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- February 2, 2024
February 2, 2024
FITARA scores, USPS 5B in cuts, new Cerner leader, Verus Aerospace formed, Neurolink success, Chinese hacker threat, robocall blocker, AI predicting prices
GovBrew
February 02, 2024
QUICK HITS
VA to reconsider $400M contract: The VA is once again thinking twice about its large file conversion contract.
Private space station launch: Starlab will go to orbit via SpaceX.
NIH seeks to replace legacy EHR: Looking to use healthcare data better with a new AI-friendly EHR.
AI to predict mineral prices: DOD to use AI to monitor the value of minerals used in weapons and energy.
PRESENTED BY GOVCIO MEDIA & RESEARCH
The Future of National Security
Join the conversation with federal IT leaders as they explore the latest advancements in #DefenseIT, including cloud security, CJADC2, data innovation, artificial intelligence, and workforce development, at the GovCIO Media & Research Defense IT Summit on February 9. Secure your seat now to learn how emerging technologies are reshaping the future of national security.
TRIVIA
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Quantum sensing needs stepped-up federal funding, fast.
The Air Force Association is urging the Pentagon to jumpstart quantum sensing, navigation, and communications with stepped-up federal funding to help the military in ways that go beyond the quantum computing capabilities you're probably thinking of. Read more
Propulsion ‘jetpacks’ are no longer the stuff of sci-fi for USSF's near-term plans.
The Space Force is "looking to leverage commercial services to the maximum extent possible" and has near-term plans to implement dynamic space operations that focus - among other exciting things - on propulsion units that can be strapped to satellites that have run out of fuel. Read more
DOD harnessing science & tech to counter China's alternative to the international world order.
As China continues to make it clear that it is intent on offering an alternative to the current international world order, the DOD is equally intent on harnessing science, technology, and development to remain abreast with the Far Eastern power's rapidly developing capabilities in AI, hypersonic weapons, and shipbuilding. Read more
ICYMI:
USSF re-examines its secure narrow-band comms acquisition strategy.
Pentagon plans to experiment with Australia on RDER technology.
Check out the DOD’s Operational Test & Evaluation 2023 Annual Report.
Recent House-passed Tax Relief bill restores Section 174 expenses for R&D investments.
Defense Contract Awards
CACI wins $198M Army C5ISR cyber defense support contract.
Sayres Defense bags a $250M Professional Support Services contract to support NAVSEA.
Kay and Associates books $153M option for F/A-18 FMS maintenance.
Fincantieri Marine Repair is one of the nine awarded in $943 million U.S. Navy maintenance contract.
Foster Miller DBA as QinetiQ won a $10M Army contract to support the Robot Logistics Support Center.
Follow the Defense Leaders
eSimplicity’s new VP of Defense and National Security was the VP of Corporate Operations of DRT Strategies.
Agile Defense’s Strategic Programs Director is now the VP of Defense Growth.
Three-decade aviation leader named TSS Solutions COO.
The U.S. Army PEO EIS appoints Deputy Program EO as PEO.
Defense Job Openings
DOD is looking for an Associate Director, Combatant Command Programs.
NAVSEA needs a Program Manager.
Army Futures Command is hiring a Deputy Director.
Army National Guard is seeking a Deputy USP & FO.
INTEL COMMUNITY
“We’re super-duper serious, you guys!” Top security feds sound alarm on Chinese state-sponsored hackers.
A CCP cyber threat is positioning itself to take down vital US resources at a moment's notice, and the FBI’s director and key federal officials are urging lawmakers to hasten their plans to deal with the Chinese-backed threat to critical national infrastructure. Read more
Russian ransomware gang allegedly stole top secret U.S. documents.
Infamous Russian hacking gang ALPHV boasts of stealing documents that contain Technica workers’ personal details and DOD deals. A warning was sent to Technica by ALPHV, revealing their plans to leak the classified data if the veteran-owned company does not reach out to them soon. Read more
A threat to national secrets: Recruiters & job seekers targeted by hostile actors.
CACI secures $81M DIA task order to provide global IT support.
NGA is looking for a new Chief Financial Executive.
CIVILIAN
Postmaster General plans to cut $5B in costs to avoid “looming calamity.”
The USPS is planning to cut $5B in costs and grow its revenue to avoid running out of cash in the coming years. Postmaster General DeJoy says these plans are necessary to avoid a 'looming calamity' that is inevitable if the USPS continues to stick with the status quo. Read more
If we want a civil space traffic system, OSC needs SpaceX's expertise.
The Office of Space Commerce plans to explore how SpaceX’s automated satellite collision avoidance software could support its plans for a space traffic coordination system; OSC will perform an astrodynamics evaluation of the tools SpaceX uses to manage more than 5,000 Starlink broadband satellites to plan out its theoretical system. Read more
FITARA scores were released.
USAID crushes it with an A rating! But…oof….HHS, DOS, and DOT all get D grades in the recent FITARA scorecard release. A bright spot though…DOD’s score increased from a F+ back in 2018 to a solid B rating in 2024. The reason for the drop in grades: Continued struggles to implement best practices for moving workloads and services to the cloud. Read more | See the scores
ICYMI:
NASA to host Apophis 2029 Innovation Listening Workshop Feb 7.
House lawmakers gives warning to VA leaders about data privacy risks from AI threats.
NIST previews open competition for semiconductor R&D.
Civilian Contracts Awards
GDIT to support CBP surveillance tower system modernization under $1.8B IDIQ.
Booz Allen lands $550M ARPA-E award for technical, professional, and admin work.
Five companies secure spots on potential $375M NASA environmental services contract.
AI-based broad area search tech to be further developed by BlackSky under the IARPA contract.
Follow Civilian Leaders
The former SVP of Leidos is now the CDIO of Maximus.
The new ECS CTO, VA T4NG2 was GDIT’s Fed Health Infrastructure Lead Director.
Sierra 7 has selected an AFCEA Board Member to be its Capture & Solutions VP.
Oracle’s Life Sciences EVP and General Manager tasked to lead Cerner.
Civilian Job Openings
The FPISC is looking for a Permitting Planning Policy Director.
ODNI needs an Environmental Security Director.
DOL is hiring a Program Manager.
The NNSA is seeking a Complex Management Team Deputy Director.
M&A CORNER
Arlington Capital forms new brand: Verus Aerospace.
Arlington Capital Partners has formed a new aerostructure components manufacturing brand dubbed Verus Aerospace; the new brand will manufacture highly complex components and assemblies for the aerospace, defense, and space sectors. Read more
Saalex Acquires Spalding Consulting.
Saalex announced the acquisition of Spalding Consulting to expand it’s defense IT and software capabilities. The acquisition is valued at over $75 million and will grow Saalex's annual revenues to over $175 million. The addition of Spalding's more than 430 talented professionals will increase the Saalex employee base to over 1,200. Read more
ICYMI:
Lockheed Martin Ventures invests in Meteomatics.
A majority investment in Afton Scientific was announced by ACP.
GOVBREW INSIDER
Check out this week’s 100+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.
Our team uncovered 90+ upcoming IT services opportunities at the Department of State (DOS) in this week's recompete report.
See if your company qualifies for any of the latest grants & competitions.
Stay up to date on the upcoming events. Also, check out the GovBrew Insider discount on the upcoming GovCIO Defense IT Summit.
Keep track of the latest Agency Acquisition Forecasts.
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SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Is effective defense innovation truly moving forward?
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks seems to think so, at least; she noted that the DOD is working to make the institution more agile and a good partner for private capital. Hicks claims DOD is investing heavily in innovation, and she points out that DOD's R&D budget request in 2024 is $145 billion. The procurement request is $170 billion. Read more
How can machine learning guide carbon nanotechnology?
Carbon nanostructures are versatile. It can be used to make batteries, transistors, eco-friendly hydrogen storage devices, and so much more. Now that a machine learning technique has been developed to forecast the growth of carbon nanostructures on metal surfaces, it will be easier to design and make them. But how is it done? Read more
Is controlling technology with our thoughts, possible?
Musk finally did it! In the past few years, Neuralink has been developing a brain-computer interface that will enable the paralyzed to give commands to technology with their mind. Now that the first chip has been implanted into a human brain, what will happen next? Read more
TRIVIA ANSWER:
A - Googling “How to not get audited.”
I mean, really, who hasn’t Googled that? Here are some general things to look out for, to avoid those red flags:
Missing information, math errors, amended returns, too many zeros (unless you’re GDIT), repeated end numbers, being audited in the past (unless KPMG’s CEO is your friend), using an unscrupulous tax preparer, large changes of income, large refunds, large net operating losses (unless you’re Pfizer), foreign bank accounts, frequent cross-border transactions (unless you’re Leidos), claiming large charitable contributions (unless you’re Microsoft), deducting too many businesses expenses, claiming a huge home office deduction, and using neat round numbers. (Source | Source)
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