Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.
Industry groups want clarity from Pentagon on CMMC certification costs, subcontractor requirements
The Defense Department is surging ahead with efforts to get third-party assessor organizations certified for work under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, but the process of setting up a structure for companies to be assessed and approved has many unanswered questions, according to two large defense industry groups.
Boeing restarts some Puget Sound-area operations
Boeing said it will begin a "safe and orderly restart of limited operations in the Puget Sound region."
DOD announces $133M Defense Production Act contract for N-95 masks
The Pentagon will soon be awarding $133 million to U.S. companies to produce 39 million N95 masks over the next 90 days as part of its first Defense Production Act action to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Analysts say coronavirus proves out thesis of Raytheon-UTC deal
The long-anticipated merger between Raytheon and United Technologies closed earlier this month, concluding just as the coronavirus outbreak began to take a major toll on the U.S. economy.
Lockheed says it now expects to send over $450 million in accelerated payments to supply chain
Lockheed Martin said it has accelerated $156 million in supply chain payments over the last three weeks and now expects to flow down more than $450 million in accelerated payments as a result of the Pentagon's new progress payment policy.
Senior Democrats call on FEMA, HHS to tap DOD industrial base for COVID-19 response
Three House committee chairmen are urging the Trump administration, especially the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Health and Human Services Department, to begin using the Defense Department's industrial base to produce medical supplies needed to stem the outbreak of COVID-19 and re-open the U.S. economy.
Pentagon memo issues guidance on paid leave for contractors kept 'in a ready state'
The Defense Department laid out the framework for implementing recent legislation meant to help pay contractors unable to work during the coronavirus outbreak.
DOD issues new performance-based payments rule -- this time, without including progress payments
The Pentagon issued a final rule implementing part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for a preference for performance-based payments.
Top House defense Dem wants industrial base protections in upcoming COVID-19 rescue bill
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said last week he is working to include measures that would help the U.S. defense industrial base in an upcoming COVID-19 stimulus bill being crafted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
GOP senators want new reviews to flag Chinese action in U.S. economy during pandemic
A group of Republican senators led by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is urging the Trump administration to "scrutinize" any transaction or investment the Chinese government or its state-controlled companies are making in the U.S. industrial base that could "undermine" national security.
Top Oshkosh leaders volunteer for salary cuts
Oshkosh said its chief executive has volunteered to reduce his salary from April 5 until the end of the fiscal year, which concludes Sept. 30.
General Atomics opens new facility in Colorado
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems said earlier this month it has opened a new spacecraft development, integration and test factory in Centennial, CO.
Lockheed promotes Hodge
Lockheed Martin said it has named Yvonne Hodge senior vice president of enterprise business transformation, effective June 15.
Pentagon fast-tracks approval authority for OTAs related to coronavirus response
The Pentagon is allowing individual agencies and contracting offices to approve expensive other transaction agreements without seeking higher level approval if the projects are related to the coronavirus response.