• Two new tools aim to reverse decade-long drop in small biz industrial base: Supplier base dashboard and procurement equity tool.
• OPM’s special federal IT salary rate narrows gap with private sector pay: Timing of final release and the scope of agencies that adopt it remain unclear.
• U.S. seeks to further quantum research with Dutch partnership: Science and tech research pact follows other international partnerships.
• Watchdog: outdated IT at IRS is slowing down your tax refund: I want my money! Old tech is to blame.
• Proposal libraries? Yay, nay, who, how?

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Kleos Vigilance Mission enters operational phrase.
• DISA releases the Riverbed NetProfiler STIG.
• Lawmakers want $2B in aid for Taiwan.
• Rafael unveils video of counter-drone capability on Typhoon weapon

Defense Contract Awards

• Lockheed Martin wins $1.2B contract mod for program mgmt, engineering dev, sys integration, and equipment for missile production.
• GDIT wins Navy electromagnetic effects contract.
• SPA books five-year, $164M Navy Program Office Assistance contract extension.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• There’s a new Cornerstone Defense CEO.

Defense Job Openings

• National Guard Bureau is hiring an executive director Acquisition/Head of Contracting Service.
• The Army is hiring a director of architecture, data, and standards.

INTEL COMMUNITY

FBI goes its own way with $7B IT and services contract. Sorta.

FBI officials have decided to manage the next iteration of their $7B IT and services contract in-house, managing all pre-solicitation and post-solicitation matters, although contract awards will still take the form of GSA Schedule blanket procurement agreements, according to a solicitation notice. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Army C3ISR Center releases Expeditionary Smart Power System prototype RFI.
• USAF mulls remote control of drone wingmen.
• Timesheets are such a pain! Former NSA contractor convicted of false claims on hours billed to gov’t.

CIVILIAN

VBA sees automation tools as ‘game changer’ in battle to keep up with growing workload.

Veterans Benefits Administration and its 25,000 employees completed a record high of 1.7 million total claims in FY22, disbursing about $100B in benefits. VBA has processed over 390,000 total claims for benefits in FY23 so far, about a 13% increase compared to the same period in FY22 and plans to hire 1,900 more employees. Read more

CISA seeks industry consulting support to shape its operational strategy.

CISA is planning a potential three-year consulting services contract to help craft its plans for defending the nation from emerging threats, and it’s looking to industry for help. Check out the special solicitation notice. Read more

FTC launches new Office of Technology for ‘in-house skills.’

FTC Chair Lina Khan has launched a new Office of Technology to help the agency keep pace with the rapidly evolving sector and provide FTC staff and commissioners with the technological proficiency needed to guide their work. Read more

VA delays health record ‘go live’ at key Michigan site.

This is not a good situation! Veterans Affairs is delaying a scheduled go-live of the Oracle Cerner EHRM at Ann Arbor Healthcare System facilities. The installation was set to be completed in July and will now take place late this year or in early 2024. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• White House missed its own deadline to detail Inflation Reduction Act spending at IRS.
• GSA’s TMF invests $40.6M to improve cybersecurity and digital services at SSA, Treasury, and U.S. Agency for Global Media.
• VA announces winners of $20M challenge to provide innovative methods to prevent veteran suicides.
• HHS CISO: Ransomware, telehealth are top challenges.
• State Department releases guidelines on responsible AI use for international militaries. It also is prepping MVP rollout to innovate the acquisition process.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• HHS has awarded Radiant Digital a three-year contract to update the data portal for the Community Living Agency.
• Deloitte was awarded a one-year, $6M task order from NIH to provide IT services.
• Aquia, a SDVOSB, has earned a subcontract from Oddball to support its $9 million contract with VA to provide multi-factor authentication pilot services.
• InnoVet Health LLC, a SDVOSB, has earned a $3M contract to provide data-as-a-service.

Follow Civilian Leaders.

Civilian Job Openings

• HHS is hiring a supervisory public health analyst, deputy division director..
• NIH is hiring a director of the Technology Transfer Office.
• Veterans Health Administration is hiring an executive director, integrated external networks.

M&A CORNER

Cadmus expands federal contracting business with Nathan acquisition.

Cadmus, a provider of technical and strategic expertise to governments, energy utilities, and private sector companies in more than 100 countries over the last 75 years, is acquiring Nathan Associates, Inc.an economic and analytics consulting firm that works with government and commercial clients internationally. The acquisition more than doubles Cadmus’ U.S. federal business. Read more