February 14, 2025

Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day. In observance of Presidents Day, we’re taking a break on Monday, February 17th—no newsletter that day. But don’t worry, we’ll be back on Wednesday, ready to deliver all the GovCon news your heart desires.

—The GovBrew Crew

QUICK HITS

• The DOGE website is up: Check out the department’s updates.

• Let’s talk about tariffs: Here’s what government contractors need to consider.

• Job cuts are hiring opportunities: 7 strategies to recruit top federal talent.

• DOD advisory board: DIU is urging the Pentagon to expand DIU.

GOVBREW INSIDER

• Check out this week’s 70+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.

• Our team uncovered 35+ upcoming IT Service opportunities at Indian Health Service (IHS) 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.

• Keep track of the latest Agency Acquisition Forecasts.

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DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

NAVSEA pushes to simplify acquisition and procurement processes.

The Navy’s shipbuilding command is planning to streamline acquisition and procurement. NAVSEA is focused on speeding up processes, improving efficiency, and making it easier for industry partners to navigate contracts. Read more

Space Force accelerates acquisition reforms amid DOD changes.

The Space Force is ramping up its acquisition reform efforts, following the guidelines set by former space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy is pushing for faster development cycles, fixed-price contracts, and greater accountability. Read more

DARPA plans to build massive space structures.

Constructing large orbital structures has been difficult due to the cargo size and weight limits of rockets. To address this, DARPA is advancing its NOM4D program beyond lab testing. The initiative will now focus on small-scale demonstrations in orbit. This shift marks a crucial step toward overcoming space manufacturing constraints. Read more

ICYMI:

• DAF RFI: Small Unmanned Aircraft System

• DOD RFI: Electromagnetic Spectrum Support

• Navy RFI: DevSecOps

• Report to congress: Hypersonic Weapons.

Defense Contract Awards

• Northrop Grumman secured a $1.4B Global Air & Missile Defense Modernization deal.

• Apex won a $45.9M USSF Satellite contract.

• Analytic Services inked an 8.1M WHQ Technical Support Services deal.

• Xairos was awarded a $1.9M SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• DOD’s first CDO is now a member of PDW’s Board.

• Citzant has a new Director.

Defense Job Openings

• ANGU needs a Military Support Director.

• Army wants an Operations Director.

TRIVIA 🤔

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.

INTEL COMMUNITY

Third Annual Space Forum strengthens military-industry collaboration.

The Third Annual Central Command Theater Space Forum brought together military, industry, and allied partners to enhance collaboration on space operations. Discussions covered emerging threats, technological advancements, and the role of space in modern warfare. With growing global competition, the event emphasized the need for rapid innovation and stronger partnerships. Read more

CISA, FBI push secure-by-design to block cyber threats.

CISA and the FBI are calling on manufacturers to eliminate buffer overflow vulnerabilities by adopting secure-by-design practices. Their message is clear: bake security into software from the start, or brace for costly fixes later. With cyber threats evolving, secure-by-design practices aren't just best practice; they're essential. Read more

ICYMI:

• The senate named the new National Intelligence Director.

CIVILIAN

The White House eyes changes to U.S. Chips Act for flexibility.

The White House is reportedly considering changes to the CHIPS Act, potentially loosening restrictions on companies receiving federal funding. It aims to boost domestic semiconductor production while offering industry more flexibility. But with billions at stake, any tweaks could reshape the balance between economic security and national security. Read more

GAO flags cyber gaps in Coast Guard’s maritime security.

GAO has identified significant vulnerabilities in the Coast Guard's maritime cybersecurity, highlighting crucial deficiencies in protecting critical infrastructure. While progress has been made, gaps remain in risk management, incident response, and coordination. With increasing cyber threats, the report urges stronger safeguards before vulnerabilities turn into crises. Read more

DOGE to audit NASA.

Elon Musk’s relationship with NASA continues to evolve, with SpaceX playing a crucial role in government space missions. Now, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is in the mix, raising questions about policy, partnerships, and the future of commercial space collaboration. Read more

ICYMI:

• FBOP RFI: IT Modernization Enterprise Content Management System

• DOGE cancelled 58 government contracts.

• NASA, SpaceX to exchange Crew Dragon spacecraft to avoid Crew-10 delay.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• PSI won a $156M VA Electronic Health Records contract.

• XLA secured a $92M DOJ DEA Professional, Technical and Administrative Support Services contract.

• Spatial Front inked a $12.6M FPAC Prometheus Agile Release Train Support deal.

• The government plans to buy $400M worth of Armored Electric Vehicles.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• HHS has a new Secretary.

• VA named its new OSDBU Deputy Executive Director.

• TREAS selected a new CTO.

Civilian Job Openings

• The Judicial Branch is seeking a Deputy Director.

• TSA is hiring a Deputy Federal Security Director.

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SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. Say hi to the world’s smallest particle accelerator. It’s poised to transform medicine and physics. SOURCE↗︎ 

2. 81.7TB of data was used to train Facebook’s Llama. Its parent company is now facing a class action lawsuit accusing it of copyright infringement and unfair competition in training its AI model. SOURCE↗︎

3. Google: Spies and crimelords are working together. The company urges lawmakers to address the growing connection between criminal and state-sponsored cyber activity. SOURCE↗︎

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TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️

B) Synthetic silk stockings to replace silk used in parachutes— During World War II, silk was a critical war resource used in making parachutes, so the U.S. government restricted its civilian use and issued contracts for the production of synthetic alternatives, such as nylon stockings. While silk stockings were once a popular Valentine’s Day gift, they became scarce, and nylon replacements—first introduced by DuPont—were rapidly developed under government contracts to support both military and civilian needs.