• Want to hear about emerging technology trends? Attend the virtual event this Wednesday to hear from government technology leaders across six different agencies. Use this link to get a discount!
• VA digitizing veterans’ records: The VA is making progress in storing digital service records in the cloud.
• Ninja obstacle course for SBAs: Rooting out acquisition obstacles and foiling slow-moving acquisition “valley of death” is a priority for Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
• IT workforce, budget among top OPM modernization challenges for FY23 despite some initial progress, according to OIG.
• DHS CBP commissioner resigns: Christopher Magnus was confirmed by the Senate last last year.
• Better data, training, hiring processes important to cyber workforce strategy.
• Some NAICS codes were recently updated. Have you checked to make sure yours are current?

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Army wants your input to overhaul its data enterprise through the Unified Data Reference Architecture (a RFI).
• The “father” of the CMMC, Robert, Metzgar advises defense industry companies not to wait until final rules are approved.
• SDA has issued a draft OTA for BMC2 at the National Space Defense Architecture.
• Space Force gets its first war college. Next up: their own football team! (ICYMI)

Defense Contract Awards

• Leidos and Riverside Research have won USAF contracts worth a combined $79.2M for open systems R&D and architecture for existing and future systems.
• IPTA has secured a $404M contract for Enterprise IT Support for the Army’s  Aviation and Missile Center.
• ECS wins $430M Army Cyber Command Security Contract.
• Kratos won a $23M AF contract for control system consolidated production & sustainment services.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• DOD Cloud leader Paul Pickett leaving Pentagon.
• The Pentagon has a new chief software officer.
• The Pentagon has a new CIO cybersecurity deputy director for policy and planning.
• BlackSky Technologies hires USAF veteran for its USAF/USSF team.
• SOSI hires the former USAF ICBM CSO as its new CTO.

Defense Job Openings

• The Pentagon is hiring director of military intelligence programs and security resources.
• Space Force is looking for a Chief, Logistics and Operations.
• DHA is seeking an Assistant Director, Support/Component Acquisition Executive.
• DOD is seeking a Principal Deputy to the DOD Chief Information Officer.

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INTEL COMMUNITY

FBI came close to deploying spyware for domestic surveillance.

The FBI came very close to using highly controversial commercial spyware to aid in its domestic criminal investigations. New documents acquired via FOIA include a number of internal FBI PowerPoint presentations, created throughout 2020 and 2021, that discuss how the bureau could deploy the hacking tools. Among these, the bureau’s Criminal Investigative Division produced a 25-page memorandum that included “recommendations” for how NSO’s products could be used “under certain specific conditions,” as well as proposed guidelines for district attorneys offices across the country on how to approach the process of criminal discovery for cases involving the tool.   Read more

A new report claims the global OSINT market size In 2022 is $4.2B and is expected to grow to $6B by 2028. 

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the collection and analysis of information that is gathered from public, or open, sources. OSINT is primarily used in national security, law enforcement, and business intelligence functions. The global market for OSINT is estimated at $4.2B million in the year 2022 and is projected to reach a revised size of $6B by 2028. This latest report researches the industry structure, revenue, and gross margin, major players, market shares, and additional information. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• DIA has posted a sources sought notice for Open Source Intelligence Platform services.
• Nutritional labels for cybersecurity? It’s still a work in progress.
• HHS warns of Venus ransomware targeting healthcare orgs.

IC Contract Awards

• HII’s Mission Technologies won an AFRL $70M task order.
• Chevo Consulting wins CISA task order for Program Evaluation and Performance Measures.

IC Job Openings

CIVILIAN

Interior Department releases nearly $1B cloud solicitation.

Interior Department has released a draft solicitation for a single-source IDIQ cloud procurement, Cloud Hosting Solutions III, that could be worth nearly $1B over 11 years. Read more

The seventh time is the charm: DHS again extends $10B FirstSource III solicitation deadline.

At the offerers’ request, DHS officials have extended, for the seventh time, the solicitation deadline for the $10B IT FirstSource III services and software contract. On Phase II of the solicitation, DHS has amended the IT value added reseller category. The latest deadline is Nov. 21. Read more

IRS commissioner nominee news.

POTUS plans to nominate Danny Werfel, a federal management guru, to serve as the next IRS commissioner. Werfer has served as OMB controller, and had a previous stint as IRS commissioner in 2013. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• NIST is looking for feedback on a proposed pilot project on common cybersecurity risks at water and wastewater plans..
• GAO denied a CACI protest of Peraton’s $343M IT infrastructure task order, enabling the latter’s work to move forward.
• DOJ using a FOIA wizard to create more user-friendly experience.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• NARA has awarded Fearless a $65.7m for the Electronics Records Archives 2.0 transition from paper to digital records.
• Excella wins $112M FERC contract for Data Support Services.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• DOL is seeking a Supervisory IT Specialist.
• VA is hiring an executive director of investigations, Office of Accountability, whistleblower protection.
• Treasury Department is hiring a deputy assistant secretary, tax, trade, and tariff policy.
• EPA is hiring a deputy regional administrator for its San Francisco office.

GOVCON M&A CORNER

CNSI to merge with Kepro in healthcare push.

CNSI, a portfolio company of Carlysle, will merge with healthcare management services provider Kepro. The merger should be complete next month, and Apax Partners, an equity partnership with a state in Kepro, will not retain any ownership stake. Read more

Castellum acquiring mysterious $10M government contractor. (Who is it?)

Castellum has signed a letter of intent to acquire an East Coast government contractor with $10M in annual revenue. The acquisition would be Castellum’s seventh and would be completed by the end of January. Sorry, don’t mean to click-bait you, but seriously, they don’t post the name of the acquired firm. Read more