QUICK HITS
Government shutdown: Operational guidance for USAF and USSF.
Government shutdown prep: Five actions GovCon employers should take.
Event: The Com-In-Con (Compliance In Federal Contracting) Conference, 2025. Compliance issues covering CMMC, AI, EOs, and more.
House pushes SAMOSA Act: A recipe for smarter software buys.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Pentagon prepares contingency plans amid potential government shutdown.
As a possible government shutdown approaches, the DOD is activating contingency protocols to mitigate disruptions. Key risks include halted weapons testing, delayed foreign military aid, and suspended pay for civilian personnel.
SecDef outlines defense reform priorities at Quantico summit.
During a high-level leadership summit at Quantico, SecDef introduced a 10-point directive focused on personnel standards, acquisition reform, and oversight restructuring. The event convened nearly 800 senior officials, signaling a broad push for institutional change across the DOD.
Space Force refines contracting to meet evolving acquisition demands.
Space Systems Command is adapting its contracting strategies to better align with the dynamic space acquisition environment. By emphasizing tailored approaches, agile execution, and mission-focused partnerships, SSC aims to ensure procurement keeps pace with operational complexity and innovation.
ICYMI:
Defense Contract Awards
Follow the Defense Leaders
OSD appointed an Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy.
WH nominates former ACC and PACAF head to be USAF Chief of Staff.
Riverside Research’s Board of Trustees has a new member.
Defense Job Openings
USAF needs a Deputy Director.
NAVSEA wants an Executive Director.
COMPLIANCE CORNER
FAR Part 19 Overhaul
The Federal Acquisition Regulation just went through one of its biggest rewrites in years, and it’s aimed squarely at how small business contracting works. The new model, effective September 2025, reorganizes Part 19 around the acquisition lifecycle with Pre-solicitation (19.1), Evaluation & Award (19.2), and Post-Award (19.3).
What Changed (and What Didn’t)
The “rule of two” is still here. If two or more smalls can do the work between the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds, agencies still have to set it aside. However, the overhaul entails significant changes at the order level. Small business set-asides under multiple-award contracts are now discretionary; order-level status certifications are gone, and protests on order set-asides are off the table. On the 8(a) front, contracting officers now have to weigh competitive 8(a) vehicles before making sole-source awards, and follow-ons moving to HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB are automatically released from the 8(a) program.
Why It Matters
For small businesses, this overhaul could mean both new flexibility and new competition. Less paperwork is good news, but the discretionary language on order-level set-asides may make it harder to rely on those opportunities. For agencies, the streamlined Part 19 is designed to be more user-friendly while still meeting statutory goals. In short, there are fewer hoops to jump through, but there is a new playbook for GovCons to master.
CHART
GAO. Weapon System Sustainment: Various Challenges Affect Ground Vehicles’ Availability for Missions. GAO-25-108679. September 25, 2025.
INTEL COMMUNITY
Are U.S. and French spy satellites gearing up for a showdown with China in space?
The U.S. and France are accelerating joint spy-satellite maneuvers in orbit as part of a growing push to counter China’s expanding military presence in space. These collaborative missions aim to strengthen allied space intelligence capabilities and protect key satellite systems used for communications, surveillance, and mission support.
ICYMI:
FBI RFI: User Activity Monitoring and Behavioral Analytics Solution.
NATO RFI: BYOD for Agency Business Mobility Network.
DOD would curtail long-term intelligence work during gov’t shutdown.
Space Force launches new unit: Expanding intel production capabilities.
NGA celebrates the grand opening of a state-of-the-art facility in St. Louis.
DCSA is looking for an Insider Threat Curriculum Manager.
GET SEEN
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CIVILIAN
Is the FAA’s new NOTAM system the game-changer aviation has been waiting for?
FAA’s new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system replaces the outdated 1985 infrastructure, offering a cloud-based, scalable platform designed to deliver real-time alerts about airspace changes, such as runway closures and airspace restrictions, to pilots and flight planners. This initial phase involves distributing NOTAMs to early adopter stakeholders, with full implementation expected by late Spring 2026.
FAA reinstates Boeing’s limited certification authority.
The FAA has authorized Boeing to resume limited airworthiness certification responsibilities for select 737 MAX and 787 aircraft. The decision includes alternating oversight with FAA inspectors and heightened scrutiny of final assembly processes to ensure compliance and safety.
Meta and GSA partner: Llama AI models offered to agencies.
Meta and the GSA have launched a partnership to provide federal agencies with free access to Llama 2 AI models. The initiative aims to accelerate responsible AI adoption across government, supported by governance frameworks and technical guidance to ensure secure implementation.
ICYMI:
FAA RFI: Telecom Expense Management (TEM) Solution.
DOT RFI: Aviation Weather Radar.
OPM invests $12M: Boosting innovation through tech development fund.
Coast Guard invests $350M in robotics and autonomous tech.
Widespread breach let hackers steal employee data from FEMA and CBP.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Guidehouse Digital won a $135M OCIO IT Labor contract.
GDIT booked a $45M NIH ORIV Multiple Services contract.
JCS Solutions secured a $35M Maintenance & End-user support deal.
cFocus Software won a $12M DHS OCIO Geospatial Capabilities and Infrastructure Support deal.
Polaris QB inked a DARPA Quantum Computing Drug Design deal.
Follow Civilian Leaders
HHS has appointed a Tech Chief.
CORAS Board of Advisors has a new member.
Civilian Job Openings
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
NASA wants lunar village within a decade. NASA Administrator Sean Duffy laid out a bold vision: sustained human life on the Moon. SOURCE↗︎
Interior backs coal. The move supports the WH’s broader push for “unleashing American energy.” SOURCE↗︎
Did Nobel Laureate George Smoot rewrite our knowledge of the cosmos? His work confirmed the Big Bang theory. RIP! SOURCE↗︎
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