Aug 18 2023

BAE buys Ball Aero, NASA RFP, Health Net Fed loses 65 billion DHA protest, INSCOM IASS RFI, all the help for Hawaii, laser guns for MDA

August 18, 2023

QUICK HITS

  • Meet the best management consulting firms of ‘23: Whether or not business is booming, these firms remain in high demand worldwide.

  • US, South American countries team up to fight cybercrime: Uruguay, Peru, and Argentina are joining forces with U.S. officials.

  • Laser guns may soon enter the realm of reality: A Missile Defense Agency official says they're seeing 'real progress'.

TRIVIA

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

DISA director wants better critical thinking, understanding of data.

Within the next two weeks, DISA is slated to publish an implementation plan expected to describe concrete steps to enhance the skills of the agency’s employees by focusing on two key tenets: critical thinking and a better understanding of data. Read more

The Army's new cyber/space office is grappling with talent retention.

Many opportunities exist to streamline previously complicated, overlapping lines of effort, according to the official charged with leading the newly created Army cyber/space office. The new unit, focused on cyber, information warfare, and tactical space missions, will reside within the PEO IEW&S. Read more

Army 'very close' to awarding contracts for Robotic Combat Vehicle program.

The Army is “very close” to awarding contracts to suppliers for Phase I of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. The service plans to select up to four vendors for the designing, prototyping, and building a lightweight, easily transportable robotic platform. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

Defense Contract Awards

  • $200M in TOs awarded under JWCC procurement vehicle.

  • RTX books $323M Army TOW 2B anti-tank missile supply contract.

  • JetZero snags potential $235M contract to develop energy-efficient prototype aircraft.

  • Trident Systems wins $8M IDIQ contract to support the Secure Communication Controller systems for Marines.

  • CACI wins a $414M AF contract for life cycle software and systems engineering for mission and funcational req.

Follow the Defense Leaders

  • Axient appoints VP of quality and change management, VP of logistics engineering.

  • GovCon industry veteran assumes position of president and CEO at Mercury Systems.

  • New director of Defense Digital Service named within DOD's Chief Data and AI Office.

Defense Job Openings

INTEL COMMUNITY

NGA providing geospatial intel to support Hawaii wildfire recovery.

The NGA is providing geospatial intelligence support to combined search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Hawaii wildfires as part of a FEMA Incident Support Team in Maui. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

CIVILIAN

DHS to break ground on new CISA, ICE headquarters in 2024.

With sustainability front of mind, a new influx of funding will go toward completing three construction projects in the long saga of the DHS's HQ consolidation. DHS and the GSA will use a $288M investment from the IRA to build two new headquarters buildings, as well as a new parking garage, at DHS’ St. Elizabeths West Campus in southeast Washington, D.C. Read more

Government proposes sustainability update for contracting regulations.

Some experts say the proposed changes to FAR Part 23 have the potential to alter supply chains globally. Although the White House said the proposed update to the FAR will help the government meet its zero-emissions goals, some stakeholders want it to go further. Read more

GAO dismisses protest filed by Health Net Federal Services.

GAO has dismissed a protest filed by Health Net Federal Services against the DHA’s decision to award the $65.1 billion managed care support services contract in the western U.S. region to TriWest Healthcare Alliance as part of the Tricare program. The protest is heading to court. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

Civilian Contracts Awards

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

M&A CORNER

BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace in $5.6B deal.

BAE Systems has announced plans to buy US space systems supplier Ball Aerospace from Ball Corporation, in a $5.6B cash acquisition, the UK’s largest defense company announced. If regulators approve the deal for the US-owned Ball, the deal could be closed in the first half of 2024.) Read more

Planet acquires Sinergise.

Planet Labs PBC has completed its acquisition of the business of Holding Sinergise d.o.o., a developer platform for Earth observation (EO) data. The purchase of the Sinergise business accelerates the advancement of Planet’s Earth Data Platform and the ability to efficiently deliver EO data to customers. Read more

Converged Security Solutions expands Evolver business with SBD acquisition.

Converged Security Solutions has acquired Solutions By Design II and integrated the technology and cybersecurity company into its Evolver business, a provider of information technology transformation offerings in the government and commercial markets. Read more

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

Should the Pentagon’s ban on China’s drones be extended to consumer drones?

It may be best for the rest of the federal (and state and local) government to avoid using China's consumer drones which may have potential ties to the CCP's military infrastructure. Numerous PRC-made drones have been detected in restricted U.S. airspace, including over Washington, D.C., despite DJI’s claim that their drone design includes geofencing restrictions to avoid sensitive locations. Drones made by Autel Robotics, another prominent manufacturer, do not even have geofence restrictions. Read more

What’s up with maritime piracy?

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau has raised concern about the resurgence of reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea waters and the increase in incidents in the Singapore Straits. Sixty-five incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2023, an increase from 58 incidents for the same period in 2022. Read more

The story of a serial killer and the Texas mom who stopped him…by friending him.

In 1981, Margy Palm was abducted by Stephen Morin outside a Kmart. She’s never told the whole shocking story—until now, and what happened to Palm on that day in 1981 doesn’t make sense in the way that stories about life-changing events often don’t. Read more

TRIVIA ANSWER: D

The DODEA operates 159 schools globally, and those schools serve 70,000 students. There are 25,000 students in the European region, 21,000 students in the Pacific, and 20,000 in the Americas. And those students perform well academically. A 2022 GAO report says that DODEA’s average scores for fourth grade math and reading assessments were higher than 98% and 100% of states, respectively. (Source)

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