🛡️ SBIR lives on (for now)

Although the SBIR/STTR programs officially expired on October 1, the DOD confirms that Phase III awards remain active. Existing projects are being funded through prior-year allocations, per guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency is restructuring its Foreign Military Sales acquisition office to improve responsiveness and reduce delays. The new model introduces three functional divisions—strategy, operations, and execution—and adds a senior acquisition executive to streamline oversight and delivery.

The DOD is working to operationalize the Golden Dome initiative, a nationwide, layered missile defense system designed to counter evolving threats, including hypersonics. The effort hinges on integrating space-based sensors, AI, and command-and-control systems to deliver defense at scale.

DFARS conflicts of interest update

The Department of Defense issued a new DFARS rule effective October 24, 2025 to prevent conflicts of interest in consulting services (NAICS 5416). Contractors must certify whether they or affiliates perform consulting work for “covered foreign entities” such as China, Russia, or sanctioned organizations. If so, they must submit an auditable mitigation plan or risk losing award eligibility. The new clause, DFARS 252.209-7012, applies even to simplified and commercial consulting acquisitions. Primes and subs should audit existing relationships, prepare certifications, and update agreements now. Firms without foreign-entity exposure can use that as a competitive differentiator in upcoming DoD bids.

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The DOD is consolidating 17 Indo-Pacific networks into a unified architecture, aiming to enhance cybersecurity through predictive AI and zero-trust principles. Katie Arrington says the strategy is designed to outpace adversaries and drive up their costs.

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The Office of the National Cyber Director is partnering with OMB to streamline federal technology procurement processes. The National Cyber Director emphasized the urgency, noting that delays often render tools obsolete before deployment. The initiative aims to align acquisition speed with innovation cycles.

The FCC has introduced a proposal to replace its decades-old Part 25 satellite licensing rules with a streamlined Part 100 framework. The initiative aims to modernize regulatory oversight, accelerate approvals, and enhance U.S. competitiveness in the rapidly evolving space sector.

DOE has instructed the FERC to initiate a rulemaking process to speed up grid connections for large-scale loads, especially data centers, through joint interconnection requests for both load and generation. The proposed reforms are designed to significantly reduce study times and network upgrade costs. One of the targets is to shorten the interconnection review to approximately 60 days in response to surging demand from AI systems and large industrial electricity users.

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A) Silly String — Yes, the USAF used silly string to identify hidden trip wires in combat zones. It seems that innovation can sometimes be simple—and fun.