October 21, 2024

QUICK HITS

• MAPS Industry Day: ACC-APG and CHESS are hosting it on Nov. 8.

• Acquisition Executive SB Forum: Get ready for USSOCOM’s Nov 12 event.

• DOL Seminar: 2025 wage requirements for federally funded construction and service deals.

• “That’s concerning!” PSC’s questions about the CMMC 2.0 rule include: Does DOD have capacity to certify? Will they limit contracts to those necessary?

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

DOD space policy directive clarified Space Force, Space Command roles.

In particular, the new version of “DOD Directive 3100.10” signed by DOD DepSec Hicks for the first time codifies into Pentagon policy the three primary missions for which Space Force Guardians must be organized, trained and equipped to fulfill. The directive also officially establishes the assistant secretary of defense for space policy as the chair of the Space Warfighting Activities group. Read more

Report to Congress on nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile.

In its FY22 budget request, the WH sought $5.2 million for DOD R&D work on the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N). The WH also requested $10 million for the NNSA to study adapting the W80-4 nuclear warhead, intended for the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) air-launched cruise missile, for delivery carried by the SLCM-N. Later, the Navy’s FY23 budget request eliminated funding for the SLCM-N, stating that the missile was “cost prohibitive and the acquisition schedule would have delivered capability late to need.” Read more

“What’s next?” after Army canceled the next-gen Patriot interceptor.

From AUSA 2024: The US Army last week announced it was canceling plans to develop a next-generation interceptor for the Patriot air defense system, but executives from key air defense competitors largely shrugged off the news. Instead of buying a new interceptor, which Maj. Gen. Lozano called “very expensive,” the Army will upgrade the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement currently made by Lockheed Martin. Read more

ICYMI:

• Army’s dream of vastly simplified networking is starting to come true.

• USSF to spend even more on its multi-billion dollar missile defense system.

• How the Pentagon’s financial audit will help win wars.

• DJI got blacklisted—again. The company filed a lawsuit against the DOD.

• Firefly to launch True Anomaly’s Jackal vehicle for USSF mission.

Defense Contract Awards

• SpaceX secured National Security Space Mission deals worth $733.5M.

• Anduril and Invariant inked a $400M USMC Anti-drone System contract.

• Parsons booked a $225M USACE Environmental Remediation deal.

• Epsilon got a $184.5M Navy IT and CS Support contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Clarity Innovations has a new SVP.

Defense Job Openings

• DTIC is hiring a Deputy Program Manager.

• NAVSEA is seeking a Program Manager.

FUNNY

INTEL COMMUNITY

NRO accelerates contracting to support industrial base.

The NRO is fast-tracking its contracting processes to better support commercial satellite operators and partners. The goal is to enhance collaboration with the private sector while maintaining the U.S.'s intelligence edge through agile, rapid acquisitions. This shift aims to align NRO operations with the evolving needs of commercial space tech. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: DISA’s Full Content Inspection (FCI) Cyber Defensive Capability Pre-RFP.

• RFP: INSCOM released the solicitation for the Global Intelligence Logistics and Engineering (GILE) requirement.

• Independent review panels calls for major reforms in the wake of Former-POTUS assassination attempt.

• Meet Brookings Fellow Jonathan Czin, former CIA China expert.

• MITRE’s board of trustees has a new member.

• ODNI is looking for a Deputy Assistant Director.

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CIVILIAN

GAO: Login.gov facing technical difficulties and cost uncertainty.

GSA’s Login.gov needs to address technical challenges concerning the biometric validation pilot program, according to a new GAO report. The GAO report noted a lack of fraud controls and visibility into authentications, high failure rates, non-transparent pricing plans, and challenges with the website’s noncompliance with NIST 800-63 Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2). Read more

VA is updating its AI suicide risk model to reach more women.

The VA is adding additional risk factors to its AI-powered tool for identifying veterans at high risk of suicide to better account for the experiences of women. The effort comes after a report released in March warned that the VA’s suicide prevention tool—the Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health—Veterans Enhanced Treatment program—used retired male servicemembers as its baseline. Read more

DHS wants to incorporate more cloud technology into its biometric database (an RFI).

The DHS wants to transition its massive biometric identity management system to more cloud-focused technology. DHS’s new RFI identifies biometric identity profiles, the most prominent example is the collection of biometric processes from immigration officers working at American posts and ports. Overall, the database constitutes one of the world’s largest repositories of biometric data, with more than 260 million logged in the system. Read more | Get the RFI

ICYMI:

• AI tools helped Treasury recover billions in fraud and improper payments.

• 30% of the cameras in CBP’s main surveillance system are broken.

• Remote control robots could help humanity explore the moon and Mars.

• Feds’ employee experience and engagement continued to climb in 2024.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Post protest, IRS adds awardees to $1.9B EPPIS BPA. Main contract: 22nd Century Technologies, Noblis, and Deloitte. Small biz contract: Centennial, eTelligent, Integrated Systems, Chevo Consulting, FedTec, Macannie/TISTA JV, and Agovx/22nd Century Technologies JV.

• DOE has selected Cirba Solutions for the $200M Critical Materials Refining award negotiations.

• Golden IT, a Mentor Protégé 8(a) JV between protégé and managing partner Sara Software Systems, LLC (Sara) and mentor Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC (Harmonia), won a $10M CFPB Microsoft Cloud Office and Power Platform Support Task on 8(a) STARS III.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• NIST leader stepping down in January.

• Arcfield welcomed a new CIO.

• A retired GAO executive was selected to be Sikich’s FMA Managing Director.

Civilian Job Openings

• DHS wants a Deputy Division Director.

• NPS needs a Program Manager.

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. New Boeing wage deal? Could it end the strike of the unionized West Coast workers? SOURCE↗︎ 

2. A new Parkinsons Disease drug by AbbVie was approved by the FDA. “Produodopa” was made to treat the motor fluctuations of patients with advanced Parkinsons. SOURCE↗︎

3. Puzzle master Will Shortz shares his experience with a stroke. Getting help right away is critical; “for every minute there’s a delay…about 2 million neurons die.” SOURCE↗︎

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