The INSIDER daily digest

We start off this Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest with news on Better Buying Power:

Kendall pushes 'new data' to fend off Better Buying Power critics

In a rebuke to his critics in Congress, Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, said Wednesday that he does not plan to author a fourth installment of Better Buying Power -- the Defense Department's key acquisition improvement initiative -- because current trends indicate that the first three BBP initiatives have been successfully controlling weapon system contract costs.

Document: Kendall briefing slide on benefits of Better Buying Power

News from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction that was posted very early this morning:

SIGAR: Private 'villas' and security for task force cost taxpayers $150M

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction is probing $150 million in spending on housing and security by the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations -- the latest in a series of inquiries into the shuttered Pentagon entity.

Coverage of a new government contractor:

Following split, CSRA vows to maintain commercial 'playbook'

Split from Computer Sciences Corp. and designed to focus on U.S. government work, CSRA will still retain a focus on commercial practices, the contractor's chief executive told Inside Defense this week.

DOD recently sent a report on the acquisition workforce development fund to Congress:

Acquisition fund helped add 859 personnel in FY-14, pay for training

The Pentagon's acquisition workforce development fund has helped increase the number of certified acquisition professionals and their training in line with the Defense Department's Better Buying Power objectives to improve the professionalism of the workforce, according to a recent report DOD acquisition chief Frank Kendall sent to lawmakers.

News on the recently awarded ACV contract:

Marine Corps conducted two next-gen amphib vehicle contract award debriefs

The Marine Corps has conducted two debriefs regarding the next-generation amphibious vehicle contract award and four out of the five competing vendors confirmed to Inside Defense they requested face-to-face meetings with the government.

(For more ACV news, check out our Notification Center, where you can sign up to receive email alerts whenever a related story is posted.)

DARPA is working on an effort designed to help find and respond to cyberattacks on critical U.S. infrastructure:

DARPA seeks ways to detect, respond to cyberattacks on infrastructure

The Pentagon's advanced research arm aims to hold a proposers' day this month to provide information on a new program designed to help find and respond to cyberattacks on critical U.S. infrastructure, according to a new notice.

Document: DARPA's RADICS proposers day notice

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has issued a new report:

CSBA: To regain EMS advantage, DOD should develop new CONOPs

The United States' advantage in the electromagnetic warfare domain is eroding, but the Pentagon can regain its edge by shifting its priorities and developing new operational concepts, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments states in a report released Wednesday.