February 3, 2025

QUICK HITS

• We’re going to “feel the pain” of a trade war: Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China are meant to curb illegal immigration and drugs but will impact biz.

• Evolving landscape of disclosure considerations for GovCon: Despite many iterations of the MDR, time has not simplified the analysis process.

• A sped-up timeframe for vendor applications through FedRAMP? New exec wants a three-month window for the process.

• Will new DEI policies affect 8(a) and WOSB programs? Recent E.O. subtly suggests that SBA socioeconomic programs may be in the crosshairs.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Addressing risk and intellectual property rights in the FLRAA supply chain.

The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program, specifically the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), is following an iterative approach to risk. It prioritizes mature, high-TRL systems already in use on the Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook. This includes an upgraded but proven powerplant, which supports the development of new, advanced capabilities like launched effects. Read more

What will the new SecDef be focusing on as he overhauls the DOD?

Rebuilding the US military, Hegseth said, “means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies.” Thus, “We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world.” Read more

Army aviation was having a bad few years—even before Wednesday’s crash.

The service’s fiscal 2024 mishap rate was the highest since 2007. Army aviation saw 17 class-A mishaps—that is, accidents that killed someone or caused more than $2.5 million in damage—during fiscal 2024, which ran from October 2023 through September. Thirteen of them have taken place since last January. Read more

ICYMI:

• Army RFI: Automated Data Analysis.

• MDA RFI: “Iron Dome for America” capabilities.

• An early, easy, and essential win on defense acquisitions is within reach.

• DOD flags issues with multibillion-dollar moving contract.

• Here’s what the next US-Israel military-assistance agreement might include.

Defense Contract Awards

• West 4th Strategy secured a spot on the $1.8B DOD PRISM contract.

• Linquest Corp. inked a $970M Collaborative Engineering and Digital Dev deal.

• Safran DSI was awarded an Army Preventive Maintenance contract.

• L3Harris won a $76M USAF contract for Space Command and Control Systems.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Raft named a new CFO.

• HII welcomed a New Construction Aircraft Carriers VP.

Defense Job Openings

• USAF wants a Deputy Director of Operations.

• ANGU needs a Program Manager.

DATA

INTEL COMMUNITY

NGA takes down a good portion of its website.

The NGA’s website, including all web pages with press releases, open-source data and federal maps, and staff and leadership information was taken down. “We’ve temporarily unpublished our public-facing presence while we work diligently to ensure that we are in compliance with the President’s EOs,” an NGA spokesperson said in an emailed response to questions. Read more

ICYMI:

• USSOCOM Sources Sought: Integrated Electronic Security System (IESS)

• Who in the WH got Top Secret clearance without a background check?

• Need a good laugh today? Check out this true story about a security clearance applicant who was all about “getting buff in the buff.”

• Here’s what the future of China’s new information support force looks like.

• DHS HSI welcomes a new deputy executive associate director.

GET SEEN

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CIVILIAN

USAID leaders get into a security clearance brawl with DOGE.

Two top security chiefs at USAID have been placed on leave after they refused to turn over classified information in restricted areas to DOGE officials. The DOGE team lacked high-enough security clearance to access that information, so the two USAID security officials — John Vorhees and deputy Brian McGill — believed themselves legally obligated to deny access. Read more

OpenAI brings its LLM to Energy’s national labs.

OpenAI announced last week that it will work with all 17 of the DOE’s National Laboratories to provide access to its reasoning large language models for a bevy of applications. Target focus areas include accelerating fundamental scientific research, cybersecurity for the power grid, disease prevention research, energy research, threat detection, nuclear security and high-energy physics research. Read more

DHS watchdog investigating TSA’s use of facial recognition.

An audit is underway to examine “the extent to which TSA’s facial recognition and ID technologies enhance security screening to identify persons of interest and authenticate flight traveler information while protecting passenger privacy.” TSA has deployed facial recognition technology to over 80 airports thus far, with plans to roll out the identity verification tools to more than 400 airports in the coming years. Read more

ICYMI:

• NTSB RFI: Incident Management Software.

• DOS RFI: IT Support Services.

• USAID fell victim to cyrptojacketing, resulting in $500k in Microsoft charges.

• DOGE gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems; Musk vows to cancel grants.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• 8 companies were chosen for the Army’s $210M Medical Facilities Support Services IIIb contract.

• Everlaw won a $60M DOJ Enterprise BPA.

• Valneva inked a $32.8M IXIARO® Supply deal.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• GSA taps former Salesforce VP as acting and deputy administrator.

• USAID has a new CISO.

• EPA welcomes a new administrator.

• NASA Goddard Center has a new CIO.

• Akima has chosen a new Strategic Capture VP.

Civilian Job Openings

• TSA is seeking a Deputy Assistant Federal Security Director.

• GAO is hiring an Assistant Director.

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. DOJ argues that money isn’t property and can be taken at will. A federal court will decide if this stands. SOURCE↗︎ 

2. Former Federal Reserve Adviser John Rogers was arrested for espionage. He allegedly passed economic secrets to China. SOURCE↗︎

3. Another aircraft accident? Here’s what you need to know about the Learjet 55 that crashed near Philadelphia, PA. SOURCE↗︎

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