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- March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024
1000 UAS incursions at US border, 3.8B USAF test ops award, IRS falls short of hiring goals, AI Summit at CIA, DARPA RFI
GovBrew
March 18, 2024
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QUICK HITS
When it comes to app modernization, culture may be key: Some experts argue that it’s about more than just writing new software.
These agencies may make big workforce gains on an FY25 budget: IRS, DHS have big growth plans. DOD and VA, not so much.
Meeting your CMMC requirements with Zero Trust: How (& why) contractors use ZT-based password management for better security.
Thinking about serving abroad? The Foreign Service has now made its candidate assessment fully remote.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
There are likely 1000+ monthly UAS incursions on the southern border, says NORAD.
The U.S. Northern Command's top general said during testimony at a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing that there are likely more than 1,000 incursions by unmanned aircraft systems along the US-Mexico border each month. Read more
SECDEF returns to international travel with upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
The Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will depart the United States for Germany, where they will participate in the 20th iteration of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group; this will be the SECDEF's first international travel since his recent hospitalizations. Read more
A rocket designed for Mars may be helping military missions at home.
The Pentagon is eyeing Starship, SpaceX's reusable mega-rocket designed to land on Earth's smaller red neighbor, for military missions a little bit closer to home; but even after a successful - if abbreviated - third test flight, Starship may still be ready before the military is. Read more
ICYMI:
Houthis tweet threats to target merchant ships in the Indian Ocean.
New health survey designed to help gauge military readiness.
Three protests filed with GAO relating to a certain USAF IDIQ.
RFI Notice: DARPA Strategic Technology Office (STO).
Defense Contract Awards
DLA awards 7 spots on $7B fire, emergency equipment supply IDIQ contract.
Beyond New Horizons awarded $3.8B USAF test operations, sustainment contract.
BAE receives $754M Army armored vehicles contract mod.
CACI wins $7M bridge contract for professional and mgmt services.
Follow the Defense Leaders
Tech sector leader assumes role as CEO of Advanced IT Concepts.
Ursa Major is expanding its leadership with a new CFO.
Defense Job Openings
INSCOM seeks Special Advisor for Cyberspace Operations.
NAVWARSYSCOM is looking for an Executive Director.
SECNAV seeks an Assistant General Counsel (Acquisition Integrity).
US Fleet Forces Command needs a Deputy Commander, Undersea Warfighting Development.
FUNNY
INTEL COMMUNITY
NSA says US still finding victims of China-linked hacking.
A top NSA cyber official has said the US is still identifying victims targeted by a Chinese-linked advanced hacking campaign; the Volt Typhoon hacking collective, backed by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, has been working to burrow into sensitive U.S. systems. Read more
ICYMI:
EVENT: Snag your seat at the 5th Annual AI Summit for insights into the CIA's AI plans.
RFP: DARPA releases Strategic Technology RFI.
LMI appoints two tech industry leaders as SVPs of intel and digital solutions.
The DIA is looking for a Supervisory Criminal Investigator.
CIVILIAN
Federal wage system for blue-collar feds puts some above—and others below—local rates.
Years of pay caps have pulled the long-standing pay system for blue-collar federal employees away from the structure’s original intent; 75% of pay localities for blue-collar feds no longer align with prevailing rates. Read more
NASA must emphasize oversight, management of its high-end computing.
A report from NASA’s OIG said the space agency “needs a renewed commitment and sustained leadership attention to reinvigorating its HEC efforts,” warning that inaction “is likely to constrain future mission priorities and goals.” Read more
Applications for revenue-generating jobs at the IRS have fallen ‘far below’ its goals.
The IRS said that its hiring surge could generate as much as $851B in new revenue as more seasoned, auditors force high-income individuals and corporations to pay the taxes they owe. Too bad: the hiring surge is falling way short of their goals. There’s a shortage of individuals with the desired background and experience. Read more
ICYMI:
USCIS preps industry to bid on enterprise IT architecture recompete.
Critics field harsh tech questions at the border for CBP.
The state of science & engineering: U.S. leading in R&D, but tech workforce development still lagging behind.
Tech issues are part of the problem—and solution—for FOIA backlog, GAO finds.
Civilian Contracts Awards
APSI Construction Management awarded $1.3M GSA construction manager advisory task.
SEC awards Ascella Technologies a $3M Enterprise Human Capital Repository (EHCR) Support contract.
NOAA awarded Parsons Gov’t Services a $27M TRACSS Systems Integration and Cloud Mgmt Support Services contract.
FedWriters was the sole bidder on a STARS III task order with NSF for website and digital support services.
Follow Civilian Leaders
DocuSign selects new VP, Federal Civilian Government.
Comtech names a new Interim CEO and Board Chair.
Former corporate controller at Tech Systems named Axellio CFO.
The State Department has picked four new Science Envoys.
Civilian Job Openings
The NNSA is looking for a Director, Office of Partnership Services.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service seeks a new Administrator.
The TSA is looking for a Deputy Federal Security Director.
M&A CORNER
J.F. Lehman closes purchase of Mission Microwave Technologies.
An investment affiliate of private equity firm J.F. Lehman and Co. has closed its acquisition of Mission Microwave Technologies to support the latter’s product development efforts and growth initiatives in government and commercial markets. Read more
GIVEAWAY
It’s Your Chance to Win an Amazon Gift Card
How does it work? Each time you refer a friend or coworker to GovBrew using your unique referral link, you’ll receive an entry for the giveaway. 1 referral = 1 entry (no limit).
What to do next: The big blue button below is linked to your unique referral code. Click it to start sharing.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
How does endpoint security by design impact contractor systems?
According to HP Federal's COO, threat actors can use endpoints as vectors that could enable them to infiltrate an organization’s network and highlight the importance of security by design to ensure the security of such endpoints and safeguard government and contractor systems. Read more
Avoiding a generational communication crisis — where do you even start?
In this OP-ED, one business development expert says that averting the digital generation's communication crisis begins with developing greater emotional intelligence. For millennials and Gen Z who grew up immersed in instant messaging, emails, and social media, brevity and speed are prized over depth. However, this efficiency undermines the development of emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication skills – the cornerstone of leadership and customer engagement success. Read more
When is it OK for public officials to block you on your socials?
The US Supreme Court has clarified when public officials can legally block citizens on social media platforms; they unanimously found that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on whether a post is a state action or is private conduct. Read more
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