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- January 10, 2024
January 10, 2024
HP buys Juniper for 14B, synthetic data, IARPA Video LINCS proposers’ day, AFRL virtualization RFP, how Boeing lost 7B, Enlightenment’s new space-focused biz Auria
GovBrew
January 10, 2024
QUICK HITS
The not-so-obvious truth about using AI on proposals: AI can easily cause you to keep making the same strategic mistakes.
DFARS rule bars some flow-downs in commercial subcontracts: Subs may get draft subcontracts with newly-prohibited flow-downs.
Get to know the network pipes for the Internet of Space: A new constellation with laser comms is now taking shape.
Pentagon provides timeline of SecDef's secretive hospitalization: Officials face blowback; POTUS unaware of diagnosis until Tuesday.
PRESENTED BY UNANET
Gazing into the Future of GovCon SMBs
Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) play a pivotal role in a sector that is as vast as it is complex. Our recent report shows that despite record federal contract awards to SMBs in 2022 amounting to a whopping $158.7 billion, the number of SMB GovCon firms is barely half of the 2010 total.
SMBs in GovCon are facing unique challenges but also have unique opportunities. They have the agility to adapt and pivot quicker than their larger counterparts. The key is to leverage their strengths, invest in the right tools, and focus on long-term strategic planning.
So, what's the way forward? Download this report that digs into some of the struggles and opportunities for SMB GovCons and recommends a five-step action plan.
FREE RECOMPETE REPORT
55+ upcoming USDA 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.
In this report, you have some actionable intelligence about potential recompetes and expiring contracts at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Sure, all this information is publicly available, but we hunted it down from 5 different sources, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Now, you can spend your time on what matters most—fielding opportunities, closing deals, and grabbing a few more brews ( ☕️ or 🍺).
PS: Are you interested in filling your pipeline with new opportunities? If so, check out our exclusive GovBrew Insider premium membership. We’ll send you a consistent flow of opportunities every week. Save yourself hours of searching so you can spend more time pursuing (check it out here).
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Army reveals first solicitation for $4B in R&D services recompetes.
The Army has unveiled the final solicitation for one part of the next iteration of a contract it uses to acquire broad R&D services from industry. The new Design, Development, Demonstration and Integration II Domain 2 program will remain exclusive to small businesses and have a $2.05B ceiling to be shared among all awardees for the full 10-year duration. Read more | SAM
Cautionary tale: How Boeing won an Air Force program and lost $7B.
The Air Force’s next-generation tanker was supposed to be the ideal candidate for a fixed-price development program. Indeed, when Boeing first won the deal to build what’s now known as the KC-46, the defense contractor said it would use a “low-risk approach,” basing its design on the existing Boeing 767 commercial airplane, through the firm-fixed-price contract. Read more
ULA's Vulcan Centaur needs one more successful flight test.
The United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur has made orbit — and its first step toward getting the green light for DOD launches. The milestone marks the Vulcan's long-delayed first step towards certification by the Space Force as capable of carrying critical national security payloads. Read more
ICYMI:
Space Force is crafting in-house cyber team but sees the need for closer work with USCYBERCOM.
Army to begin sending chief data officers to its commands.
RFP: Air Force Research Laboratory starts the bidding for a $300M virtualization contract.
CNO Franchetti unveils warfighting priorities.
Defense Contract Awards
Muon Space tapped by Air Force for SBIR cloud characterization from space.
Lockheed to produce submarine EW technology under $312M USN contract option.
VivSoft to modernize data capabilities of DOD’s Unified Cyber System.
DLA WMS/Federal Logistics Information Systems (FLIS) support BPA awards are rolling in…for Rogers, Wicker, Rykman & Spedale; C5MI Insight; and Accenture Federal Services.
Lockheed again…they won a $102M USN contract for AEGIS development and test sites operation.
Follow the Defense Leaders
SVP of HR and Admin is now General Dynamics’ CFO (…and there are other personnel moves).
Elastic recruits Army and Cyber Command Capabilities/Resource leader.
Defense Job Openings
The DHA is seeking an Administration and Management Director.
NASA is hiring a Materials and Processes Lab Director.
The USN-Fleet Forces Command is looking for an Executive Director.
The USAF-Air Education & Training Command needs a Force Support Squadron Director.
INTEL COMMUNITY
DIA releases solicitation for NeedipeDIA BAA.
According to a SAM.gov notice, DIA is soliciting white papers through the NeedipeDIA broad agency announcement for possible innovation ideas to help address mission-critical requirements in making its operations more efficient and effective in support of national and international missions. Read more.
ICYMI:
NGA, NSIN host $1M challenge IUU fishing forecasting challenge.
IARPA announces Proposers’ Day for the Video LINCS program to be held Feb 7.
Agencies have improved cybersecurity info sharing, but barriers remain.
CIVILIAN
Shocker: Federal employees prefer telework, while unimpressed Congress considers making it illegal again.
Telework can be a strong incentive tool for federal agencies looking to retain employees amid staff shortages in government offices, according to an annual report by the OPM. Read more
Agencies eye synthetic data to help train and test AI.
Government agencies, including DHS, are on the hunt for vendors and best practices that can help them make use of artificially generated data - also known as synthetic data generation - that can be used to build or test artificial intelligence applications and mission learning models. Read more
ICYMI:
CBP discloses upcoming IDIQ for professional workforce support services.
GSA finds federal tech accessibility challenges driven by lack of staff, resources.
Lawmakers request extra $10M for NIST AI research.
White House on track for meeting initial AI order actions.
Civilian Contracts Awards
NIH NIMHD DIR Statistical Analysis, Programming and Data Mgmt support activities awarded to Information Mgmt Services.
Echo Five Group wins VA PPSO service support contract.
$222M DHS Intelligence Enterprise mission solutions and data operations support award protest denied.
$15M SBA OCIO Enterprise IT Investment Service (CPIC, PM, IT Portfolio Mgmt, TBM & IT Governance) contract protest dismissed.
Follow Civilian Leaders
The White House’s former NCD now heads Paladin Capital Group’s new Global Institute.
Former president of Diversified is now RavenTek’s CGO.
CACI promotes director to Strategic Capture Management VP.
ECS appoints GovCon industry veteran as new VP of Business Development.
Recent FBI Chief (SES), Science and Technology programs takes new role as Principal Director with ARA.
Civilian Job Openings
The DOE is seeking a Program Manager.
The DOI’s Bureau of Reclamation is hiring a Deputy Regional Director.
The TSA is looking for a Flight Operations Executive Director.
The FDIC needs a Deputy Regional Director.
M&A CORNER
Godspeed-backed Crimson Phoenix closes Cyberspace Solutions buy.
Crimson Phoenix has acquired Cyberspace Solutions as part of efforts to expand its customer relationships and gain access to prime contracts with the DIA and USSOCOM. The CEO of Crimson Phoenix said the highly trained and cleared employees of CSS will help strengthen the company’s data-driven intelligence strategy in support of national security objectives. Read more
Enlightenment Capital merges portfolio companies to form space-focused Auria.
Enlightenment Capital has formed a new space-focused business by merging its four space and national security portfolio companies. According to Enlightenment Capital, its companies now operate under a single business entity called Auria, which offers deployable software products for space, missile defense, and cyber operations. Read more
Trustwave acquired by MC² Security Fund.
The MC² Security Fund, an affiliate of investment firm The Chertoff Group LLC, has acquired cybersecurity company Trustwave Holdings Inc. for an undisclosed price. Trustwave offers a suite of cybersecurity services, including managed detection and response, managed security services, cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. Read more
Hewlett Packard Enterprises buys Juniper Networks for $14B.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks, Inc., a leader in AI-native networks, announced that the companies have entered a definitive agreement under which HPE will acquire Juniper in an all-cash transaction for approximately $14 billion. Combining HPE and Juniper’s complementary portfolios supercharges HPE’s edge-to-cloud strategy with an ability to lead in an AI-native environment based on a foundational cloud-native architecture. Read more
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Can balancing budgets with global demand help the Navy rethink its ship-buying?
In this op-ed, one member of the Hudson Institute argues that balancing tight budgets with global demands should push the Navy to rethink how it's buying ships, considering that the future of the surface fleet is sure to be top of mind. Read more
Can malicious actors exploit AI watermarking?
AI watermarking could be exploited by bad actors to spread misinformation. But experts say the tech still must be adopted quickly; TikTok and Adobe are leading the way with transparency standards while Washington continues to stall on proposed legislation. Read more
Opinion: Why federal tech leadership must advance tech accessibility in 2024.
Every year, millions of Americans rely on government websites and online platforms for essential services, information, and connection. with over two billion monthly visits to federal websites, the increase in digital interaction paints a new reality: digital platforms are now the primary touchpoints between the government and its citizens. Read more
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