• SBs are getting a portal that hooks them up with potential clients: DOD Small Business is launching an updated web portal that would directly link small businesses to potential buyers.
• Fed procurement reform is coming — here’s what you should know: Collaboration between private, public sectors will clarify how best to modernize govt. systems, minimize disruptions.
• IT leaders see ‘critical moment’ in securing systems from fraud: Federal IT leaders look across agencies to fight fraud in public programs.
• What execs need to know before they hop on LinkedIn: LinkedIn has some pretty cool ‘powers‘ contractors can wield to build their business.
• $6 billion USAID SWIFT 6 Draft RFP is released: The contract will have 8 awards in its unrestricted full-and-open portion, with at least one small business reserve contract. (SAM notice here)

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Read about one of Space Force’s super-secret groups: Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
• AF loses its CIO, sealing a trifecta of exoduses. (Exodi? Exodus? Exodoi?)
• DOD leaders have learned a lot from a year of battle in Ukraine.
• Congress just got a report on hypersonic weapons.
• Space Force envisions ‘freight trains’ to space, ‘Walmarts on orbit’.

Defense Contract Awards

• Lockheed was awarded $170M supporting the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
• GovCIO subsidiary books $99M navy submarine broadcast tech engineering IDIQ.
• Group W Inc. gets a $12M WHO contract for information management and analysis.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• The Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee welcomes two new members.
• Retired two-star general appointed to Sigma Defense Systems advisory board.
• Accenture’s federal group names a new group leader.
• SAIC promoted a senior Opps manager to be Senior VP of its Army business unit.

Defense Job Openings

• The Navy needs metalheads — sorry, we meant a Principal for Naval Alloys & Materials.
• The Air Force wants a Command Integration and Transformation Officer.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Heads up, contractors! FBI’s ITSSS-2 award phase is fast approaching.

The FBI has informed vendors it can now take over responsibility for the execution of the award phase for its follow-on Information Technology Supplies and Support Services blanket purchase agreement, as a result of increased bureau procurement staffing and experience. Read more

CIA’s AI director says AI is a critical national security issue.

The director says the CIA is hard at work on addressing and incorporating AI into its daily practices, but reiterated the private sector’s obligation to partner with the government — specifically the IC — to assist the country in reaching its goals and readying for confrontation with its competitors. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• The NSA released some best practices for securing your home network.
• SilverEdge taps former National Security Council director as intelligence president.
• Telos Corporation secures an NSA follow-on contract.
• The NGA is looking for an experienced Systems Engineer.

CIVILIAN

GAO’s new contract vehicle will cross procurement’s “valley of death”.

The GAO is continuing its market research for a potential new multi-award IDIQ contract vehicle centered on a research and development funding program. The vehicle means to make innovative tools available for governmentwide acquisition and help technology funded by federal research bridge the gap between prototype and production –  what’s known in procurement circles as the “valley of death.” Read more

VA’s EHR functionality issues are affecting other medical centers.

According to a VA official, it’s possible there will be additional delays in the rollout of its Oracle Cerner EHR platform due to concerns regarding how it interacts with other medical research systems. Read more

Big bucks this way  → VA posts draft scorecard, eval criteria for $5B IDIQ.

In the VA Enterprise Supply Chain Modernization IDIQ, the agency has released some draft documents to help you prepare your submission. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• After a decade of noncompliance, DOJ issues a report on federal website accessibility.
• Commerce Department posts NATO opportunity to provision OSINT AI platform as SaaS.
• DHS’s biometric rally reveals strong capabilities reliant on camera configuration.
• EPA employees voice concerns about low pay, understaffing, burnout.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Peraton snags $399M NOAA contract supporting the Joint Polar Satellite System.
• CMS re-signs Serco for $690M insurance eligibility support contract.
• HHS awards EAGLES a $2M, five-year DITAP training program IDIQ.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• Get in touch with nature (sort of) and become a Deputy Regional Forester.
• DOE needs a Director, AUKUS Technical Exchange Programs.

M&A CORNER

Booz Allen invests in Hidden Level Inc.

Booz Allen announced that its corporate venture capital arm, Booz Allen Ventures, LLC, has made a strategic investment in Hidden Level, Inc., a developer of passive sensing technology of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), such as drones, for high-interference environments. Read more

• 8(a), WOSB, others eye $1.5+ Billion DHS PACTS IDIQ expansion: DHS’ SSV for Professional Services will include “separate and distinct tracks” for some set-aside programs, sparking renewed interest.
• Why CPARs matter for proposal development: You remember report cards, right? That’s basically what Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs) are — but why are they so important?
• White House wants login.gov to reach every American: As an option for those who participate in most federal programs.
• More agencies defining risk appetite, integrating into strategy, decision making: According to eighth annual federal enterprise risk management survey.
• Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin. This could be the biggest change in DOD strategy since nuclear warfare.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Thunderbolt hits its targets, DISA moves to next phase of zero trust.
• Keep the qubits quiet: DARPA looks at building a Quantum computer.
• Air Force, NASA contractor settles with DOJ for $400,000 in False Claims Act case.
• FAA proposes to fine SpaceX for missing launch data.
• Speaking of SpaceX, the company launched an Inmarsat-G F2 satellite in a boost for direct-to-device services.
• DOD announces $460M in Ukraine aid after POTUS visit to Kyiv.

Defense Contract Awards

• Blue Ivy Partners wins $149M SaaS 2.0 contract from Air Force.
• Navy awards Lockheed Martin $1.2B contract for supersonic missiles.
• BAE unit wins $162M USS Nitze Destroyer modernization work.
• Collins Aerospace secures $271M IDIQ to supply Navy airborne radios.
• Sherpa 6 Inc. (a small biz) won a $50M Ground Soldier Technology Workflow, Integration and Experience contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• With retirement of CFO, ManTech appoints a new one.
• Navy vet named chair of Acalvio’s newly-created federal advisory board.

Defense Job Openings

• Army’s Corps of Engineers needs a Financial Manager.
• The Navy needs an Assistant Deputy Commandant (Contracting & e-Business).

DAILY FUNNY

INTEL COMMUNITY

Catalyst Accelerator launches 11th defensive cyber ops for space cohort.

Sponsored by the AFRL and U.S. Space Forces as a defense and national security industry incubator, Catalyst Accelerator has partnered with eight small businesses across the country on its eleventh defensive cyber ops for space cohort this spring. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• National Ground Intelligence Center posts synopsis for upcoming EWIR RFP.
• Protestors come out of the woodwork after NSA chooses CACI for $2.4B award — again.
• Malcolm X’s family is suing the FBI and CIA.
• The DIA is looking for a new Inspector General.

CIVILIAN

USPS health insurance marketplace launch gives OPM plenty to do in a busy 2023.

The Postal Service Reform Act requires OPM to set up a separate insurance marketplace for USPS employees and retirees within the Federal Employee Health Benefits program by January 2025. As it prepares for an open enrollment in late 2024, OPM officials are prioritizing this project. Read more

OPM makes no progress with retirement backlog to start 2023.

OPM started 2023 with a rise in its retirement claims processing backlog by 3,262. In January, OPM received 12,404 claims, an almost 7,000 increase compared to December. OPM only processed 9,142, leaving the inventory backlog at the highest level since October with 24,858 claims. Read more

Zero trust presents ‘doable’ security goals, State Department CIO says.

State Department is working to enhance its internal cybersecurity and promote more efficient technology practices across its global operations.  Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Cyber leaders applaud upcoming updates to NIST cybersecurity framework.
• New CIO-SP4 protests, and this time the contractor that screwed up the FAA is also complaining.
• HHS CISO says ransomware, telehealth are top challenges.
• OPM launches new portal for federal internships.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• NOAA awards Peraton contract worth up to $400M to provide ground servicing for polar-orbiting weather satellites.
• CMS awards 8(a) small biz Neil Hoozier & Associates a $7M contract for Evaluation & Oversight.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• USDA seeks an Assistant General Counsel.

• 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

• States are battling bogus requests for refunds this tax season: This tax season, states are using new strategies to combat online tax fraud.
• This isn’t the Jacobs you think you know: As recompetes for Jacobs’ recent wins approach, let’s explore how they’ve changed as a competitor.
• RFP Management Approaches: what they are, how to write ’em: Don’t settle for lame content 😴 leading to low scores and lost contracts.
• GSA FEDSIM winners and spenders: the return of the blog!: Explore some eye-opening analyses on FEDSIM spending and winners.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Accenture drops out of battle for $5.7B Air Force contract.
• USACE posts pre-solicitation notice for multiple-award DHS construction contract.
• Navy seeks to prototype solutions to automate systems across the defense enterprise.

Defense Contract Awards

• General Dynamics, Day & Zimmermann subsidiaries awarded $994M Army ammo contract.
• Seven companies awarded positions on $250M contract for Army civil works.
• Astranis wins $4.5M SBIR Phase 3 contract supporting Space Force.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Four retired Army generals, who served a total of 147 years in uniform, agree to join Valiant’s advisory board for miiltary training market strategy.

Defense Job Openings

• NAVSEA seeks Executive Director, PEO IWS.
• The DHS needs a Director, National Security Cyber Division.
• Air Force seeks a Director, AFRL Strategic Partnering.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Our top IC tech priorities are the same as our adversaries’, says CIA exec.

According to the Associate Deputy Director for Digital Innovation at the CIA, our adversaries are investing in the same intelligence community technology areas as the U.S., meaning the nation must act quickly to maintain technological dominance and its position in the global power competition. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Register now for the 3rd Annual IC Acquisition and Technology Innovation Forum!
• Cyber and intelligence industry leader will lead SilverEdge’s national security group.
• Charles River Analytics wins adaptive cyber training contract.
• NSA veteran joins LexisNexis Special Services.

CIVILIAN

USPTO wondering if AI inventorship uncertainty requires change.

The USPTO is seeking AI-specific commentary in connection with its continued efforts to incentivize and protect innovation, including innovation enabled by AI, to ensure continued U.S. leadership in AI and other emerging technologies. Read more

Buy America, by Americans—OMB seeks input on harmonizing domestic preference regimes.

As previewed in President Biden’s State of the Union Address, the OMB has issued a proposed rule and notification of proposed guidance to improve uniformity and consistency in the implementation of Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements. Read more

DoE CIO: Delivering modernization at scale requires culture shift.

Is there a magic recipe of products and services that can allow the Federal government to deliver for customers to realize modernization at scale? According to the DOE’s CIO the answer’s no, there’s no magic recipe. However, it turns out that delivering modernization at scale is about shifting the culture. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• NASA needs help developing a hyperspectral infrared instrument: an RFP.
• IRS systems are apparently still stuck in the 20th century.
• FAA says it will take two years to replace aging infrastructure behind NOTAMS system.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• State Department clears $250M IT services sale to Kuwait’s Military Medical Command.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• FSIS needs an Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations.
• Dept. of Commerce seeks Director, Office of Financial Management Systems.

M&A CORNER

Acorn Growth finalizes Black Sage sale to Highlander Partners.

Acorn Growth Companies, a middle-market defense and aerospace investor, has finalized its sale of Black Sage Technologies to private equity firm Highlander Partners. The transaction, which comes nearly four years after Acorn bought Black Sage, is part of the latter’s expansion strategy, according to Acorn Growth. Read more

LinQuest adds defense RDT&E Services through CAMO acquisition.

LinQuest has acquired Capability Analysis and Measurement Organization, in a move to provide research, development, test, and evaluation support to USSOCOM and other defense organizations. Read more

Advent-Maxar merger to proceed following completion of ‘go-shop’ period.

Private equity investment firm Advent International and Maxar Technologies are expected to continue their planned merger after Maxar, a geospatial intelligence services provider, did not receive a competing alternative offer during the go-shop period that expired. Read more

• States are battling bogus requests for refunds this tax season: This tax season, states are using new strategies to combat online tax fraud.
• This isn’t the Jacobs you think you know: As recompetes for Jacobs’ recent wins approach, let’s explore how they’ve changed as a competitor.
• RFP Management Approaches: what they are, how to write ’em: Don’t settle for lame content 😴 leading to low scores and lost contracts.
• GSA FEDSIM winners and spenders: the return of the blog!: Explore some eye-opening analyses on FEDSIM spending and winners.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Accenture drops out of battle for $5.7B Air Force contract.
• USACE posts pre-solicitation notice for multiple-award DHS construction contract.
• Navy seeks to prototype solutions to automate systems across the defense enterprise.

Defense Contract Awards

• General Dynamics, Day & Zimmermann subsidiaries awarded $994M Army ammo contract.
• Seven companies awarded positions on $250M contract for Army civil works.
• Astranis wins $4.5M SBIR Phase 3 contract supporting Space Force.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Four retired Army generals, who served a total of 147 years in uniform, agree to join Valiant’s advisory board for miiltary training market strategy.

Defense Job Openings

• NAVSEA seeks Executive Director, PEO IWS.
• The DHS needs a Director, National Security Cyber Division.
• Air Force seeks a Director, AFRL Strategic Partnering.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Our top IC tech priorities are the same as our adversaries’, says CIA exec.

According to the Associate Deputy Director for Digital Innovation at the CIA, our adversaries are investing in the same intelligence community technology areas as the U.S., meaning the nation must act quickly to maintain technological dominance and its position in the global power competition. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Register now for the 3rd Annual IC Acquisition and Technology Innovation Forum!
• Cyber and intelligence industry leader will lead SilverEdge’s national security group.
• Charles River Analytics wins adaptive cyber training contract.
• NSA veteran joins LexisNexis Special Services.

CIVILIAN

USPTO wondering if AI inventorship uncertainty requires change.

The USPTO is seeking AI-specific commentary in connection with its continued efforts to incentivize and protect innovation, including innovation enabled by AI, to ensure continued U.S. leadership in AI and other emerging technologies. Read more

Buy America, by Americans—OMB seeks input on harmonizing domestic preference regimes.

As previewed in President Biden’s State of the Union Address, the OMB has issued a proposed rule and notification of proposed guidance to improve uniformity and consistency in the implementation of Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements. Read more

DoE CIO: Delivering modernization at scale requires culture shift.

Is there a magic recipe of products and services that can allow the Federal government to deliver for customers to realize modernization at scale? According to the DOE’s CIO the answer’s no, there’s no magic recipe. However, it turns out that delivering modernization at scale is about shifting the culture. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• NASA needs help developing a hyperspectral infrared instrument: an RFP.
• IRS systems are apparently still stuck in the 20th century.
• FAA says it will take two years to replace aging infrastructure behind NOTAMS system.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• State Department clears $250M IT services sale to Kuwait’s Military Medical Command.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• FSIS needs an Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations.
• Dept. of Commerce seeks Director, Office of Financial Management Systems.

M&A CORNER

Acorn Growth finalizes Black Sage sale to Highlander Partners.

Acorn Growth Companies, a middle-market defense and aerospace investor, has finalized its sale of Black Sage Technologies to private equity firm Highlander Partners. The transaction, which comes nearly four years after Acorn bought Black Sage, is part of the latter’s expansion strategy, according to Acorn Growth. Read more

LinQuest adds defense RDT&E Services through CAMO acquisition.

LinQuest has acquired Capability Analysis and Measurement Organization, in a move to provide research, development, test, and evaluation support to USSOCOM and other defense organizations. Read more

Advent-Maxar merger to proceed following completion of ‘go-shop’ period.

Private equity investment firm Advent International and Maxar Technologies are expected to continue their planned merger after Maxar, a geospatial intelligence services provider, did not receive a competing alternative offer during the go-shop period that expired. Read more

• State Department considers open source effort to track global conflicts: Up to and including war crimes in Ukraine. Take that, Putin!
• New round of $50B CIO-SP4 protests underway: Failed bidders claim scoring threshold to advance to next round of procurement was arbitrary.
• Small business participation in federal marketplace continues to decline: Despite $159B in awards.
• In the meantime….check out the HubZone map, which is changing July 1. (also: SBA notice about it)
• National cyberdefense strategy: What we can expect this time and what should be considered: New policy expected in the coming weeks.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Navy teams with Qualcomm to research 5G, artificial intelligence.
• Launches of private Chinese rockets could double in 2023.
• Army opens Tradewind Solutions Marketplace for artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Why are so many flying objects being discovered right now? There’s a reason, and it has to do with radars and speed.

Defense Contract Awards

• ManTech‘s Advanced Systems subsidiary snags potential $22.95M DHA IT support contract.
• Armed Forces Services Corp, DBA as Magellan Federal, won a bridge extension worth $11M from DHA for Recovery Coordination Program services.
• Collins Aerospace lands $708M IDIQ for AF propeller manufacturing, engineering.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• AM General names new VP, US Defense Program Management Office.
• Hey, DLA! SAIC has named a new VP for Logistics and Supply Chain.

Defense Job Openings

• The Military Academy is looking for a Logistics Management Officer.
• SECNAV needs a Director, Business Affairs & Civilian Resource Division.

INTEL COMMUNITY

These pre-V Day romance scams are bound to break some hearts.

The FBI El Paso office is warning of romance scams this Valentine’s Day, and it wants to educate the public aboout them to protect your heart — and your wallet. “Romance scammers are liars and thieves, but they’re also master manipulators,” said the special agent in charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. Read more

This man was the head of Mexico’s FBI — now he’s on trial for accepting cartel bribes.

Garcia Luna served as both the head of Mexico’s FBI and then in the president’s cabinet as secretary of Public Security — now, he stands accused of accepting millions of dollars at secret meetings with cartel bosses. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• More spying? An Iranian American was sentenced to 30 months in prison for attempting to illegally export US goods and technology to users in Iran, including the sanctioned Central Bank of Iran.
• Day & Zimmerman has added for four CIA executives to its Strategic Advisory Board to help provide guidance on the company’s public sector work.
• DARPA awarded Galois a $4.6M contract through Phase 3 of the Safety Documents program.
• Innoplex names new VP of Intelligence.

CIVILIAN

Top Senator says that not modernizing EHR is ‘not optional.’

Well, I guess that settles that. Amid the controversy swirling around the VA’s EHR rollout with Oracle Cerner, which has included House members calling the program’s funding into question, some have said that funding EHR is ‘not optional.’ But I remember learning in high school government class that the House holds the purse strings, so let’s see how this one plays out. Read more

Identity management, automation, common themes among four agencies move to zero trust.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, DHS Science and Technology Directorate, GSA, Technology Transformation Service, and the Army Software Factory have different paths toward the goal of zero trust, but the three organizations have common themes. Read more

What DOJ’s 2022 recovery stats reveal about FCA enforcement trends.

Earlier this month, the DOJ issued the False Claims Act (FCA) recovery statistics for fiscal 2022. While the $2.2B recovered by the Department and qui tam relators was down from the prior year, 2022 saw a record number of new FCA matters initiated. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• New GSA public benefits hub to test text notification.
• Protest is ‘last resort’ to get GSA’s commercial platforms program to comply with the JWOD Act.
• FDA Sources Sought: Enterprise Document and Record Management Platform (EDRMP)

Civilian Contracts Awards

• NIH National Library of Medicine awards $3M server platforms TO.
• GDIT was awarded a $4M IT professional services task with NIH, from CIO-SP3.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• VA seeks an Assistant Deputy Under Secretary, Automated Benefits Delivery.
• The Food Safety and Inspection Service needs a Deputy Assistant Administrator.
• NOAA needs a Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

M&A CORNER

Boecore acquires space scheduling provider Orbit Logic.

Colorado-based Boecore, an aerospace and defense contractor that is owned by private equity firm Enlightenment Capital, has acquired Orbit Logic, a provider of mission planning and scheduling software for satellite ground systems. Boecore focuses on systems engineering, cybersecurity, and software services. Read more

Tick Tock: How L3Harris won the race for Aerojet.

Count on us to help you with the “story behind the story.” New financial documents detail how Aerojet Rocketdyne’s second sale process essentially began with a boardroom split and ended with one last phone call to ensure it got the best price possible. Read more

End to End Enterprise Solutions targets AI/ML market with D2L Technologies purchase.

A service-disabled veteran-owned IT services company, End to End Enterprise Solutions has acquired D2K Technologies in a move to gain a share of the AI and ML market, ideally a “one stop shop” for customers to access advanced technology offerings such as autonomous and computer programming platforms. Read more

• IBM, Booz Allen get second shot at $2.6B IRS contract: after protests, discussions reopened with rejected bidders on modernization contract.
• One more step away from the acquisition regulation that most vendors hate: GSA wants more use of Transactional Data Reporting.
• How SBOMs can eventually help to secure government’s software supply chain: they are not yet required by any agency.
• A top VA EHR official leaving position: Terry Adirim, PEO for VA’s Modernization Integration Office, will depart on Feb. 25.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• NASA uses AI to design mission hardware.
• What a zero trust blueprint might look like for multi-national coalitions.
• The DOD civilian workforce is on the chopping block.
• Decrying Starlink’s ‘weaponization, SpaceX cuts support for Ukrainian military.
• Lunar Cubesat encounters technical problems.
• DOD CDAO updates open call for tech proposals under AI/ML marketplace initiative.

Defense Contract Awards

• C3 AI, Intelligent Waves to provide solutions for AF crowd-sourced flight data program.
• nTSI, LLC, a small business, was awarded a $637M MDA contract for MDS support and advance concpets.
• Valiant books $530M DLA follow-on contract to support military food distribution operations.
• AM General wins 10-year, $8.66B Army Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Production contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Navy’s former chief data officer jumps ship to Navy as deputy director of the Office of Business Transformation.
• Navy has selected a new Principal Deputy CIO.

Defense Job Openings

• DOD is hiring a program analyst for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control.
• Defense Threat Reduction Agency wants a director, Research and Development Directorate.
• DOD is hiring a deputy director, Program and Financial Control.

INTEL COMMUNITY

APG releases APBI Save the Date.

Aberdeen Proving Ground officials have released the save the date for the Advanced Planning Brief to Industry (APBI) 2023: April 25-27, 2023. The goal of the APG APBI is to describe for industry potential future contracting opportunities for FY24-25 for mission areas, such as Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; Research and Development; Test and Evaluation; Chemical and Biological Defense; and APG Garrison. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• NGA awarded a Real-Time Service Increment 5 contract modification to Lockheed Martin Corporation, increasing the contract’s value from $43M to $57M through February 2025.
• Siren partners with DarkOwl.
• NRO seeks a director, Office of Intelligence.
• QinetiQ’s Group names a new HR VP at U.S. subsidiary.
• ShadowDragon expands OSINT access.

CIVILIAN

Leaky roofs, power outages are symptoms of deferred maintenance at NIST.

It turns out that NIST is apparently better at defining standards for other agencies, not so good at meeting its own standards, particularly with physical maintenance. A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report has found that about 63% of NIST research facilities failed to meet federally established standards for acceptable building conditions.  Read more

OIG finds oversight issues with GSA’s performance-based contracts.

GSA, this one isn’t looking good! A watchdog found that GSA is failing to adequately providing performance-based contract oversight, which can result in underperforming contractors and wasted government funds. GSA contracting personnel produced performance reports that were “often incomplete or not available at all,” according to a new inspector general’s audit. Read more

Feds say ROI, CFOs are key to IT modernization funding.

At the ATARC Federal IT Modernization Summit, federal officials and modernization experts shared their tips on how to secure funding for IT modernization, with OMB officials sharing what they look for in exchange for their approval: a return on investment. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• GSA aims to help agencies envision the future of work.
• What’s been done to modernize the civil service? Virtually nothing.
• How the DOL models government digitization.
• Check out these HHS/CMS/NIH RFP updates.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• NIH National Library of Medicine has awarded a one-month, $3M task order for server platforms to CounterTrade Products.
• OmniSync Inc. wins $3M SBIR STTR DOE support services contract.

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Civilian Job Openings

• VA is seeking an Assistant Deputy Under Secretary Automated Benefits Delivery.
• Executive Office of the President is seeking an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for S.E. Asia and Pacific.
• National Transportation Safety Board is seeking a deputy director, regional operations.
• VA is hiring a deputy PEO in the Electronic Health Record Modernization Office.

• Industry urges POTUS to pounce on CHIPS Act impact: The semiconductor industry is urging POTUS to maximize the Act post-annual address.
• A quick-and-dirty guide to HUBZone sole source contracts: All the info you could ever ask for when it comes to HUBZone set-asides.
• Lawmakers clash over unemployment insurance fraud: House members point fingers over fraudulent payouts from COVID-era programs
• What to expect from new IT/cyber/innovation House subcommittee: What does it mean for federal IT and cybersecurity innovation?

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• RFP: DLA drops formal solicitation for potential 10-year, $500M contract.
• RFP: DISA seeks decision support tool for joint electromagnetic battle management program.
• RFI: Army releases Arcane Thunder 23.
• Opp: Companies on Pool 1 Unrestricted on OASIS can bid on Tansportation Command support. (SAM)
• The Space Force is in the market for a new satellite comms system.

Defense Contract Awards

• State department OKs potential $10B sale of HIMARS launchers to Poland.
• Leonardo scores $92M USSOCOM contract for C-27J aircraft avionics update.
• MTSI receives $87M Space Systems Command satcom program support contract.
• IronNet books Navy contract after completing a pilot run of its cybersecurity tech.
• SAIC wins $150M USTRANSCOM Enterprise IT work.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Former director of Peraton’s NAVSEA programs promoted to Maritime Solutions VP.

Defense Job Openings

• Navy needs a Scientist/Engineer for Cybersecurity Combat Systems Integration.
• Army Futures Command seeks a Supervisory General Engineer.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure government launched.

Red Hat announced the general availability of Azure Red Hat OpenShift on Microsoft Azure for the Government, bringing together one of the industry’s leading enterprise Kubernetes platforms and the power and scale of Microsoft Azure to U.S. government agencies. Read more

Seven new members added to INSA board.

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance has welcomed seven new members to its 2023 Board of Directors. Led by Chairwoman Letitia A. Long, the 18-member board provides INSA with strategic guidance, direction, and business oversight. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• For FBI, evidence for recent Chinese balloon incident is still mostly underwater.
• Maxar books $192M contract to support NGA’s foreign commercial imagery program.
• ODNI is looking for a Supervisory Auditor.
• Steampunk wins FedRAMP contract.

CIVILIAN

Chair of House VA Committee “open to any idea that holds VA and Oracle Cerner accountable.”

He’s seriously looking for proposals. One possibility: provide a more holistic approach to solving issues with the EHR system without reverting to its precursor system, the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, known as VistA. Other ideas: scrape EHR program entirely. (That’ll teach ’em!) Read more

When picking IT projects to fund, OMB seeks evidence of zero trust.

Senior IT leaders at the White House assess a range of factors including an agency’s progress in adopting zero-trust architecture when deciding what technology projects to support as part of the larger federal budget request. Read more

Industry has just one week to weigh in on the next T4NG draft solicitation.

The VA isn’t paying much heed to contractors’ complaints that they do not have enough time to give meaningful comments on the first draft solicitation for this $60B IT services contract vehicle. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Register: CISA Emergency Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Industry Day 2023, Feb. 21-23 (Online).
• How CISA is tackling rising cyber threats and supply chain problems.
• We love that CISA is at the Superbowl keeping infrastructure safe!
• Octo convinces NIH to reconsider its bid for a seat on a $1.7B BPA.
• White House looks to shore up public trust in government websites by encouraging .gov endings. (….except USPS?)

Civilian Contracts Awards

• CACI lands $150M follow-on award for NASA simulation, software tech services.
• Navarro to extend NASA environmental program support with $80M follow-on award.

Civilian Job Openings

• NASA is looking for an Associate Director of Engineering.
• New Chief of Staff needed by Agriculture Department.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• Agencies seek public input on updates to guiding plan for cyber R&D: for the 2023 Federal Cybersecurity R&D Strategic Plan.
• As Iyer exits, Army CIO holds more influence, authority: Iyer, who leaves the position this week, gave the CIO a greater seat at the table.
• OPM aims to streamline fed employee screening with ‘continuous vetting:’ Feds would be subject to background investigations at any time.
• White House digital theft EO expected to follow State of the Union address: EO will compel federal agencies to use Login.gov where possible.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Tech wizzes and CEOs find home in USMC new Innovation unit.
• Space Force object tracking upgrade delayed by engineering challenges.
• Admiral Chase details JFHQ-DODIN 2023 goals.
• CACI to collaborate with U.S. Army on space technologies.
• NATO Cyber Defense Center taps DISA to lead U.S. in cyber challenge.

Defense Contract Awards

• V2X awarded $265M contract mod for enhanced Army global logistic enterprise support.
• Northrop awarded $92M to equip military aircraft with IR countermeasures system.
• Valiant to support military joint training program under $67M contract.
• CACI signs CRADA with Army Space and Missile Defense Tech Center.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• New Defense Tech Vet appointed SOSi IT VP.
• Former SOCOM head elected to General Dynamics board.
• Lockheed Martin, Viasat executives named to presidential advisory panel.

Defense Job Openings

• Navy seeks Assistant Chief Engineer for Mission Capability.
• DHS needs an Assistant Administrator, Resilience Business Operations.
• AF seeks a Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management.

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

NSA bills itself as a ‘soft landing place’ for laid off tech workers.

As the tech sector continues to experience a massive wave of layoffs—with tens of thousands of workers let go over the past several months by behemoths like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft—the NSA is joining the ranks of other federal agencies positioning themselves to benefit from the industry’s contraction.  Read more

How 3D & 4D data is changing GEOINT.

The rapid growth of commercial space has unlocked exciting new opportunities for the U.S. federal government. Many of these possibilities lie in the field of geospatial intelligence and space-based imagery, especially with the recent development of 3D and 4D capabilities. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• ‘More powerful than ChatGPT‘: Microsoft unveils new AI-improved Bing and Edge browser.
• FBI warns of romance scams ahead of Valentine’s Day.
• ODNI is looking for a FISA Advisor.
• Sources Sought: NGA Maven seeks supply chain risk management support.

CIVILIAN

House panel presses FAA to speed up modernization.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure pressed an FAA official on what it would take for the agency to modernize faster, including FAA’s plans to update a system that caused a nationwide ground stop last month. Read more

IRS not capturing true cost of IT footprint.

IRS is spending an additional $80B in funding over 10 years provided through the Inflation Reduction Act, but a new GAO report finds that the tax agency lacks timelines for decommissioning decades-old legacy systems and isn’t tracking how much they are paying for upkeep of out-of-date software. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• VA onboards health care workers at a record rate but still “far from where we need to be.”
• NNSA plans $800M tech deployment program to combat illicit nuclear materials.
• White House’s OSTP Deputy Director is resigning.
• HHS’ version of DARPA seeks half a million in technical support.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Leidos snags a subcontract from Accenture Federal’s $189M contract to support CDC cloud modernization.
• VA awards $5M, one-year contract for OAL support services to Echo Five Group.
• IHS awards $750K Medical Coding Services IDIQ to DT-Trak Consulting.
• Schatz Strategy, a small business, wins $3M VA contract for document remediation.

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Civilian Job Openings

• NASA is looking for a Manager, Engines Office, Space Launch System Program.
• The Forest Service is looking for a new Director.

M&A CORNER

Lone Star Funds to acquire ship repair services company Titan.

An affiliate of private equity firm Lone Star Funds has agreed to buy ship repair services provider Titan Acquisition Holdings from Carlyle and Stellex Capital Management for an undisclosed sum. Read more

Sidus Space raises $5.2M for LEO constellation.

Sidus Space has raised $5.2M from the stock market to support LizzieSat, a multipurpose constellation it expects to start deploying in low Earth orbit this year. The company sold shares on NASDAQ for $0.30 each, a steep discount to their $5 initial offering price in December 2021 after declining for much of the year. Read more

• Army wants ideas from industry about autonomous, anti-drone capabilities: Army Futures Command considers modernization needs.
• Cyberattacks on DOE National Labs draw Congress’ scrutiny: The attacks, allegedly Russian-based, occurred in August and September 2022.
• Is the government’s cyber policy moving from partnership to command-and-control?: Is the White House showing a shift and toward cyber regulations, mandates and oversight?
• Tougher cybersecurity rules may be more than a year away, but get ready. Independent checks, more reporting coming for contractors.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• We love this! US Army eSports team showed off its gaming skills in Las Vegas, swapping game controllers for miniatures.
• IT user experience gets low grades in Defense Business Board study.
• Big questions continue to swirl around CMMC in 2023: Cyber hygiene audits loom.
• Pentagon takes its own ‘pulse’ with internal dashboard.
• AFRL develops its hybrid work environment as it seeks to better secure data and networks through zero trust architecture.
• Sidus Space raises $5.2M for LEO constellation.

Defense Contract Awards

• Amentum wins $4.2B Air Force repair ordering system contract.
• Navy awards SNC $717M High-Band Sensor Tech Supply contract.
• DISA awards $223M EIS contract to Lumen Technologies for next gen voice services on bases.
• SIMBA Chain, which was incubated in 2017 at the University of Notre Dame through a DARPA contract, was selected for a $30M STRATFI by USAF.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Lockheed, Viasat executives named to Presidential Advisory Panel.
• Former ILS president hired as new Spaceflight CEO.
• Deloitte has hired someone to lead its gov’t and public services practice.

Defense Job Openings

• OSD is hiring an Associate Director for Air Space and Intelligence Programs.
• Pentagon is hiring a Deputy Director, Program and Financial Control.
• The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is hiring a director, Research and Development Directorate.

INTEL COMMUNITY

ARL to host Tech Assess ’23 (also: a RFI).

U.S. Army Research Lab (ARL) posted a RFI for the DEVCOM ARL Tech Assess ‘23: Evaluation of Unmanned Systems and Related Capabilities for Enhanced Mobility, Detection, and Teaming in Operational Environments. The goal if this RFI is to inform and accelerate Army modernization through innovation discovery, demonstration, and experimentation of autonomy/robotic technologies.  The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter by assessing the capabilities and technologies in operationally relevant environments. RFI packages are due February 22.  Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Leidos launches Zero Trust tool suite.

CIVILIAN

Interior CIO says outdated policymaking hampering adoption of new tech.

Interior CIO Darren Ash said that outdated policies and processes shaped by wider political forces are hampering the adoption of new technology at federal agencies such as his. Ash became Interior’s CIO in September 2022 and has been focused on adopting a hybrid cloud environment and modernizing Interior’s IT infrastructure. Read more

Rep. Mace appointed chairwoman of House Oversight and Accountability Committee Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has been appointed chairwoman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation for the 118th Congress. Say that three times fast! Read more

USCIS PACTS III $1.95B set-aside IDIQ: draft solicitation expected in late February.

Might as well start getting ready now! A senior advisory consultant said that he expects the USCIS Programmatics, Administration, Clerical & Technical Services (PACTS) III IDIQ draft solicitation to come out late this month. Following a virtual industry day in March, the final solicitation should come in early June, he wrote. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• SBA announces informational webinars for 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund competition, a $13M opportunity for STEM-related startups.
• GSA seeks a builder for the CISA headquarters.
• AFFIRM is hosting a virtual monthly speakers series, with the latest on Feb. 15 at 12 Noon on “Accelerating Acquisition in Government through Data.” Moderated by Jason Miller, executive editor of Federal New Network, the event features four federal speakers.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• GovCIO books $139M Commodity Futures Trading Commission IT infrastructure support contract.
• VHA awards $143M Office of Regulations, Appeals, and Policy Support Services task order to Aptive HTG: a JV between Aptive and ERPi (new ECS).
• NIH awards $2M OEPR Knowledge Management System Support Services IDIQ.
• VA awards $5M, one-year contract for Office of Acquisitions and Logistics support services to Echo Five Group. The contract is a SDVOSB.

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Civilian Job Openings

• Veterans Benefits Administration is hiring an Executive Director, Strategic Program Management Office.
• Ready to be a peacemaker and mediate disputes? DOJ is hiring a deputy director, Community Relations Service.
• DOT is hiring a Supervisory Human Resources Specialist.

DAILY FUNNY

M&A CORNER

BlueAlly expands federal market footprint with n2grate acquisition.

BlueAlly Technology Solutions, a Source Capital portfolio company, announced that it has acquired n2grate Government Technology Solutions, an IT solutions firm specialized in delivering strategic information technology services for large commercial and government clients. Read more

Investment firm Highlander buys counter-UAS tech maker Black Sage.

 Highlander Partners, L.P. announced the acquisition of Black Sage Technologies from Acorn Growth Companies. Black Sage is a multi-mission platform provider of Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems and security solutions for military, internal security, and critical infrastructure industries. Read more