QUICK HITS
20 SB partnerships for IT & consulting firms: It will happen across different sectors in 2025.
The government has seized and sold over 185,000 BTC since 2014: How much would they have fared had they decided to hold? See also a related Coinbase story below in “Civilian.”
Blockchain: Senate recommends blockchain for national security tests, including supply chain management.
FAR Part 47: Learn about “Transportation” in this Friday’s webinar.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
The future of Boeing’s defense business depends on the Pentagon.
Amid Boeing’s admission of guilt in the tragic 737 MAX crashes, DOD has initiated discussions about the company's government contracts. With the uncertainty of Boeing's defense business' future on one hand, a question is left on the other: Will the US government give Boeing another chance to redeem itself? Read more
$141B for Minuteman III nuclear ICBM replacement—How much would “too much” be?
An official review mandated by Congress revealed that the cost of replacing the Minuteman III nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile has skyrocketed by 81 percent. The new estimate? A jaw-dropping $141 billion. Despite this, the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer has given the green light for the LGM-35A Sentinel program to proceed. Apparently, there are no other equally viable and less expensive alternatives. Read more
Cyber shopping authority, boosted: NDAA would give DOD more purchasing power.
The SASC has proposed an amendment that would grant greater authority to DOD components to procure alternative cybersecurity products and services. If passed, the amendment included in the FY25 NDAA would allow DOD components to buy cyber services independently if they can demonstrate the “compelling need that the requirement of the product has due to its urgency, or to ensure product or service competition within the market.”Read more
ICYMI:
CDAO: More vendors can now use Advana Analytics.
DepSecDef on the essence of allied defense industries.
USSF wants a missile warning computer networking upgrade.
USMC’s MQ-9 Reaper drone has a “nearly invisible” electronic warfare pod.
Defense Contract Awards
Army awards 12 spots on $940M Operations & Maintenance contract.
Eagle Integrated Services won a $99M Army CECOM UTS Support IDIQ.
Leidos was awarded a $51.4M Missile Warning Missile Threat Enhancement contract.
QuickLogic booked a $5.26M SRH High Reliability FPGA Tech Development and Demonstration deal.
Follow the Defense Leaders
DOD has a new Acting CIO.
USAF veteran is now DHA’s Strategic Integration Deputy Director.
Atom Computing’s founder is now its CTO.
Calibre Systems’ Capture Director was selected to be its FCC VP.
Defense Job Openings
WHS needs a Facilities Services Directorate Director.
OSD is seeking a Space and Missile Defense Director.
Merit Systems Protection Board is hiring a Regional Director.
USACE wants a Program Manager.
CHART
Chief areas of Ai-enabled procurement improvements envisions over the next 12-18 months. (Source: Economist Impact: Across the Procurement-Verse.)
INTEL COMMUNITY
Russian hackers infiltrated VA and the State Department by spying on Microsoft executives.
A Russian hacker group called the "Midnight Blizzard," breached Microsoft Azure Government for one minute, presumably to see if the credentials worked. The VA and DOS’ systems were compromised. “VA found that Midnight Blizzard used a single set of stolen credentials to access a Microsoft Cloud test environment around January...We are continuing to look into this matter with Microsoft to ensure that all veteran patient data remains protected and that we are not compromised in the future.” Read more
NSA details how China-based attacks unfold.
NSA’s recent advisory, “PRC MSS Tradecraft in Action,” details the tradecraft used by a cyber group known as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) 40, which is associated with the PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS). APT40 is also known as Kryptonite Panda, GINGHAM TYPHOON, Leviathan, and Bronze Mohawk in industry reporting. The cyber group has repeatedly targeted organizations in both the United States and Australia, successfully exploiting vulnerabilities from as early as 2017. Read more
ICYMI:
TD has a new Intelligence, Emerging Risk & Trends Head.
Navy Intel Command is seeking a Supervisory Management Analyst.
ODNI is seeking a Deputy Assistant Director.
ODNI is hiring a Systems Analysis Division Chief.
CIVILIAN
DOJ selected Coinbase as a prime custody partner; Its stocks rocketed skyward.
The DOJ's Marshals Service tapped Coinbase to handle its cryptocurrency custody and trading needs. The opportunity came in the middle of the company’s legal battles with the SEC. Its shares soared up to almost 6% after the announcement. Read more
GSA needs more money to offload inessential federal office space.
GSA assured that they can sell or dispose of underutilized federal buildings—if Congress decides to sprinkle some budget blessings on employee relocation to new office spaces. “We’re going to have to spend some money in order to save some money.” Read more
DOT is not holding back on GPS technology investments.
DOT unveiled a set of fresh investments aimed at enhancing the reliability of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. Building upon their PNT technology action plan from last September, the department is now advancing toward its goal with these newly announced deals. Read more
ICYMI:
MITRE recommendations on AI governance.
NOI: DOE to invest $100 million in non-lithium battery storage.
Cyber reporting rules—they’re everywhere!
SpaceX’s Starship will have its 5th test flight in 4 weeks!
Civilian Contracts Awards
SAIC gets $206M VA Financial Tech Services deal.
6 companies bagged DHS Digital Credential Technology contracts.
Seneca was awarded a $71M TREAS Cross-Servicing Operations, Maintenance, and Enhancement Support deal.
Total Resource Management won a $14M GSA MAS NCMMS IT Services contract.
Follow Civilian Leaders
NARA has chosen an Acting CRO.
VA has a new Workforce and Organizational Development Executive Director.
DOE’s TJNAF has a new Director.
Civilian Job Openings
DNFSB needs a Technical Director.
NSF wants a Directorate for GEO Assistant Director.
CBP’s ICE is seeking a Field Office Director.
Merit Systems Protection Board is hiring a Regional Director.
M&A CORNER
Markon acquires ASEC.
Markon has completed the acquisition of ASEC. The transaction will broaden the company’s potential to aid the missions of the Defense Department and Intelligence Community agency customers. Read more
ICYMI:
J2 Ventures captures $150M in second round funding.
AE Industrial Partners unveils Fund III with $1.28B in capital commitments.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Our planet’s inner core is now rotating backwards. What does it mean for us?
In today’s fast-paced world, we take a lot of things for granted—including the stability of our planet. Recent academic findings reveal that the ground deep within Earth’s core, about 3,220 miles down, is shifting. What does that mean for us humans above? Read more
NASA will be building homes in space using…fungus?
Sending wood, cement, metal, and glass to Mars for home construction? Not a walk in the park! But guess what? The brilliant minds at NASA’s Ames Research Center came up with an unconventional solution: Mushroom houses. To be more specific, a shelter made of fungal strands of mushrooms. Read more
A 40-feet humanoid “Wall-E” robot will be working on train lines.
West Japan Railway’s new humanoid employee looks like it stepped right out of an 80s sci-fi film. It's colossal and slightly ominous. But fear not! This not a "Gundam" war machine. So what is this robot's purpose, really? Read more
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