Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: The Daily Scoop Podcast

Episode: CMS connects with Palantir for national provider directory project
Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) signaling interest in Palantir to support a prototype for a National Provider Directory—a long-sought digital directory of healthcare providers and facilities. The episode also covers a significant Department of Energy (DOE) request for proposals to build AI data centers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reflecting government priorities in digital infrastructure and energy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. CMS & Palantir: The National Provider Directory Prototype

[00:30–03:40]

CMS Awards $1 Contracts for Prototypes
- Federal records show Palantir is one of four recipients of $1 contracts from HHS/CMS specifically mentioning “National Provider Directory” and “proof of concept.”
- “The four separate contracts made public Sept. 30 award $1 to each company and are set to expire Nov. 13…” (Billy Mitchell, 00:57).
- These contracts demonstrate early-stage, low-cost prototyping for the agency’s directory vision.
A Credentialized Data Hub in the Works
- The National Provider Directory is intended as a credentialized data hub for provider and facility information nationwide, helping both patients and healthcare organizations.
- “CMS has suggested the directory could serve as a credentialized data hub for healthcare provider and facility nationwide.” (Billy Mitchell, 01:40).
Palantir’s Expanding Government Footprint
- Traditionally a Pentagon contractor, Palantir continues moving into civilian government spaces—including work with CDC and ICE.
- “Palantir has long held contracts with the Pentagon, but has expanded in recent years to civilian agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (Billy Mitchell, 02:02).
- Palantir’s Foundry platform is already used in data sharing at CDC and similar efforts in the UK.
Other Contractors & Public Silence
- The other three awards went to Gainwell Technologies, Council for Affordable Healthcare Inc., and Availity. None commented publicly.
- “The four listed companies declined to publicly comment on the matter.” (Billy Mitchell, 03:17).
Long-Term Context
- This step comes nearly three years after CMS first requested public input on the directory, formally known as the National Directory of Healthcare Providers and Services.

2. DOE’s RFP for AI Data Centers at Oak Ridge

[03:41–04:30]

Major Proposal for Cutting-Edge Facilities
- DOE is seeking proposals for the design, construction, and operation of AI data centers and energy infrastructure at Oak Ridge National Lab.
- “The Department of Energy is requesting proposals for the build out and maintenance of AI data centers and energy generation infrastructure in and around Oak Ridge National Laboratory.” (Billy Mitchell, 03:41).
- Scope: Specialized computing equipment, cooling, energy transmission, storage, and more.
Preferred Applicants
- Focus on experienced private sector companies, data center operators, or energy infrastructure developers, and potential consortia/partnerships.
- “Other applicants given top consideration...proven track record in the design, build and operation of large scale data center facilities...” (Billy Mitchell, 04:07).
National Imperative Tied to AI Action Plan
- This initiative follows the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, emphasizing rapid expansion of AI, data center capacity, and streamlining for energy projects.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Provider Directory Contracts:

“The four separate contracts made public Sept. 30 award $1 to each company and are set to expire Nov. 13, two sources familiar with the efforts told FedScoop.”
(Billy Mitchell, 00:57)
On Palantir’s Broader Government Role:

“Palantir has long held contracts with the Pentagon, but has expanded in recent years to civilian agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
(Billy Mitchell, 02:02)
On DOE AI Data Center RFP:

“Oak Ridge is specifically seeking construction of data center facilities with specialized computing equipment, cooling facilities, infrastructure for energy supply, transmission and storage and other related equipment and facilities.”
(Billy Mitchell, 03:54)

Important Timestamps

00:30 – CMS selects Palantir and others for National Provider Directory proof of concept contracts
01:40 – CMS’s vision for a nationwide credentialized data hub for providers
02:02 – Palantir’s expansion into civilian agencies explained
03:17 – Other contractors and lack of public comment
03:41 – DOE’s big request for proposals at Oak Ridge National Lab
04:07 – Preferred applicant criteria and consortia
04:20 – Link to the administration's AI Action Plan and policy context

Takeaways

CMS is experimenting with Palantir and others to finally create a lasting, digital, and reliable provider directory, reflecting years of policy planning.
DOE’s AI data center RFP signals major federal investment in infrastructure at the intersection of technology and energy policy, in line with broader national AI goals.
Palantir’s movement into civilian sectors remains a trend to watch, indicating evolving government procurement priorities for data analytics and integration tools.

For more in-depth government technology news, listeners are encouraged to visit fedscoop.com.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:00]
A
Today on the Daily Scoop Podcast from the Scoop News Group. CMS signals interest in Palantir for its National Provider Directory project and the Department of Energy seeks proposals for AI data centers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It's Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services appears to be quietly considering Palantir to support its years long effort to build a national provider directory for healthcare providers and patients across the nation. Federal spending records show Palantir to be one of four recipients to receive awards from the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS containing the phrase National Provider Directory and proof of concept. The four separate contracts made public Sept. 30 award $1 to each company and are set to expire Nov. 13, two sources familiar with the efforts told FedScoop. These contracts are for a prototype product with CMS, one source confirmed. The prototype is for the agency's National Provider Directory, an effort the agency has been exploring for years. CMS has suggested the directory could serve as a credentialized data hub for healthcare provider and facility nationwide. The move marks the latest sign of civilian agencies growing interest in Palantir, which offers extensive data integration and analytics capabilities. Palantir has long held contracts with the Pentagon, but has expanded in recent years to civilian agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another HHS sub agency, its Foundry platform is reportedly being used in data sharing initiatives at the cdc, along with a similar effort in the United Kingdom. The contract, purchased on the General Services Administration's multiple award schedule merely states that it's for a national provider directory proof of concept with no other information. The other three awards, which were issued directly by HHS and cms, were given to gainwell Technologies, the Council for Affordable Healthcare Inc. And Availity. The four listed companies declined to publicly comment on the matter. Nonetheless, the awards mark a major step in CMS's long pursuit of a provider directory. It comes nearly three years after the sub agency first requested public input on the directory, which is formally referred to as the National Directory of Healthcare Providers and Services. Now, in other news, the Department of Energy is requesting proposals for the build out and maintenance of AI data centers and energy generation infrastructure in and around Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In an RFP published last week, the national lab's site and environmental management offices said they are seeking proposals from entities interested in entering into long term leases in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The work on those DOE sites would include designing, financing, permitting, developing, constructing, installing, owning, maintaining, operating and decommissioning AI data center and or energy generation infrastructure for those sites. Oak Ridge is specifically seeking construction of data center facilities with specialized computing equipment, cooling facilities, infrastructure for energy supply, transmission and storage and other related equipment and facilities. The DOE said entities responding to the RFP could be private sector companies with experience in development and operation of AI data centers, advanced computing facilities or energy storage. Other applicants given top consideration by Oak Ridge are data center operators and developers with a proven track record in the design, build and operation of large scale data center facilities, as well as energy infrastructure developers with expertise in energy generation, storage and and innovative and sustainable energy solutions. The RFP also notes that DOE will consider consortia or partnerships that may potentially be better suited than individual companies for the Oak Ridge lease agreements due to the complexity of the sites and projects. The request from DOE comes on the heels of the Trump administration's AI Action Plan, which calls for the rapid build out of AI data centers across the country and expanded energy capacity via streamlined permitting. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com.
[04:31]
B
Thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, dc. Adam Butler and Carlin Fisher help put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes. We'll be back tomorrow with more top headlines. Until then, I'm your host. As always, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for listening.