Defense
DOD excels at prototyping. Getting to production is another story.
Acquisition reform may be the bridge, but the paths from prototype to funded program remains unclear.
Modernization
Oracle wins $396M federal HR systems overhaul contract
The Office of Personnel Management is using the contract to consolidate more than 100 systems into a single platform covering 2 million federal employees.
Emerging Tech
Air Force taps Salesforce’s Army contract for personnel modernization work
The enterprise license agreement is part of a $5.6 billion vehicle and will bring agentic artificial intelligence to workforce and logistics management.
Acquisition
Commerce goes direct to hyperscalers with $4.1B cloud pact
The department cites artificial intelligence, weather modeling and scale as reasons to narrow the competition.
Acquisition
Judge blocks DOD's ban on Anthropic, calls it First Amendment retaliation
The court finds the Pentagon's supply chain risk designation was punishment for public criticism, not a legitimate security threat.
Acquisition
Microsoft takes Anthropic's side in DOD fight, warns it sets a new precedent
In a court briefing, Microsoft argues the Defense Department is using a national security policy designed for foreign adversaries against a U.S. company over a contract dispute.
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
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.
People
Katie Arrington departs DOD to rejoin private sector
CMMC's standard bearer is joining quantum computing company IonQ as its chief information officer.
Acquisition