Acquisition
New contract for background investigations raises concerns about scale and risk
COMMENTARY | As the government expands continuous vetting and increases workload demands, questions are emerging about whether the acquisition approach can support the mission without delays or performance issues.
Defense
Army, Anduril enter into new $20B enterprise agreement
Much like with Palantir, the Army is entering into this pact with the idea of establishing pre-negotiated prices so it can buy goods and services on an as-needed basis.
Emerging Tech
NASA seeks extension of SEWP V to Sept. 30
The agency says it needs more time to finish evaluations for the IT product recompete and resolve protests at the Government Accountability Office.
People
SEWP’s long-tenured leader is calling it a career
Before leaving government, Joanne Woytek is giving herself enough time to see the popular IT contract's next iteration through protests and into launch.
Acquisition
GSA proposes sweeping changes to Multiple Award Schedule program, including new AI terms and conditions
Refresh 31 would make transactional data reporting mandatory and introduce new AI contract terms.
Acquisition
SBA boots 628 more companies from 8(a) program
Total termination actions now represent 18% of the small business contracting program as the Trump administration's crackdown continues.
Acquisition
Air Force Research Lab seeks more national approach for innovation
Lab officials give a first glimpse at how they want to expand on a pilot program for turning dual-use technology into operational capability.
Acquisition
Contract reviews continue at OMB, official says
Deputy Director for Management Eric Ueland emphasized the need for CIOs to be empowered “at the beginning of conversations” for IT contracts.
Acquisition
FAA launches competition to modernize aging IT portfolio
The Federal Aviation Administration is using a challenge-based acquisition strategy that will require vendors to demonstrate, not just describe, their approach.
Acquisition
Oracle books $88M Air Force Cloud One contract
This award follows a $581 million contract with Amazon Web Services as the Air Force continues to build out its multi-cloud infrastructure.
Modernization
NITAAC finally pulls the plug on CIO-SP4
The troubled $50 billion IT contract vehicle has faced hundreds of protests that the agency could never fully resolve.
Acquisition
GSA quietly rolls out CMMC-like cybersecurity framework for contractors
The General Services Administration's new requirements for protecting controlled unclassified information apply immediately to new contracts, at the contracting officer's discretion.
Acquisition
Salesforce signs $5.5B contract with the Army
The vehicle will be open to the entire Defense Department and broadens access to the company’s artificial intelligence, data and cloud technologies over the next 10 years.
Acquisition
SBA suspends 1,000 8(a) contractors for missing data submission deadline
These companies now have until Feb. 19 to submit financial records, but their reinstatement remains uncertain.
Acquisition
GSA wants answers from resellers about markups and equipment maker relationships
A new sources sought notice includes a set of questions about pricing and services, plus explanations on the fees charged by value-added resellers.
Acquisition
Pentagon launches wide 8(a) review, targeting billions in awards
Secretary Pete Hegseth said only contracts that can pass a "lethality" test will survive.
Cybersecurity
EEOC experienced security incident involving contractor’s ‘unauthorized’ access, email says
The agency at the center of the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul U.S. anti-discrimination regulations in workplaces is reviewing the matter with law enforcement.
Ideas
NDAA: Massive expansion of commercial solutions openings and other key takeaways for defense contractors
COMMENTARY | The past year brought major changes for defense acquisition.
Acquisition
Bid protests hit decade-low and undermine calls for ‘loser pays’ reforms
New data from the Government Accountability Office shows protests have declined 40% since 2016, while half of all cases result in relief for contractors or corrective actions by agencies.
Artificial Intelligence