September 13, 2024

QUICK HITS

• FedRAMP may want to expand metrics to include assessment reciprocity: A response to an RFI recommends ways to improve FedRAMP beyond cost.

• AFIMSC partners with AFWERX to award crucial contracts: USAF to leverage AFWERX challenge, CSO to rapidly address tech needs.

• NRO director offers ways to boost contracting opportunities: His agency is "working across a broad spectrum" including small and emerging businesses.

• Energy wants industry input on AI partnerships: DOE seeks public feedback for AI development roadmap implementation.

GOVBREW INSIDER

• Check out this week’s 70+ opportunities from defense, civilian, and intel agencies.

• Our team uncovered 60+ upcoming IT Services opportunities at the National Park Service (NPS) in this week's recompete report.

• See if your company qualifies for any of the latest grants & competitions.

• Stay up to date on the upcoming events.

• Keep track of the latest Agency Acquisition Forecasts.

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DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Could a Canadian experiment help US Navy recruiting?

More than 100 young Canadians are spending a trial year in the Royal Canadian Navy as part of a new initiative worth examining as a model for the U.S. Navy’s recruiting efforts. Read more

SSC advances its missile warning support program.

Space Systems Command has announced the completion of the ground critical design review for its Next-Generation Overhead Infrared Polar (OPIR NGP) program and the system critical integration review for its complementary Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program. Read more

DOD lacks data to manage the national defense stockpile.

The GAO has found that the DOD does not have sufficient information to determine all the critical materials that should be included in its national defense stockpile. DOD estimates it will need $18.5 billion to address all shortfalls identified in fiscal year 2023. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: USAF is seeking IT Support Services. Due Sept 27.

• DIU announces results of maritime AI project.

• Army advances its FTUAS program with prototype evals.

• DARPA wants to put quantum computer developers’ machines to the test—under the scrutiny of a quantum skeptic and his team, no less.

Defense Contract Awards

• Accenture Federal Services got a $1.5B USAF Enterprise-scale Cloud Service Provider Reseller and Software Management Services deal.

• BlueForge Alliance won a $951M USN SPRCU US Submarine Industrial Base and Foreign Military Sales Requirements deal.

• Matregenix was awarded three USAF Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts.

• Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp was awarded a $85M Navy contract for Heterogeneous Autonomy Prototyping and Execution.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• ICF has a new Digital Modernization and Experience SVP.

• Peraton tapped a new VP, General Manager of Homeland & Diplomacy.

Defense Job Openings

• USAF is seeking a Director of Staff.

• Army is hiring an Innovation Director.

TRIVIA 🤔

Just click the choice you think is right & the correct answer will be shown. Scroll down to the bottom of this email for more information about the correct answer.

INTEL COMMUNITY

NGA, DOD IG's are conducting a joint evaluation of Maven AI program integration.

The DOD established Maven in 2017 to speed the integration of big data and machine learning technologies in the U.S. military inventory. The NGA was given operational control of the project in 2022. The officials emphasized that they “may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds,” and will also consider suggestions for additional adjustments. Read more

ODNI report reflects talent pipeline improvements & retention issues.

An intelligence community workforce report released by ODNI contains some good news and bad news when it comes to employing a diverse workforce. Overall, the IC continues to lag in employing minorities, women, and people with disabilities, as compared with the broader federal government and the U.S. civilian labor force. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFP: Dept of State is seeking NextGen Passport Personalization Printers Support. Due Sept 30.

• RFI: Space Force seeks Space Domain Awareness capabilities.

• IC launches into space with new joint center.

• Dept of State sets a December deadline to build cyber data visualization.

• Meet the DIA reservist whose ‘mission in life’ was to save New Yorkers on 9/11.

• Edward B. Johnson, CIA officer who helped lead “Argo” rescue, passes away.

• FGS has a new President and CEO.

VIDEO

The National Archives and Records Administration uses science and technology to keep one of America's most important historic documents safe.

CIVILIAN

State Department wants 'a lot more' vendor self-assessments.

Up to 60% of all federal procurement spending happens at the end of the fiscal year, but while self-assessments have emerged as a potential solution to the challenges of the contractor performance assessment ratings reporting process, the Dept of State says vendors rarely submit self-assessments. Read more

Commerce launches efforts to advance supply chain resilience.

The Department of Commerce has unveiled several initiatives to further develop the U.S. government’s analytical capacity to understand and address supply chain risks. The department said one of the efforts announced at the Supply Chain Summit is the launch of a diagnostic tool designed to help assess supply chain risks across the U.S. economy using a set of indicators. Read more

GSA’s 18F updates its guide to de-risking government tech.

The 18F digital services agency within the GSA’s Technology Transformation Services has released an updated guide to help federal, state and local government agencies reduce the risk of failure of government technology projects. Read more

ICYMI:

• RFI: NASA has released a contract for organizing spaceflight mission operations and systems (COSMOS). Due Sept 27.

• RFP: VA is seeking an Enterprise Learning Management Solution (ELMS).

• OMB will issue new AI procurement guidelines to guide Federal acquisitions.

• NARA: Agencies are exempted from one "no paper records" policy.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• IronArch won a $10M VA Cloud Support Services–CloudKey Sustainment Support contract.

• Lancer Information Solutions booked a $14M IRS Salesforce Service Support contract.

• Kode Labs snagged a $14M GSA UUI Solution Development deal.

• Inadev inked a $6M NOAA 14 Mission-critical Systems O&M deal.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• OPM appoints its new Chief Data Officer.

• REI Systems appointed a new CFO.

Civilian Job Openings

• DOJ is looking for a Deputy Director.

• Peace Corps needs a Country Director.

M&A CORNER

Renovus acquires QualX.

Renovus is expanding its reach into the GovCon space with the acquisition of QualX, a provider of records management and information services for federal agencies. This deal will allow Renovus to strengthen its capabilities in helping the government securely manage sensitive records and data. Read more

SBA rule proposal could change the game for GovCon M&As.

The SBA is proposing a major rule change that could shake up how small businesses handle mergers and acquisitions in government contracting. The rule aims to clarify size status recertifications, potentially affecting contract awards and eligibility. Read more

ICYMI:

• Darkhive closed its Series A investment round, led by Ten Eleven Ventures.

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

1. FTC authorizes the first OTC hearing aid software to be used in Apple’s AirPods Pro. Now Grandma can actually hear you when you call. SOURCE↗︎ 

2. China plans to train thousands of overseas law enforcement officers. The CCP wants the world order to be more “fair.” SOURCE↗︎

3. [Watch] SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission: Here are some updates on the first ever private spacewalk. SOURCE↗︎

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TRIVIA ANSWER ⭐️

Argon — Instead of oxygen, argon is used for the preservative environment surrounding our documents. Argon is completely inert, so it doesn't facilitate organic decay the way oxygen does. (Source)