QUICK HITS
RFO consolidation limitations do not apply to BPAs: GAO rejects bid protest over BPA consolidation rules.
6,000 jobs, one goal: USSF works to rebuild its civilian workforce.
GSA hosts Sales Reporting Portal (SRP) training: August 12 for Non-MAS vendors, including Polaris, Alliant 3, and OASIS+ contract holders.
Small business size status: How to count your JV’s receipts.
PRESENTED BY UNANET
GovCon's Benchmark Report Turns 10
The wait is over—the 2026 GAUGE Report is now available.
Now in its 10th edition, the GAUGE Report continues to serve as a trusted benchmark for government contractors looking to understand how their peers are navigating today's rapidly evolving market. Developed by Unanet and CohnReznick, this year's report delivers data-driven insights into the trends shaping the industry, including growth strategies, profitability, compliance, operational efficiency, and AI adoption.
Built on feedback and performance data from government contractors across the industry, the report provides valuable benchmarks and actionable insights to help leaders make informed decisions, improve business performance, and stay competitive in an increasingly complex environment.
Download your copy today and see what's driving success across GovCon in 2026.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Pentagon hits pause on CMMC Phase II.
CMMC Phase II was set to kick in this November. Now it's on ice, replaced by a 60-day reform task force after SBA data showed compliance costs were pushing small and non-traditional companies out of the defense industrial base. Phase I self-assessments still stand, so don't shred those NIST 800-171 checklists yet.
Pentagon's APFIT Program crosses $2 billion.
The Pentagon just wrapped up its FY26 APFIT awards, pushing the program past $2 billion in total funding since launch. This round adds 24 hardware capabilities plus APFIT's first-ever software awards, six AI and intel tools going straight from pitch deck to the fight.
Pentagon robs procurement to pay its troops.
Turns out recruiting actually working has a price tag. DOW's $4.3B reprogramming request pulls money from weapons and R&D programs, Navy aircraft, electronic warfare, tactical radios, to cover better-than-planned enlistment and lower attrition. Command and control systems, we hardly knew ye.
ICYMI:
USAF RFI: Tactical Air Traffic Control (ATC) Command and Control (C2) System (TACOS).
USN RFI: Multi-discipline Shipyard Engineering, Planning, Design Services.
Southern border operations have cost DOD $2.6 billion since fiscal 2025.
New concept explores converting commercial ships into drone carriers.
Defense Contract Awards
SDA awards $1.75B in Golden Dome satellite deals to L3Harris, Sierra Space.
Janus Research Group landed a $240M Army Innovation Facilitation and Research Support contract.
LMI won a $100M USAF deal for Product Support, Lifecycle Logistics, and Digital Transformation.
ManTech won a $50M Navy mod for Engineering, Technical Services.
Follow the Defense Leaders
Orbit Fab named its new CEO.
Cubic Defense selected a Business Development VP.
Defense Job Openings
CHART
GAO. Southern Border Security: DOD Used Multiple Strategies to Fund Operations. GAO-26-108437. July 13, 2026.
INTEL COMMUNITY
W.H. announces “Gold Eagle” AI clearinghouse for cyber vulnerabilities.
The W.H. has launched Gold Eagle, a new AI-powered cybersecurity clearinghouse that brings together federal agencies, AI developers, and critical infrastructure operators to rapidly identify, prioritize, and coordinate fixes for software vulnerabilities. The initiative is designed to reduce duplicate vulnerability scanning and accelerate patching by using advanced AI models to find security flaws.
NRO director nominee sees relationship wtih USSF evolving.
The USAF has nominated an officer to become the first four-star leader to simultaneously serve as vice chief of space operations and director of the NRO, strengthening ties between the USSF and the intelligence community. The dual-hatted role is intended to better integrate military and intelligence space capabilities as both organizations prepare for increasingly contested space operations.
ICYMI:
FBI RFI: Image Capturing.
USN RFP: Integrated National Intelligence Systems Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Technology Implementation (ICE-T).
DARPA PINPOINT Proposer’s Day: Learn about the Precision Inertial Navigation & Positioning On an Integrated Tesseract program July 20, 23.
NGA is looking for AI tools to automate global GEOINT change detection.
Secret Service preps to recompete enterprise mission (EPICS) BPA.
Deloitte booked an $18M Space Systems Command FIAR contract.
Kratos won a $100M space domain awareness system sole-source contract.
GET SEEN
Elevate your brand and expand your reach with GovBrew, the industry’s most reliable source for GovCon pros. Reach top figures and decision-makers across the government contracting industry. When you advertise with GovBrew, you can really make an impact. Get started here.
CIVILIAN
TMF's message to agencies: Show us the outcomes.
TMF has over $200M left to give out before its funding authority lapses Sept. 30, and the acting director has one request: skip the tech-for-tech's-sake pitch. Proposals need real outcomes, faster services, fewer trucks, actual savings, not just a legacy system replaced by "equally mediocre" new one.
DOE CIO: We're not adding AI models just to have more options.
Energy's CIO isn't collecting AI vendors like trading cards. Some models just aren't pulling requests, while one legacy tool stays put thanks to a 2024 purchase and a court-ordered timeout on its phase-out. More frontier models are coming, but only the ones people actually ask for.
ICYMI:
GSA RFI: Promoting Buy American Goals.
BLS opens comment period ahead of first-ever national AI time-use survey.
Fed chair says AI “hasn’t displaced workers” so far, has boosted productivity.
Agile procurement, finally: Federal IT leaders say reform is speeding up tech buys.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Follow Civilian Leaders
VA has a new Acting Under Secretary for Health.
NIH has chosen its first Partnerships Officer.
Dynanet has a new COO.
MANTECH announced a former Microsoft Federal CTO as its CDAIO.
Civilian Job Openings
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
GROW WITH GOVBREW
Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help you:
1. Upgrade to GovBrew Insider for deeper intel: 70+ opportunities, 45+ recompetes, agency tracking, delivered every Friday. Try free for 30 days
2. Promote your brand to over 10,000+ GovCon decision-makers by sponsoring GovBrew. Apply here
SHARE GOVBREW
Share GovBrew with your GovCon colleagues, acquire free swag, and then tell them where you got it.
We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and bragging rights if you share a link. One link.
Your referral count: {{ rp_num_referrals }}
Or copy and paste your referral link to others:
{{ rp_refer_url }}
