The INSIDER daily digest

Senate authorizers' FY-17 defense policy bill and a new commercial items regulation are among the highlights of this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has marked up its draft of the FY-17 defense policy bill:

Senate authorizers part ways with House over $18B OCO shift

The Senate Armed Services Committee, diverting from its House counterpart, has approved a fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill that matches the president's budget submission and does not alter the funding structure set by last year's congressional deal, according to a committee spokesman.

DOD is proposing a revision to governmental buying rules that would help businesses show that they paid for developing certain items:

Industry advocates say new proposal on commercial items is 'positive step'

The Pentagon is proposing a revision to acquisition regulations that would expand the presumption that an item was developed at private expense, potentially diminishing the concerns of some commercial manufacturers.

Document: DOD proposal on commercial items

The Air Force wants contractors to compete for the Huey helicopter recapitalization program contract:

Air Force confirms it will pursue open competition for Huey recap

The Air Force has decided to pursue an open competition for the UH-1N Huey helicopter recapitalization rather than a sole-source alternative that could have shortened the procurement time line by two years, the service announced Wednesday.

The Pentagon inspector general won't be conducting a cyber incidents audit:

DOD IG cancels audit of contractor response to cyber incidents

The Defense Department inspector general's office has terminated a planned audit intended to determine whether contractors were investigating cyber incidents in light of the department putting forth new related requirements, according to a recent memo.

Document: DOD IG memo on terminating cyber incidents audit

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DARPA wants to give dismounted squads more of an advantage:

DARPA seeks proposals for program to enhance dismounted squads

The Pentagon's advanced research agency is seeking industry's input for a program that would help maximize the performance of dismounted squads in today's complex, multidomain battlefields.

Document: DARPA BAA on squad X experimentation