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- August 7, 2024
August 7, 2024
Commerce recompete report, ITES-3S and RS3 merge, DOS LLM RFI, SIXGEN buys Boldend, Mentor-Proteges win too much, ITT buys kSARIA
GovBrew
August 07, 2024
QUICK HITS
A different kind of merger: Government announced decision to proceed with $50B RS3 & ITES-3S merged acquisition approach.
Do mentor-protégé programs “win too many contracts?” The FAR Council is taking on this question.
Pentagon planning experiment for connect-everything concept: One of the biggest tests yet of its joint, all-domain command and control (JADC2).
Commercial space traffic system: Department of Commerce will roll out the initial version soon.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Senate appropriators want DOD to aim for OTA transparency.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has released the FY25 defense spending bill. Senate appropriators emphasized the need for more oversight on significant defense reforms. Additionally, they seek to understand how DOD research funds may impact foreign defense organizations. Read more
The Irrigation Association opposes Section 828 of the NDAA.
The Irrigation Association has become a part of a coalition of associations representing federal contractors to oppose Section 828 of the FY25 NDAA. This section requires the DOD's procurement contracts to be contingent on contractors giving access to repair materials and data. Read more
Space Force moves to remold competition and accelerate modernization.
The U.S. Space Force is implementing organizational changes to make communication with satellite operators and personnel involved in space operations better. These adjustments aim to keep pace with new technological developments. Read more
ICYMI:
‘Space fires’ to enable space superiority is a top SPACECOM priority for FY27.
SpaceX & BlueOrigin to compete for national security space mission deals.
Senate appropriators want Replicator to have full funding.
Defense Contract Awards
CACI bagged a $319M Army Cyber Intelligence Software contract.
Leidos booked a $265M DOD Supply Chain Resiliency Support deal.
Abacus Technology got a $124M Air Force TAAS contract.
Textron was awarded a $72.2M Navy MC Unmanned Surface Vehicle support services deal.
Follow the Defense Leaders
Former Linkware Group CEO is now Peraton’s Citizen Security & Public Services Sector President.
Retired Army Colonel tapped to be Data Systems Analysts’ CGO.
SkillStorm has selected a new Government Services VP.
AFOSI has a new Commander.
Defense Job Openings
OSD needs a Deputy CIO Principal Director.
USAF wants a Legislative Liaison Principal Deputy Director.
NAVFAC is seeking a Supervisory Data Hub & Systems Management Director.
USAF is hiring an Enterprise Management Director.
FREE RECOMPETE REPORT
35+ upcoming recompete opportunities
You’re chasing opportunities—every day, all the time—because getting in front of new opportunities is one of the secrets to success in GovCon. Here at GovBrew, we know that and want to help you fill the pipeline. So, we pulled together this Recompete Report to save you some legwork.
This report contains actionable intelligence about potential recompetes and expiring contracts at the Department of Commerce. Sure, all this information is publicly available, but we gathered it from five different sources, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Now, you can focus on what matters most—fielding opportunities, closing deals, and grabbing a few more brews ( ☕️ 🍺).
Become a GovBrew Insider member and get new Recompete Reports every week. Join here
INTEL COMMUNITY
Here’s how China is going around the US AI ban.
“Where there's a will, there's a way." Chinese executives were able to skirt U.S. AI export restrictions by establishing a new company that collaborates with Nvidia, Intel, and Microsoft. Additionally, there’s also an underground marketplace that facilitates the smuggling of AI chips into China. Read more
ICYMI:
ODNI needs an Enrollment Management Director.
ODNI wants a National Intelligence Mission Performance Analysis and Collection Deputy Assistant Director.
ODNI is seeking a Senior FISA Advisor.
CIVILIAN
Feds modified the acquisition regulations connected to the protest requirements for MACs.
The GSA, DOD, and NASA have issued a final rule amending FAR to implement changes recommended by the SBA. This was done to update and make the requirements concerning size and socioeconomic status protests for multiple-award contract set-asides, reserves, and orders placed under such deals, clear. Read more
The Justice Department demonstrates its commitment to cybersecurity enforcement through the False Claims Act.
The Justice Department initiated its Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative in 2021, aiming to utilize the False Claims Act for prosecuting cybersecurity-related fraud by government contractors and grant recipients. More recently, the DOJ announced several settlements under the FCA. Read more
Without AI and quantum investments, the NSF risks losing the tech race.
NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan emphasized that the United States must avoid a semiconductor-like situation, where most semiconductors are now manufactured overseas. To maintain its global technological edge, the U.S. needs to invest in AI and quantum technologies. Read more
ICYMI:
The Department of State is conducting market research on customizable large language models. (Sources sought)
Viasat’s multi-mission orchestrator has been launched.
Senate bill would restrict federal procurement, AI tools usage from concerning countries.
Civilian Contracts Awards
TRAX was awarded a $265M NASA Goddard Services deal.
A-Tek won a $55M NHGRI IT Support Services contract.
Leidos bagged a $51M CDC IT Modernization Services deal.
Ion Storage Systems got a DOE ARPA-E Solid-State Battery Commercialization contract.
Follow Civilian Leaders
Former BlueCat CRO was selected to be Seerist’s CRO.
SentinelOne has a new CISO.
BWXT tapped a former NASA manager to be its CDO, SVP.
7 government leaders were selected for ManTech’s Federal Civilian Advisory Board.
Civilian Job Openings
Federal Credit Administration wants an EGD Director.
The Treasury needs an Assistant Director.
VHA is seeking an Associate Director.
M&A CORNER
ITT to acquire kSARIA.
ITT will buy Behrman Capital's portfolio company kSARIA for approximately $475 million. kSARIA makes customized solutions for harsh environments which compliments ITT’s existing work making mission-critical connectivity solutions for the aerospace and defense markets. Read more
SIXGEN has acquired Boldend.
SIXGEN has completed the acquisition of Boldend, Inc. Boldend's software and cyber automation tools will broaden the company's strategic vision achievement to strengthen digital warfighters. Read more
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Getting water from thin air? Hydrokinesis is not the key—it’s technology.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have invented a solar-powered water harvester that can extract several liters of water from thin air within 24 hours. The system operates in a two-stage cycle: it harvests water from the air using an absorbent material and then extracts it within a sealed container using the sun's heat. It looks like we don’t really need a water bender, do we? Read more
A plane? A bird…no! It’s a Chinese drone!
Videos have emerged showing China’s maritime special operations unit, Jiaolong Commandos, deploying drones that resembled birds. These biomimetic unmanned aerial systems could offer operational advantages, such as stealthy surveillance of enemy forces or the ability to carry out kamikaze attacks while minimizing the risk of detection. Is this going to get a lot of our flying animal friends killed? Read more
The moon is getting farther away. Will we have 25 hours per day?
According to a study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, our days are getting longer because the moon is drifting farther and farther away. It's distancing slowly at around 3.8 centimeters annually. How many years will it take for an extra hour to be added to our day? Read more
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