August 21, 2024

HPE to buy Morpheus Data, DOE to use AI for permitting, USDOT V2X deployment, Army LLMaaS AI insights, NDAA SSA small biz amendments, YVAS Next

QUICK HITS

  • Senate 2025 NDAA: Eight small business amendments to watch.

  • Contractor caused a tax return leak: IRS is taking steps to improve data security.

  • The Army’s “IVAS Next” competition: Defense contractors are lining up for the new program.

  • Federal court strikes down FTC noncompete ban: Court concluded FTC exceeded its statutory authority.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Army is tweaking a major software effort so that it’s more commercially friendly (for you!).

The Army is reevaluating its workforce requirements and contract strategies for a significant software modernization effort to make it easier for vendors to bid for DOD projects. Following a May announcement that the service plans to award more than $1 billion in software dev contracts over the next ten years, some firms expressed concern that it’s too hard for non-traditional or small biz not backed by venture capital firms to compete. Read more

Discriminating space sensor: A part of MDA’s vision for “Space Missile-tracking layer.”

The discriminating space sensor (DSS) is integral to the MDA’s plan for a space-based missile-tracking layer. Due to launch by the end of the decade, the SDD will enhance the hypersonic and ballistic-tracking space sensor that was developed in collaboration with the SDA. Read more

Army CIO unveils LLMaaS AI experimentation insights.

Army CIO Leo Garciga shared his thoughts on a broad range of projects within the generative AI domain and large language models as a service LLMaaS that his team is engaged in. Some of these programs include PEO Soldier - PM NETT Warrior. The other one’s “going to be a combination with ARCYBER and PM-DCO-Gabriel Nimbus.” Read more

ICYMI:

Defense Contract Awards

Follow the Defense Leaders

  • A former Lockheed & HII Official is Hanwha’s new CEO.

  • A former USSOCOM Deputy Commander Vice Admiral was selected to be Dzyne’s Strategic Defense Solutions Head.

Defense Job Openings

VIEW INTO CBP

CBP Cybersecurity Dashboard, screenshot. As seen in the CBP IT Strategy Report 2024—2028 (Source). GovCon HOT TIP: This report is loaded with infographics; the many ways of displaying data in this report that can give you inspiration for your proposal development efforts.

INTEL COMMUNITY

The Feds are going around the 4th Amendment by buying data from tech companies.

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures of their persons, homes, papers, and belongings. However, governments are increasingly bypassing these protections by hiring private companies to monitor citizens. Read more

Intelligence officials say Iran is to blame for hacks into U.S. political campaigns.

U.S. intelligence officials are confident that Iran was responsible for the hack of the Trump presidential campaign, casting the cyber intrusion as part of a bold and broader effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics and potentially shape the outcome of the election. The assessment from the FBI and other federal agencies was the first time the U.S. government has assigned blame for hacks. Officials also believe that Iran tried to hack into the Harris presidential campaign. Read more

ICYMI:

  • The CIA’s former Deputy Director was tapped to be a member of DarkOwl’s Board of Directors.

  • ODNI wants a Directorate of Intelligence Assistant Director.

CIVILIAN

GAO provides guidance on “Trade Agreements Act” agency compliance.

Typically, contractors aim to provide extensive details about trade agreements in their proposals. However, it seems best to state the product’s country of origin during declaration, provided it is accurate, without further elaboration. Read more

DOT unveils V2X deployment roadmap.

The DOT has unveiled its National V2X Deployment Plan. It's a nonbinding roadmap outlining goals for the implementation of V2X technology. This emerging technology involves various private sector industries and government agencies, and the plan emphasizes the need for extensive collaboration among stakeholders. Read more

DOE wants to use AI to speed up permitting using VoltAlc.

The DOE is testing if AI can help the government speed up clean energy production. The department is spending nearly $20 million to build and test AI-powered tools meant to speed up often years-long permitting processes. The tools could help employees tap into historical permitting and environmental data as part of its three-year project dubbed “VoltAIc.” Read more

ICYMI:

Civilian Contracts Awards

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

M&A CORNER

HPE to acquire Morpheus Data.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has agreed to buy Morpheus Data. This acquisition is expected to aid HPE GreenLake cloud to become a leading platform for innovation in hybrid IT environments. Read more

ICYMI:

  • Lockheed and Boeing are in talks to sell ULA to Sierra Space.

  • Turn/River Capital is exploring a potential sale of Redwood Software that could value the automation software maker at $2.5B.

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

  1.  AI to replace high school teachers? One U.K. school will permit 15-year-olds to use AI to prepare for their exams next year. SOURCE↗︎

  2. Stellantis’ $6 trillion engine doesn’t need hydrogen, electricity, and ammonia to run. It uses renewable bio-fuels. SOURCE↗︎

  3. Graphene made of microplastics—is it really 200 times stronger than steel? SOURCE↗︎ 

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