November 4, 2024

QUICK HITS

• Fedgov as teacher: Wants to educate workers about AI prompt engineering.

• GovCon CRM: Connect project performance with it to create better proposals faster.

• SBA’s new rule: It can open more IDIQ opportunities for small businesses.

• Major airlines complain about WH competition review: They want more time, saying the analysis could dramatically impact the future of US aviation.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Army eyes balloon motherships to drop “lethal and non-lethal” drones, aid in counterspace ops.

As the US Army contemplates floating extremely high-flying balloons into the stratosphere, service space officials suggested recently that one of those missions might be carrying and launching drones that would disrupt or destroy enemy space assets on the ground, like jammers or satellite control stations. Read more

Coast Guard’s new posture statement highlights service’s operational strains.

Confronted with an expanding set of domestic and global missions, insufficient budgets, aging equipment, and personnel shortages, the Coast Guard unveiled its first-ever operational posture statement that looks into how the service’s needs are increasingly at risk of outpacing its operational capacity. Read more

SOCOM adds more autonomous capabilities to tech wish list.

An updated SOCOM tech list includes a new subsection titled “collaborative autonomy,” which highlights the use of “multiple Autonomous or Remote controlled Systems (ARCS) to share data in real-time” to improve battlespace awareness. The agency is particularly interested in data collection systems integrated with ARCS. Read more

ICYMI:

• How the US election might impact Saudi-Israeli normalization, arms sales.

• Groundswell subsidiary challenges Army’s award of SAP business systems to Accenture Federal.

• Blue Origin’s New Glenn just had its first stage.

• Pantir Technologies issues a treatise called “The Defense Reformation” addressing govbiz practices.

Defense Contract Awards

• HII inked a $3B DOD LOGIX contract.

• 7 contractors won a spot on the $99M Naval Postgraduate School Educational and Research Support Services IDIQ.

• Sanametrix won a $55.8M ED NAEP Web Devt. OPS and maintenance deal.

• BAE Systems won an $84M Navy mod for NTCDL work.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• DHA Tech Transformation lead takes a CTO role with industry.

• Textron Aviation has a new Defense and Special Missions SVP.

Defense Job Openings

• NAVSEA is seeking a Program Manager.

• Army is hiring a Program Manager.

FUNNY

INTEL COMMUNITY

State Dept to develop new AI marketplace for staff.

The DOS is taking new steps in its modernization plan that will marry advanced technologies with ongoing diplomatic efforts, continuing its expansion into leveraging artificial intelligence for daily operations. Matthew Graviss, State’s CDAIO, said that his agency is treating its AI endeavors as programs, not products. Read more

Parallels between business and the intelligence community: Retired General David Petraeus.

General David Petraeus, the leader of the U.S. Army during the Iraq War and director of the CIA for a short time, has had to overcome many of the challenges CFOs face when building their careers. While he now serves as a partner at global investment firm KKR and is chairman of its Global Institute, his ability to lead people, make critical decisions, develop trust, and handle critically sensitive information are all skills that are essential for CFOs looking to expand their role outside of the finance and accounting functions of the business. Read more

ICYMI:

• Watch: CISA Director and NSA Cyber Director talk about Secure by Design.

• NSA’s “Hybrid Compute Initiative” is now live.

• Centcom’s first CTO moves on to Navy intel role in Europe.

• ODNI is looking for an Enrollment Management Director.

GET SEEN

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CIVILIAN

Commerce looking to publish AI-ready data guidance in the coming months.

Guidance from the Dept of Commerce aimed at establishing a first-of-its-kind framework for using the agency’s public federal data with AI tools could come in the next several months. Director of AI policy and strategy to the undersecretary for economic affairs said the guidance will address topics such as documentation, improving metadata, licensing, usage, quality and integrity. Read more

House Oversight leaders are taking a fresh stab at federal improper payments rates.

The House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce is asking the GAO to take a fresh look at the federal government’s improper payments rates and root causes at the agency level that lead to incorrect payments. The subcommittee leaders said their request to GAO follows recent hearings on “improper payments and fraud” in the federal government, and the panel’s aim to “continuously evaluate whether agencies are getting better or worse at ensuring the levels of fraud seen during the pandemic will ‘never happen again.’” Read more

ICYMI:

• HHS’ ASPR playing “quarterback” for cyber response, resilience.

• A coalition of government IT leaders released a new Zero Trust Guide.

• Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism fund: As of August 2024, it had distributed about $3.4 billion.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Viasat inked a $569M GSA C5ISR Capabilities deal.

• Guidehouse wins $4M CDC National Provider Network consulting contract.

• Vibrantech Solutions awarded $4M IRS FATCA Financial Institution Data Services & Analytics Support task.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• CMS welcomed a new CIO.

• TMF has three new Board Members.

Civilian Job Openings

• VA needs a Design and Construction Executive Director.

• Treasury wants an Assistant Director.

M&A CORNER

Parsons finalized the acquisition of BCC Engineering.

Parsons has completed its acquisition of BCC Engineering, expanding its reach in infrastructure and transportation markets. This strategic move brings BCC’s engineering and design talent under Parsons' umbrella, enhancing the company’s capabilities across the U.S. with a focus on resilience and advanced design. Read more

ARKA completes acquisition of Radar and Sensor Technology Group

Arka has finalized its acquisition of the Radar and Sensor Technology Group, bolstering its capabilities in advanced defense and surveillance technologies. The move enhances Arka’s position in providing cutting-edge radar and sensor solutions for military and commercial applications. Read more

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. Boeing made a 38% pay raise offer to end the strike. Workers will vote on the new contract today. SOURCE↗︎ 

2. “Brat” is Collins Dictionary’s word of the year. We’re willing to bet you still don’t understand what it means. SOURCE↗︎

3. Researchers believe that Mars is not a good place for a baby boom. Are they right though? SOURCE↗︎

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