March 14, 2025

QUICK HITS

• A shipbuilding hearing testimony. Experts highlighted the plan to expand the fleet, the need for more funding, and how the workforce must respond.

• OHA found that a JV meets regulations when reviewed with its operating agreement. Both documents (JVA & OA) should be viewed together.

• Leveraging America's commercial power for weapons production: 3 actions the DOD must take to ensure the US has access to the munitions it needs.

• Equal employment opportunity clauses in contracts: They’re no longer a DOD requirement.

GOVBREW INSIDER

• Check out this week’s 80+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.

• Our team uncovered 50+ upcoming IT service opportunities at the Department of the Treasury 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

Army Unified Network Plan 2.0: Zero trust—a priority.

The Army's latest network plan emphasizes zero trust principles to enhance security and data centricity. With a focus on multi-domain operations, the plan aims to streamline IT service delivery and improve data-sharing capabilities. Read more

Office of Net Assessment is “disestablished” and ONA contracts are terminated.

SecDef is “disestablishing” the Office of Net Assessment, a key office responsible for high-level strategic analysis. Simultaneously, the top acquisition official is directed to terminate “all ONA contracts awarded for ONA and ONA-related requirements.” A number of DC think tanks and research organizations will likely be impacted by these cancelled contracts. Read more

Top leaders: Budget shortfalls threaten military readiness.

Top military brass are sounding the alarm on how budget constraints could hamper readiness. They argue that without adequate funding, the ability to respond to global threats and maintain operational effectiveness is at risk. Read more

• Related: New budget could cost USAF up to $14B.

ICYMI:

• USAF RFI: Advisory Support & Technical Requirement Administration.

• DARPA RFI: End to End Automation & Evaluation Tools.

• Army RFI: Inventory Management Software.

• Northrop Grumman's AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS testing nearly finished, pending USAF production approval.

• DIU to begin quantum sensing field testing across 5 critical areas.

Defense Contract Awards

• BAE won a $48M Army Military Electronics contract.

• Ventura booked a $32M USAF JRPA IT Services contract.

• BigBearAI secured a DOD Critical Force Mgmt Platform Modernization deal.

• Boeing advances in IFPC Increment 2 second interceptor competition.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Former Navy intelligence officer, EY partner tapped to reform industrial policy, acquisition at DOD.

• Shield AI has a new CEO.

• Bechtel appointed a new NS&E GBU President.

Defense Job Openings

• DMA needs a Contract Specialist.

• ANGU wants a Program Manager (Air Commander Pilot Navigator).

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

NGA director praises data collection latency improvement.

The NGA has accelerated its imagery processing by 80% over the past year. This improvement is largely due to the agency's increased adoption of AI capabilities. However, Director Vice Adm. Whitworth cautioned that the volume of data from new satellite constellations is expected to grow significantly. Read more

You won’t be meet-n-greeting NRO, MDA staff at events anytime soon.

In a sign of how hard it will be to meet feds face-to-face this year, this week’s Satellite 2025/GovMilSpace show appears to be the latest defense conference impacted by the executive order restricting “non-essential” travel by federal officials. Representatives from NRO and MDA had planned to exhibit but cancelled last minute. Read more

ICYMI:

• NGA RFI: Intelligence Community Virtual Recruitment Capabilities.

• Palladyne AI chosen to join USSOCOM TE25-2: Collaborative Autonomy Integration event.

• Understanding drone security: Navigating U.S. airspace regulations and defense strategies.

CIVILIAN

HHS ditches Richardson Waiver, speeds up rulemaking.

HHS has scrapped the Richardson Waiver, allowing for faster rulemaking by bypassing the notice-and-comment process. This change aims to improve efficiency but raises concerns about transparency and stakeholder engagement. Read more

GAO urges VA to update EHRM cost estimate and schedule.

The GAO report highlights the VA's incremental improvements in its EHR modernization program but stresses the need for updated cost estimates and schedules. With over 1,500 configuration changes made and 1,800 still pending, the VA must address these issues to ensure the program's success. Read more

Compliance and enforcement stressed in OCI mitigation plans proposed rule.

The proposed rule aims to tighten OCI regulations by broadening definitions, requiring proactive disclosures, and outlining mitigation strategies. This rule highlights the government's commitment to reducing conflicts of interest in contracting. Read more

ICYMI:

• VA Sources Sought: Electronic System Infrastructure.

• NASA RFI: Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation Instruments and Spacecraft.

• EPA reconsiders 31 significant agency actions.

• NASA and SpaceX postpone mission to retrieve stranded astronauts.

• DOGE to work with USPS to find efficiencies.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• IMS inked a $29M NIH NCI Data Modeling, Analytics, Development contract.

• Synergy Ent. won a $12M NHLBI Workshop and Conference Support contract.

• Palladian Partners booked an $11M NHLBI Internal Comms Services deal.

• Censeo Consulting Group won a $3M OSI Acquisition Services BRIDGE deal.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• Koniag Government Services named its new Business Operations SVP.

• GTSC hired a Strategic Advisor.

Civilian Job Openings

• ICE is hiring an FMD Deputy Assistant Director, Financial Mgmt Division.

• GAO is seeking an Assistant Director.

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M&A CORNER

Wysa and April Health merge to transform behavioral health care.

IWysa and April Health are merging to transform access to behavioral health care through primary care providers. This alliance aims to integrate mental health support into primary care, making it more accessible and efficient. Read more

Rocket Lab to acquire Mynaric, boosting laser comms capabilities.

Rocket Lab is set to acquire Mynaric, a leading laser communications provider, in a $75 million deal. This acquisition aims to enhance Rocket Lab's satellite communication capabilities and expand its footprint in Europe. Read more

Arlington Capital Partners forms GRVTY, a defense tech company.

Arlington Capital Partners announced the formation of GRVTY, a next-generation leader in defense technology solutions for national security priorities across the DOD, intelligence community, and DHS. Read more

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. Scientists successfully freeze light in a “super solid” breakthrough. This marks just the initial phase of comprehending supersolidity. SOURCE↗︎

2. We now have the first operating system for quantum networks. Researchers have developed an OS that synchronizes linked quantum computers. (Editor’s note: The OS should be called The Roy Kent because quantum computers are “here, they’re there, they’re every-stinking-where…” IYKYK) SOURCE↗︎

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TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️

B. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare — Before the Department of Education became independent, its duties were part of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). In 1980, HEW was split into two agencies: the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (Source)