“It’s the most beautiful time of the year!” No, it’s not Christmas…it’s the end of the fiscal year! The annual “Christmas in September” spending season is well under way, with billions of dollars that need to be allocated before the government’s fiscal year ends Sept 30. And if FY22 is anything like previous years, the final three months will account for about a third of total obligations. Large government contractors get most of that payout, with small businesses following behind.
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House panel advances legislation to protect federal workers during pandemics. 

A House panel advanced legislation to protect federal workers and agency operations during future pandemics. The Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act (H.R. 8466) is the third version of a bill requiring agencies to develop and publish workplace safety plans for use during pandemics.
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WH science and tech advisors recommend $500M startup semiconductor fund through Commerce Department.

The House Council of Advisors on Science and Technology are advising POTUS to fund the National Semiconductor Technology Center in order to create a $500M investment fund for early stage startups by the end of 2023. The action is something of a follow-on to POTUS signing the $11B CHIPS and Science Act for semiconductor research and development.
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ICYMI Snippets:

• SBA proposed rule relaxes change of 8(a) program ownership, allows limited populated JVs.
• Pentagon budget reform panel at work after organizational problems.
• The latest Army small biz performance data and graphics.
• DOD assists in Puerto Rico hurricane aftermath.
• Navy Is equipping ships with a software arsenal.

Top Defense & Aerospace

For a lot of would-be defense contractors, the world of classified contracts is a bit of a Catch-22. You can’t get classified work without a security clearance, and you can’t get a security clearance without a contract that demands classified work. DARPA is looking to solve that problem with a new initiative it calls “BRIDGES.” The basic idea is to give small firms a chance to show they’ve got the technical acumen or creativity to solve the sorts of problems DARPA’s working on in the classified arena. If it looks like the answer is yes, the agency itself will sponsor them for a security clearance.
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AF creates new office to settle internal squabbles over ABMS.

The Air Force is setting up a new management structure to ride herd over its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), the Air Force’s contribution to the DOD’s JADC2 project, and it’s going to be called PEO-C3BM. Officials say ABMS has demonstrated progress in some key technical areas, but those advancements haven’t always been coordinated with one another. At the top of the new management structure for what Air Force officials have previously termed the “internet of military things” will be a brand new program executive office:
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Come to find out that inflation, not Russia or China, are primary worries of military personnel.

USAF Secretary Frank Kendall is not oblivious to the day-to-day worries about enlisted personnel. “The [Air and Space Forces] leadership knows we can’t expect airmen, guardians to give their all to the mission when they are worried about paying for gas to get to work, finding childcare or providing their family a safe place to live,” Kendall said during a keynote at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber conference.
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ICYMI Snippets

• Following up on a GAO report, Federal agencies must tackle threats posed by climate change by shoring up military bases and critical infrastructure.
• The story behind the U.S. military’s famous ‘birth control glasses’ stretches back much further than you may have thought.
• DOD-favored SBIR grant program gets green light.
• In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, check out some of the biggest Latino contributions in American military history!

Defense Contract Awards

• The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a five-year, $266M contract to small business Five Stones Research Corp.
• Raytheon secures ABMS Digital Infrastructure Consortium contract.
• SAIC snags spot on the Advanced Battle Management System Consortium.

Top Intel Community

Reducing wait times and diversifying applicant pools are just two workforce priorities for the CIA, as the agency tries to revamp its best practices for hiring. One of the hurdles to changing recruitment, though, is the agency’s extensive security clearance process, said Juliane Gallina, associate deputy director of the CIA’s Directorate of Digital Innovation. Although the hiring process does have certain elements that cannot be changed, the agency is working to open doors, for instance, to more diverse candidates, while also expediting the process wherever possible.
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Fifth and final OMB memo to meet cybersecurity goals more than just another cyber mandate, says Federal CISO.

The OMB’s fifth and final memo to meet goals outlined in the May 2021 cybersecurity executive order may be its most ambitious yet. The memo is set to change the way agencies purchase and vendors develop commercial software, and Chris DeRusha, federal CISO at OMB, states that the memo is more than just another cyber mandate.
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ICYMI Snippets

• AFRL updates GeoPEX BAA.
• New Report: Cryptography and the Intelligence Community, The Future of Encryption.
• New EO directs a broader national security focus on foreign investments.
• Two more Chinese telecom firms added to national security threat list.

Intel Contracts Awards

• Maxar Technologies was awarded the third of three option years to under the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery program.
• DOJ’s Executive Office for US Attorneys awards 5-year, $16M USAVoice System IT Support Services task.

Follow the Intel Leaders

• Maximus has tapped its new VP of Business Development for Homeland Security.
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, OCIO has a new Deputy Director for Customer Experience.

Top Civilian

GSA examines how to bring “federal buying power” to supercharge the solar panel market (a RFI announcement).

As part of federal government efforts to promote domestic clean-energy technology, the GSA issued a RFI to learn more about the availability of American-made solar photovoltaic panels and components. GSA seeks this information to learn about how the agency can encourage domestic manufacturing of PV panels through federal procurement, as part of ongoing efforts to decarbonize the electric grid and secure a domestic clean energy supply chain.
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Are you planning for the $45M VA VEO Enterprise Measurement and Performance Improvement Support BPA?

We might have some data that will help you as you plan your response to this highly watched VA FY23 opportunity, including capture data, contract vehicle, related articles mentioning the opportunity, potential points of contact, some statistical odds, incumbent data, and much more. You’re welcome!
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ICYMI Snippets

• Census give users easier access to data.
• IRS selects eight for the Electronic Tax Committee.
• DHS launches $1B state and local cybersecurity grant program.
• Three reasons why the next USPS EV vehicles might be better than Grumman LLVs.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• DOE NNSA awards Chainbridge Technologies a $4M database development and support services task order.
• Leidos awarded $60M BPA to support FHA policy initiatives.

Follow the Civilian Leaders

• REI Systems announces its new CGO to oversee BD, capture, and marketing.
• VetsEZ has chosen a 20-year industry leader as its new Director of Solutions Architecture.
• Redhorse Corporation has selected a new VP of Federal Civilian Service, and he has experience working for ACOE and EPA.

Follow the Civilian Job Openings

• DHS/FEMA is looking for a Deputy Director, Public Assistance Division.
• DHS/FEMA is looking for an Assistant Administrator, Resilience Business Operations.
• DHS/TSA is looking for an Assistant Administrator for Domestic Aviation Operations.
• Valiant Integrated Services is seeking an IDIQ Solution Center Director.

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GovCon M&A Corner

NTT DATA to acquire Apisero.

IT services and digital business leader NTT DATA has signed an agreement to acquire leading international MuleSoft consulting firm Apisero. The acquisition will provide NTT DATA with more than 2,000 global resources, accelerating its strategy to become a first-choice digital innovation partner.
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Razor’s Edge closes a $340M investment fund.

Razor’s Edge announced the final closing of its third investment fund, at $340 million. Significantly exceeding the firm’s original fundraising target of $250 million, this result reflects strong investor support for the firm’s strategy of investing in sophisticated companies that are key to helping the United States maintain technological superiority over its adversaries.
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