April 12, 2024

QUICK HITS

• Space Force strategy signals fundamental mindset shift: New commercial space strategy transforms how it supports the Joint Force.

• Q1 2024 M&A Insiders Report: This report looks at the latest trends in middle-market transactions as we provide insights into the middle-market M&A landscape.

• Slogans in your proposal: Do they help or hurt your win chances?

• Rev up your federal sales for results: Check out this three-part, how-to series. (Don’t forget to read Parts 1 and 2!)

TRIVIA 🤔

Presented by GovBrew Insider - Finding the Next Opportunity Just Got Easier.

Just click the choice you think is right & the correct answer will be shown.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

New strategy offers guidance on what USSF wants to buy, but not what it'll spend.

The Space Force is outlining a vision for hybrid military-commercial-allied mission architectures; it wants to “pivot to a new model” for using commercial technology in mission systems—even if the new strategy released Wednesday doesn’t yet have all the answers. Read more

CYBERCOM's secret cyber force helps discover new malware samples for analysis.

U.S. Cyber Command deployed its digital force 22 times on “hunt forward” missions to over a dozen countries in 2023; these 22 hunt-forward missions—executed by CYBERCOM’s elite Cyber National Mission Force—were conducted in 17 countries and led to the discovery of about 90 malware samples for analysis in the cybersecurity community. Read more

If the Pentagon is to share 5G, it'll need new ground rules.

After years of Pentagon leaders warning that commercial 5G wireless systems could prevent the DOD from accessing a key spectrum, officials have recently been busy outlining a framework the Pentagon hopes can kickstart a discussion on a spectrum management program. Read more

ICYMI:

• DOD working on defense industrial strategy "literally as we speak."

• DOD sees "huge increase" in international military sales post-Ukraine invasion. Sweden, Poland, Netherlands are “huge customers.”

• Watch: SpaceX launched an advanced weather satellite for Space Force.

• CIWS RAM to replace the U.S. Navy destroyers’ Phalanx.

• Navy seeks standardized C2, data-sharing for unmanned systems.

Defense Contract Awards

• Lockheed wins $4 billion MDA contract for C2BMC systems.

• BAE Systems was awarded a $459M DOD Advanced Aviation Radios contract.

• Teledyne, Aerovironment, and Aduril win $249M USMC organic precision fires-light system contract.

• DLA awards $180M in facility MRO contracts with two vendors.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• DHA taps new S&T enterprise integration division, research & engineering directorate chief.

• AF Office of CIO names a new Chief Data & AI Officer.

• SIXGEN appoints cybersecurity industry leader as CEO.

Defense Job Openings

• MDA needs a Strategy, Plans and Resources Director.

• ACC is looking for a Supervisory Contract Specialist.

• TRADOC is seeking a Program Manager.

• DHA is hiring a Contract Management Specialist.

CHART

INTEL COMMUNITY

Controversial “spy” program renewal was rejected by lawmakers.

The U.S. law, known as Section 702, permits intelligence agencies to gather data on foreigners abroad without requiring a warrant. Lawmakers rejected an effort to reform this not-always-agreed-upon intel program. Read more

The state of US intelligence: how it’s working 23 years after 9/11.

Charles Luftig, Deputy Director of National Intelligence Policy and Capabilities, reflects on the 20-year anniversary of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, nearly 23 years after 9/11. Read more

ODNI and CIA Release the Intelligence Community OSINT Strategy for 2024-2026.

Analysts believe that the new Intelligence Community Open Source Intelligence Strategy for 2024-2026, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA, will enhance investigators' access to data and strengthen the intelligence community's ability to preempt threats. Read more

ICYMI:

• ODNI guidelines for handling commercially available data to be released ‘any day’.

• Report: NSA offers maturing data security guidance.

• DCCA awarded a $273M contract to provide classified services to Data Computer Corporation of America.

• ODNI needs a CTIIC Deputy Director.

CIVILIAN

VA has "existing money" to resume EHR rollouts before end of FY25.

Despite Oracle’s problems for the last several years, VA Secretary McDonough defended the continued push to implement a modernized EHR system, saying “we need a single health record across the VA system and we need one that talks more effectively to DOD.” He signaled that DOD was making progress on addressing issues identified in the ongoing reset phase. When asked if VA plans to maintain the program reset for all of FY25, McDonough said “we do not.” Read more

No taxes on commercial space launches anytime soon, says FAA.

Speaking on the possibility of taxing commercial launches similar to those on airlines, an FAA official said, “at this point, there is no concrete proposal in the president’s budget request. There are conversations, there’s things we talked about, but I think there’s still a way to go before we see something concrete in that regard." Read more

NETL to overcome carbon management challenges with AI/ML.

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seizing the opportunity to integrate AI/ML tools in its numerous projects that are underway. One example project involves a software suite called Multiphase Flow with Interphase Exchanges (MFiX), a multiphase fluid flow model used for designing next-generation energy systems. NETL’s MFiX software has also been used for troubleshooting multiphase flow reactors for fossil, bio, nuclear and solar energy processing and nuclear waste treatment. Read more

ICYMI:

• DOC USPTO RFI: Automation and Orchestration Platform support.

• CISA to federal agencies after Microsoft breach: Fix your credentials!

• Space tech export controls to be reviewed by the government.

• Lawmakers want more “deets” on the VA’s Supply Chain Modernization contract.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Lumen bags $73.6M GAO Network, Data, Voice and Video Connectivity deal.

• Amivero was awarded a $10M GSA FAS Account Management Support contract.

• SDVOSB ADDX Corp. got a $6.2M USPTO Data Science, Data Analysis & Computer Programming Support contract.

• GDIT wins $10M DOS GSS 1.0 contract.

• Envisage wins $850K DHS US Secret COTS SaaS Training Mgmt Sys.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• CISA's senior cybersecurity architect is leaving federal service.

• GDIT’s former SDM selected to be Maximus’ Federal IT Solutions VP.

• GSA Acting Director joins Zscaler as the Director of Global Compliance.

• Four Points Technology has a new CTO.

Civilian Job Openings

• HHS Admin for Children and Families is looking for an Acquisition Services Deputy Director.

• USDOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Admin needs a Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel.

• VHA is hiring a Deputy Associate Chief of Staff-Rehabilitation & Extended Care.

• USDOT’s FHWA is seeking a Program Manager.

M&A CORNER

STG has secured a strategic investment from Enlightenment Capital.

Summit Technology Consulting Group (STG) has succeeded in getting a strategic investment from Enlightenment Capital, to further propel its next growth phase. The transaction was finalized on March 26, 2024. Read more

Zscaler acquires network segmentation startup Airgap.

Zscaler announced Thursday it’s reached a deal to acquire Airgap Networks, a provider of network access and segmentation technologies that adhere to principles of “zero trust” security. Read more

GOVBREW INSIDER

• Check out this week’s 50+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.

• Our team uncovered 80+ upcoming IT services opportunities at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in this week's recompete report.

• See if your company qualifies for any of the latest grants & competitions.

• Stay up to date on the upcoming events. Also, check out the GovBrew Insider discount on the upcoming GovCIO Women Tech Leaders Summit. 

• Keep track of the latest Agency Acquisition Forecasts.

Want to become a GovBrew Insider member? Join here

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

Does Devin AI produce quality work?

With the emergence of AI software engineers, some people offer gloomy predictions about machines replacing human software engineers. Does the quality of Devin AI, made by Cognition, already surpass that of humans, or do we still have a long journey ahead to reach that point? Read more

Gene editing: Are there any side effects?

While gene-editing is lauded by some as the next generation of medicine, charting a course toward that future remains challenging. Manipulating genomes is an amazing achievement. What are the downsides to using this scientific breakthrough? Read more

What we saw during the eclipse were not solar flares—so what were they?

During the total solar eclipse, you may have seen what may have looked like solar flares exploding from the sun after its corona became visible. It turns out, they’re not what you think they are. Read more

TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️

A) 9,400 — As of FY22, there were 9,461 active federal explosives licenses and permits. This includes manufacturers, importers, dealers licenses, limited permits, and user permits. In 2022 ATF conducted 944 explosives application inspections; of those 737 applications were approved, 3 were denied, and 240 were abandoned. (Source)

Want to submit a trivia question for the next edition? Reply to this email.

GROW WITH GOVBREW

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help you:

1. Are you serious about finding the next opportunity? Become a GovBrew Insider member to keep your pipeline full. Weekly opportunities, recompete reports, agency forecasts, and much more.

2. Promote your brand to over 6,500 GovCon professionals by sponsoring this newsletter. Apply here

3. Follow us on LinkedIn for more GovCon coverage.

Share GovBrew, Win Cool Stuff!

Have colleagues who'd like our newsletter too? Click to share or give them your unique referral link (below) and get rewarded when they subscribe.

Or copy and paste this link to others: https://govbrew.co/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

PS: You have referred 0 people so far