• NDAA negotiations will determine success of several cyber solarium goals: Big tech is making a concerted push to increase gov’t’s acquisition of information and communications technology and to cultivate faster procurement practices.
• $2.3B DCSA background investigation support contract: Bid protest! This week GAO denied Paragon’s bid protest–one that gained a lot of speculation. The contract award is imminent, and it’s expected to be awarded to Peraton and CACI.
• How long dies it take to get a security clearance? It currently takes 121 days to obtain a Top Secret security clearance for the fastest 90% of DoD/Industry applicants, and 95 days to obtain a Secret clearance for the fastest 90% of DoD/Industry applicants.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Leidos discloses subpoenas amid DOJ antitrust, bribery probes.
• Quantum Space announces first operational mission to cislunar space with GEOST and Blue Canyon Tech.
• Marine Corps announced a Hybrid MCSC Contracts Industry Day, scheduled for December 1.
• NRO expects to release hyperspectral satellite RFP by end of 2022.

Defense Contract Awards

• DOD announces new contract awards for its “Internet in Space” effort.
• Army’s $1.5B IDIQ CROWS contract awarded to Kongsberg.
• 5 companies win spots on $95M Navy, Marine Corps Engineering Services IDIQ.
• NASA to meet with contractors in VA on Nov. 15 to discuss SEWP VI.
• SAIC wins $18M Navy contract for aircraft instrumentation flight test services.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• The first Chief of the US Space Force retired after 38 years of military service. Congrats, General John “Jay” Raymond! Gen. Saltzman now takes the helm.

Defense Job Openings

• NASA is seeking a Deputy Director of Safety and Mission Assurance.
• DOD, Office of the Secretary of Defense, is seeking an Executive Director.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Treasury:1, Killnet: 0.

US Treasury Department officials revealed for the first time that the agency was able to disrupt a distributed denial of service attack from Russian-sponsored cyberattack group Killnet last month. Todd Conklin, cybersecurity counselor to Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, described the attack as “pretty low-level DDoS activity targeting Treasury’s critical infrastructure nodes.” The newly confirmed cyberattack on Treasury adds to the list of reported Killnet breaches during October including JPMorgan Chase, US state government systems, and several airports.  Read more

36 nation summit agrees to crack down on crypto to combat ransomware.

The WH’s second International Counter Ransomware Initiative summit has concluded, and this year the 36-nation group has made clear it intends to crack down on how cryptocurrencies are used to finance ransomware operations. The CRI group planned to “take joint steps to stop ransomware actors from being able to use the cryptocurrency ecosystem.” The CRI group said its anti-crypto work will focus on “the development and implementation” standards to tackle “money laundering” and the “financing of terrorism”. This includes the ‘know your customer’ rules to mitigate misuse of crypto by cyber criminals.” Read more

DOJ is reviewing responses to congressional requests to improve correspondence management system.

The DOJ is conducting a review of how it responds to congressional information requests to improve its correspondence management system. DOJ is also customizing and reconfiguring its correspondence management software to better track and monitor the status of responses in greater detail. Congress sends hundreds of information requests to DOJ and its agencies like the FBI annually, with the Office of Legislative Affairs chiefly responsible for responding, but in the past two years lawmakers have complained their letters have gone unanswered or partially answered at multiple hearings.  Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• CISA seeks public comment on upcoming major cyber incident reporting regulations.
• Microsoft Teams now boasts 30% faster chat and channel switches.
• Multi-factor auth fatigue is real–and it’s why you may be in the headlines next.
• The Red Cross is seeking “Digital Emblem” to protect against hacking.
• Energy official urges CISA to develop storehouse for software bills of materials.

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CIVILIAN

$2.4B IT services contract vehicle: All questions answered.

The FAA released 96 Q&As in regard to the massive $2.4B ITIPSS contract vehicle. The deadline remains Nov. 30 and ITIPSS will have 15 awards total, with two or three of them for large businesses. We can guess what all you contractors are going to be doing over your Thanksgiving holiday weekend… Read more

Traffic lights get tech: DOT looks to AI to help modernize highways.

As part of USDOT’s plans to modernize the U.S.’s highway infrastructure, the agency issued a new contract opportunity seeking AI and data analytics-based solutions. A program under FHWA called for proposals featuring artificial intelligence technology to improve the current national highway design system. Some of the issues DOT wants to have AI tackle include safety patterns in underserved communities, pedestrian safety and environment mapping, bridge capacity for heavier vehicles and individual vehicle smart parking.  Read more

FCC to launch new Space Bureau.

Everyone wants a piece of the space realm! FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the agency will be launching a new space bureau. The new space office will come out of a reorganization of the agency’s  International Bureau, which will result in the new Space Bureau and a new standalone Office of International Affairs. The chairwoman noted that the FCC currently has applications for 64,000 new satellites, and last year the agency saw an eightfold increase in applications for fixed satellite service gateway earth stations while receiving applications for new space ventures like lunar landers. Such application increases align with private companies’ investment of $10 billion in space in the last year.  Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• FAA flooded with complaints over shrinking airline seats: “it’s torture” says 200 commenters.
• FAA and Commerce’s telecom unit hold 5G C-Band aviation talks.
• Adoption of AI in health care relies on building trust, DOD, VA officials say.

Civilian Contract Awards

• KeyLogic wins $100M DOE Lab Analysis Support contract.
• Press Ganey Associates awarded Patient Satisfaction Survey Internet Services contract.
• Excella awarded a contract to support the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• The Department of Commerce is looking for Chief Information Security Officer.
• GAO is looking for a Chief Information Officer.
• FAA is seeking a Deputy VP, Safety and Technical Training.

M&A CORNER

Cadmus buys Wheelhouse Group.

Cadmus, a provider of technical and strategic expertise to governments, energy utilities, and private sector companies worldwide, announced its acquisition of Wheelhouse Group, a provider of change management services. Enhanced by Wheelhouse’s expertise, Cadmus will offer clients management and technical expertise, especially in the IT modernization, citizen services, and workforce transformation spaces. Read more

Lockheed Martin invests $100M in Terran Orbital.

Lockheed Martin is upping its stake in small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital with a $100 million investment that increases its total equity from 9.4% to 33.5%. Lockheed Martin has invested in the company since 2017 and selected it to produce 42 satellites for the U.S. Space Force’s SDA under a $700 million contract.  Read more

ICYMI:

• Oliver Wyman’s purchase of Avascent has finalized.
• Maxar acquires Wovenware.

🕵🏻‍♂️ On this day: In 1952, the United States Government established the National Security Agency (NSA) in a memo written by Robert A. Lovett, the Secretary of Defense.

🌔 That’s interesting: NASA makes progress with New Lunar Terrain Vehicle Moon Rover Services.

🎧 Podcast: What goes into the process of preparing and writing a proposal, along with what to consider to have a proposal really stand out?

📄 How to: Win Government Contracts on the Top 20 Contract Vehicles.

📣 Event: Don’t miss GovBrew’s virtual Technology Forum. Hear federal agency leaders discuss their experience deploying cutting-edge technologies in the public sector and how they drive real change to meet their agency’s mission.