identity verification technology to help veterans securely access VA.gov, reduce identity fraud and streamline access to benefits and services, with participation free and optional, according to FedScoop.