QUICK HITS
Subpoenas delivered: Oracle's top leaders must now answer to Congress over the VA's $27B EHRM contract.
Quantum Genesis Q: DOE's $215M push for quantum, plus testbed.
A major acquisition shift: DOD embraces commercial accounting standards.
Building software for the warfighters? DOD’s Instruction 8430.01 tell industry just what “secure, fast, and reuseable” mean.
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Our team uncovered 45+ upcoming IT service opportunities at the Department of Commerce in this week's recompete report.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
USAF contemplates unmanned tankers.
The USAF is exploring whether its next-generation aerial refueling tankers could be optionally manned or fully autonomous, taking cues from the Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray program. Air Mobility Command says the technology for very large autonomous aircraft is not mature yet, but industry efforts such as Merlin Labs’ work on autonomous C-130Js could help bridge the gap.
Pentagon eyes the Moon as the next battlespace.
The Pentagon is expanding its warfighting outlook beyond Earth, with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Caine calling for forces to be prepared to operate and prevail in “cislunar space,” the region between Earth and the moon. The comments come just days after officials acknowledged U.S. orbital weapons capabilities.
Megatron IDIQ: USAF accelerates battle network procurement.
The USAF is creating the “Megatron” multiple-award IDIQ to speed acquisition of command-and-control capabilities supporting the USAF Battle Network and C3BM mission. The vehicle will cover development, procurement, delivery, and sustainment, while embracing commercial solutions and continuous software delivery.
ICYMI:
USN RFI: Mission Assurance Services.
Pentagon hands over its “Top Drone” competition to the Marine-founded nonprofit USNDA.
USSF warns CR will freeze 10% of programs.
SDA’s orbital network is delayed another year.
Defense Contract Awards
Follow the Defense Leaders
Defense Job Openings
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INTEL COMMUNITY
USA and Germany sign industrial cooperation agreement.
Representatives from USA and Germany signed an agreement aligning the DOD's acquisition transformation strategy with Germany's Procurement Acceleration Act, creating new pathways for joint development, licensed manufacturing, and sustainment. Germany has increased defense spending by 25% since last year, equivalent to roughly $147 billion, and is approaching the 5% GDP target. Germany also rolls out its first F-35A this week.
CBO puts Iran war cost at $38B with $2-3B more per month.
The Congressional Budget Office put a precise price tag on Operation Epic Fury: $38 billion through August 1, with $2-3 billion more per month as long as the fighting continues. The biggest line item is munitions replacement at $21.7 billion, including $13.1 billion for missile interceptors alone. The US has used half to two-thirds of certain interceptor inventories, and rebuilding them won't happen quickly.
ICYMI:
GMTI program named: Northrop to launch USSF's satellite constellation.
SPACECOM can't yet find, fix, track, and target adversary space systems at the speed needed.
SpaceX launched a classified mission for USSF this week from California.
CACI lands potential $1.5B contract for USCENTCOM Apollo.
ODNI needs an AI Program Director.
TRIVIA 🤔
When did the U.S. Postal Service first deploy a computer-driven optical character reader capable of reading addresses and automatically barcoding letters for sorting?
Just click the choice you think is right & the correct answer will be shown. Scroll down to the bottom of this email for more information about the correct answer.
CIVILIAN
Isaacman: The Moon race comes down to months, not years.
NASA Administrator Isaacman this week said that the U.S. is in a "very real second space race" with China, centered on a piece of lunar real estate roughly the size of Washington, D.C. China and Russia plan to put a nuclear reactor on the lunar south pole, and NASA is aiming for a 2027 Artemis III launch with uncrewed robotic landers running near-monthly missions before boots hit the ground.
FUTURES Act pushes financial regulators into the digital age.
The House overwhelmingly passed the FUTURES Act in a 417-7 vote, requiring federal financial regulators to assess their technology capabilities, identify modernization gaps, and develop upgrade plans. The bill targets everything from procurement hurdles to tech talent shortages.
Beyond the AI Hype: NRC focuses on practical results.
The NRC is refreshing its AI strategy following an OCIO reorganization, with a focus on measurable mission outcomes rather than deploying AI for AI’s sake. Agency leaders say success means less administrative work, faster access to critical information, and better use of institutional knowledge.
ICYMI:
DOE RFI: Next Generation Transporter Solutions.
DHA RFI: Contract Management Support Services.
Report details $9.5B in federal payroll costs in 2025; $6.7B of that was associated with the deferred resignation program.
DHS plans to recompete for its Trio financial systems contract.
Civilian Contracts Awards
IHRC won a $15M FDA OSIST Support contract.
MicroHealth booked an $9M 340B HHS OPAIS Development, Modernization and Enhancements deal.
Acumen secured an $8M CMS Medicare Payment Systems Policy, Data Analysis contract.
Sancorp inked a $4M USCG OSP Security Program Support deal.
MBL won a $4.1M CFTC Privacy Program Support contract.
Follow Civilian Leaders
DOJ selected a Deputy CIO.
DLH has a new Health Business Group President.
B&A has chosen a Chief Enablement Officer.
Civilian Job Openings
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ICYMI:
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Iran war damage at US bases revealed. Photos show hundreds of destroyed structures as a service member warns rebuilding will take decades. SOURCE↗︎
[Watch 1:10] China's new wartime asset seizure law: Beijing can now legally seize Western business assets during conflict. SOURCE↗︎
Canada makes a pact with the E.U. The USA threatens the EU with tariffs as the territories talk about an “associate” membership. SOURCE↗︎
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TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️
C) 1982 — USPS's first computer-driven single-line optical character reader could read the city/state/ZIP line, check it against a computerized address directory, print a barcode on the envelope, and begin sorting it automatically. The deployment helped launch a $4.4 billion mail-automation program. (Source)
