QUICK HITS
Shutdown turbulence: NASA pauses as global space rivals surge.
Shutdown response: associations mobilize to support members and missions.
Open source in defense: A guide to doing it right.
Government shutdown fallout: contractors face uneven impacts across sectors.
DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
GAO report highlights oversight gaps in military relocation program.
A new GAO report finds that DOD’s household goods relocation program lacks consistent performance data and contractor oversight, raising concerns about service member experiences and TRANSCOM’s accountability. The findings suggest a need for improved metrics, transparency, and program management.
Hung Cao outlines Navy modernization priorities and IT reform.
Undersecretary of the Navy Hung Cao is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the service’s IT and business systems, citing outdated infrastructure as a barrier to modernization. His remarks emphasize the need for streamlined acquisition, improved data visibility, and enterprise-wide digital transformation.
Navy nears decision on sixth-gen fighter competition.
The Navy’s F/A-XX program is approaching a major milestone, with Boeing and Northrop Grumman vying to build the next-gen fighter that will replace the F/A-18 fleet and complement the F-35. A winner could be named this week.
ICYMI:
Golden Dome initiative: U.S. strengthens layered homeland defense.
Nomad unveiled: Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky launch runway-free drones.
Defense spending expected to drive satellite market boom.
Google expands AI capabilities for stronger cyber defense.
Defense Contract Awards
Follow the Defense Leaders
Northrop Grumman has a new CTO, Supply Chain VP.
GE Aerospace’s Board has a new member.
Defense Job Openings
ANGU needs a Force Support Director.
USACE wants a Contract Specialist.
COMPLIANCE CORNER
FAR Part 15 Update
GSA’s new RFO-2025-15 policy marks a major shift in how contractors compete for negotiated procurements. Starting November 3, 2025, GSA will adopt a modernized FAR Part 15, replacing “discussions” with clearer “negotiations,” tightening what counts as “clarifications,” and redefining the competitive range. For GovCons, this means proposal strategies, communications, and protest risks are all about to change. The streamlined structure, now organized around the full acquisition lifecycle, aims to speed evaluation and award decisions. Contractors that quickly align their capture and proposal processes with these updates will have an early advantage in the new negotiation-driven era of federal contracting.
INTEL COMMUNITY
Army’s Multi-Domain Task Forces sharpen joint warfare edge.
The U.S. Army’s Multi-Domain Task Forces are evolving into high-impact units designed to integrate cyber, space, and conventional capabilities. With tailored formations and joint coordination at the core, MDTFs are shaping how the Army fights—and how contractors plug into future operations.
ICYMI:
Axia Time and NGA unveil watch built for extremes.
NATO launches AI lab to boost strategic communications edge.
The White House procurement office has a new leader.
GET SEEN
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CIVILIAN
Will DOT end its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program after four decades?
The Department of Transportation could potentially end its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, citing evolving equity strategies and shifting policy priorities. While officials frame the move as part of a broader modernization effort, stakeholders are raising concerns about long-term impacts on small and minority-owned contractors.
DOE terminates $7.6B in climate project awards.
The Department of Energy has withdrawn $7.6 billion in funding across 223 climate-related projects, citing missed deadlines and insufficient progress. The decision underscores DOE’s push for greater accountability and signals a shift in how federal climate investments will be managed moving forward.
NASA outlines phased strategy for commercial space station transition.
NASA is advancing a multi-phase plan to shift from the International Space Station to commercially operated platforms. The strategy includes design, development, and deployment phases aimed at ensuring continuity in low-Earth orbit operations while fostering private sector innovation.
ICYMI:
GAO ruling: SDVOSB status must be valid at award time.
Shutdown cost recovery: track now.
Astroscale teams up with NASA for RPO testing.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Follow Civilian Leaders
DOC named its new Standards and Technology Undersecretary.
The Social Security Commissioner will lead the IRS office.
Civilian Job Openings
TREAS is seeking a Business and International Taxation Director.
DHS is hiring a Contract Specialist.
M&A CORNER
SAIC to acquire SilverEdge.
SAIC is shelling out $165 million to acquire SilverEdge Government Solutions, aiming to beef up its intel capabilities across cyber, software, and cloud. The deal adds 450 cleared professionals and expands SAIC’s footprint in the national security space.
Xcelerate acquires ClearAvenue to expand federal IT footprint.
Xcelerate Solutions has acquired ClearAvenue, adding software development, data analytics, and cloud capabilities to its national security portfolio. The move boosts Xcelerate’s reach across federal civilian and defense agencies.
Andrew Borene to acquire combat robotics firm.
Andrew Borene, a national security veteran and tech exec, is set to acquire a combat robotics company specializing in AI-driven unmanned systems for defense and security. The move signals a push toward innovation in autonomous platforms.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Federal employee pay after a shutdown? No guarantees. This is according to a white house memo. SOURCE↗︎
ICE plans to expand its social media surveillance operations by hiring contractors in Vermont. The initiative aims to enhance ICE’s ability to monitor online activity for potential threats. SOURCE↗︎
The Charlie Kirk’s assassination suspect confessed—on Discord. Now, DHS and FBI are digging through private chats and digital footprints tied to over 20 users. SOURCE↗︎
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