October 25, 2023

Chevron buys Hess for 60B, WH requests 3.4B for nuclear subs, Smithsonian needs a Tech Specialist, AI to cure robocalls, China stealing tech secrets, DC subway advertising scheme

October 25, 2023

QUICK HITS

  • Did you know that JVs have a two year rule? Don’t get disqualified for submitting an offer two+ years after the first award to the JV.

  • GSA updates FAR standard forms in the GSA Forms Library: The changes focus on equity issues to remove barriers to access.

  • Event notice: Check out the Army PEO EIS Procurement Forecast to Industry on November 30 at Fort Belvoir, VA.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

$3.4 billion requested to speed up nuclear sub production.

The funding will boost the US Submarine Industrial Base’s modernization efforts, upscaling its shipyards and other infrastructure. The majority of the funding will address the Virginia-class submarine program’s production delays, with 61 percent of the emergency supplemental funding slated for faster production of the nuclear-powered submarines. Read more

US may look oversees to help keep its warships in action.

China has the world's largest navy, with more than 370 ships and submarines in service in 2022. US Navy's battleforce of roughly 300 ships may have a qualitative advantage, but its edge has been dulled by protracted delays at domestic shipyards. The GAO said that across 10 classes of US Navy ships, the average depot-maintenance delay per ship increased from 14 days in 2011 to 19 days in 2021. That number has improved, but delays persist. Read more

U.S. laser-focused on Indo-Pacific conflict deterrence as Chinese military expands.

The U.S. is hyper-focused on reducing conflict in the Indo-Pacific region as China continues to double down on efforts to expand military might and engage in provocative behavior. A new report outlines China’s military power, including its modernization efforts, aggressive intercepts of US aircraft, and more. Read more

ICYMI:

Defense Contract Awards

Follow the Defense Leaders

  • Lockheed Martin promotes new Segment VP for deep space exploration, weather/earth science, and commercial solutions.

  • Air Force Cyber Force Development Chief exits, takes a VP role with MAD20 Technologies.

  • Former Reed senior director appointed VP, acting CTO at Frontgrade Technologies.

  • Parsons exec named VP, CTO of Defense & Space Engineering Solutions.

Defense Job Openings

INTEL COMMUNITY

Intelligence Report: Iranian-backed militias ready to ramp up attacks against US forces in Middle East.

The militia groups have already launched multiple drone attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. But the US now has specific intelligence that those same groups could escalate even further as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. There are “red lights flashing everywhere,” a US official said. Read more

Nakasone selects Matteo G. Martemucci as Deputy Chief, Central Security Service.

Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, NSA, as well as chief, Central Security Service, has chosen Maj. Gen. (Sel.) Mattheo G. Martemucci to serve as deputy chief, CSS. Martemucci will assist Nakasone with operational control of signals intelligence missions conducted by all military services and the Coast Guard, comprising more than 16,000 personnel. Read more.

ICYMI:

CIVILIAN

VA inches closer to awarding T4NG2 IT Services contract.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has notified stakeholders that it anticipates awarding a potential 10-year, $60.7 billion contract vehicle for information technology products and services by the end of October or early November. Read more

GSA starts the bidding for employee travel system competition.

GSA has unveiled a final solicitation for the next iteration of its enterprise system, E-Gov Travel Service, that federal employees use to record, book, and expense their travel arrangements. Read more

Lawmakers identify AI as potential solution for combating robocalls, scams.

Senate lawmakers are considering how generative artificial intelligence may be used to protect consumers from illegal robocalls and robotexts that also use AI. Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband agreed that the FCC and DOJ are not doing enough to protect consumers from robocall scams. Read more

ICYMI:

  • POTUS’s tech and innovation medal recipients include those with VA, Energy, NIH ties.

  • High attrition erodes IRS staffing progress, watchdog says.

  • Zero trust is also about employee and cultural trust, DOE official says.

  • Fresh filing: Booz Allen protests $149M FDA Business Operations, Optimization, and Modernization (BOOM) BPA.

  • DOI revises law enforcement records management platform sources sought.

  • Opinion: Congress must scrutinize the U.S. spending on global crises.

Civilian Contracts Awards

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

M&A CORNER

Chevron snags Hess in $60B deal as oil consolidation continues.

Chevron has announced its all-stock deal to acquire Hess Corp. for $53B, with a total deal value of $60B (including some debt). The purchase follows Exxon's blockbuster Oct. 11 deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources. Read more

Broadtree’s Government Services Provider Acquired by CenterGate Capital.

Private equity firm CenterGate Capital has acquired Cartridge Technologies, a portfolio company of Broadtree Partners. Broadtree Managing Partner Brad Batten highlighted the firm’s collaboration with CTI and attributed the portfolio company’s achievements to the strength of the CTI team and the leadership of CTI CEO Colin Murphy. Read more

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

If someone asked you how OTA contracts really work, would you know what to say?

Other Transaction Authority contracts have existed for many decades as alternative means for federal agencies to quickly bring in new technologies and systems when the usual acquisition processes will just not cut it. But the focus on speed puts artificial limits on the promise and potential of what OTAs can do when used correctly, as NSTXL’s founder and chief executive explains. Listen

Opinion: The race is on to quantum-proof encryption.

Okay, quantum computers will break today’s public key cryptography. So, now what? As we await the standardization of the NIST-selected post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, federal agencies, standards organizations, and industry are not standing still. There are many ongoing initiatives within industry and government that will help the community of federal agencies begin to prepare and implement quantum-safe encryption solutions. Read more

Can graph database platforms unearth more insights into security vulnerabilities?

Government agencies looking to uncover insights into security vulnerabilities may want to consider adopting a graph database platform, according to the principal of partner solutions and technology at Neo4j. Read more

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