• SAMOSA Act could increase software monopolization: Fed acquisition experts are warning that the legislation promoting transparency could backfire, but Microsoft and Oracle are like “nah, it’s good bro.” Read more.
• On the flipside…Army has launched initiatives to tap into small biz creativity: And it’s going to give big GovCon firms an extra advantage to partner with those companies.  Read more.
• Pricing brawl! IG and GSA leaders lock horns over schedule prices: Are TDR program prices the lowest that gov’t can get? Maybe gov’t should shop around.  Read more.
• The DOD’s in the home stretch to award its $9B cloud contract: DOD’s acting Deputy CIO is on track to award the $9B Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract by the end of 2022. Read more.
• Happy Ada Lovelace Day! (Well, it was yesterday, but you didn’t get a GovBrew yesterday.) Check out this article with Idit Levine, founder and CEO of a $1B tech start-up, who discusses women’s progress in STEM fields. Read more.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• The Army is holding Project Convergence exercises with the UK and Australia, testing 50 new technologies in Oct and Nov.
• Former DOD Deputy CIO Dr. Kelly Fletcher tells weapons systems providers they need to more systematically apply cybersecurity standards or risk losing work.
• Cool Tech: CENTCOM officials are looking at blimps and solar gliders, among other resources, to beef up surveillance.

Defense Contract Awards

• Sigma Defense wins $950M IDIQ for JADC2 Advanced Battle Mgmt System.
• Navy has awarded a $9.98M contract modification to Advanced Acoustic Concepts to provide littoral combat ship mission IT Support.
• SRI International awarded $12.5M contract for ISING Hardware and software prototype.
• Quantifind wins $23.7M DoD contract for OSINT platform

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Navy Reserves promotes a Commanding Officer into the role of Deputy CIO.
• Accenture Federal Services has promoted a 26-year company veteran to DOD portfolio lead.
• 30-year industry veteran joins DCSA as its new CTO.
• 25-year education veteran joins DOD as new Chief Institutional Effectiveness Officer.
• Army gets a new Chief Technology Advisor.

Defense Job Openings

• Navy is looking for a Director for Campaign Analysis and Modeling.
• SDA looking for key individuals to join its Tranche 2 leadership team.
• Navy is looking for a Sr Director for the Integration Support Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Intelligence and Security.
• Army is looking for a Director for it’s ISR Task Force

PARTICIPATE IN THIS WEEK’S SURVEY —> (( START SURVEY NOW ))

(If you have a question you’d like to see pitched to the GovBrew Crew, just let us know!)

INTEL COMMUNITY

IARPA and Army start research to engineer nextgen of computers.

IARPA and the Army Research Laboratory launched a program to engineer innovative, new computer architecture designs that will help the IC execute its missions. The Advanced Graphic Intelligence Logical Computing Environment (AGILE) program will rethink computer architectures and aim to develop intelligent mechanisms for accessing, moving, and storing complex data streams and structures that enable the efficient execution of data-analytic algorithms. Read More

The CIA invest in a start-up aimed at bringing back the woolly mammoth.

The CIA, through In-Q-Tel, invested in Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, which aims to bring back the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger with “de-extinction” technology. While the CIA says it’s less about the mammoths and more about the capability, we still think a wooly mammoth walking around downtown Dallas would be pretty cool to see. Read More

State Department confirms UK talks on data transfer cooperation.

Okay, we’re ready to tell everyone now. Following a POTUS executive order to build the US-EU privacy shield, the DOS has confirmed it is holding talks with UK counterparts focusing on data transfer cooperation. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• CBP, TSA expanding facial recognition for traveler identity verification.
• CISA announces DC event for public input on incident reporting regulations.
• DCSA forms new behavioral science branch to help destigmatize mental health issues across the IC.

Follow IC Leaders

CIVILIAN

GovBrew Discount: Looking Ahead at CMS for 2023 event.

Kick off the new FY in a proactive way! This in-person/online event assembles growth-minded leaders who support the important mission of CMS today. From emerging technologies and acquisition challenges to budget priorities and key contract opportunities on the horizon, this event will bring together top execs, SMEs, and business leaders from across the CMS community to have open discussions. Register quickly to get the $25 GovBrew discount! Get the Discount.

New law bans SBA red tape, with website to follow in six months.

To small businesses overwhelmed by SBA bureaucracy, a new law mandates that agency officials roll out a new website in six months that will make it easier for small businesses to identify relevant regulations that pertain to them and also find SBA points of contact. Read more.

DOE launches next-gen network for sharing data across enterprise.

Energy Department has launched its ESnet6 high performance network for sharing up to 46 terabytes per second of data across its enterprise. Part of the Energy Science Network, ESnet6 enables tens of thousands of users to process, store, visualize, analyze, and share data from experiments, models, and simulations.

ICYMI Snippets

• OPM authorizes emergency hiring for hurricane response.
• Robots in the workplace contribute to burnout, job insecurity.
• GSA, DOE issue RFI for technologies for Net-Zero Carbon Buildings.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• ServiceNow won a $250M BPA with HHS to provide digital workflow platforms to help HHS manage applications, optimize inventory and reduce waste.
• HUD has awarded a 5-year, $4M 8(a) set aside contract to LNKE Technologies Inc. to provide pay.gov common services.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• USDA is hiring a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
• DOI BIO is seeking a Data Analytics Chief.
• Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is seeking a CIO.

GOVCON M&A CORNER

Sierra Nevada purchases drone maker Volansi.

Sierra Nevada announced it has purchased drone maker Volansi in an cash deal that includes the company’s intellectual property and assets. Read more

Quantum Space partners with Axient.

Quantum Space announced the signing of a MOU with Axient for space systems development on government and commercial missions and projects for existing and new customers.  Read more

Octo hires new VP of Corporate Development from within.

Octo announced that Meghan Gifford is now VP of Corporate Development and Strategy. Gifford is responsible for Octo’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, strategic planning lifecycle, and Integration Management Office (IMO). Our guess this is another step towards increased acquisition activity from Octo. Read more