Saturday, April 20, 2024
Saturday, April 20, 2024
This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on which contractors are getting the majority of other transaction agreements, DOD's involvement in 5G networks, an interview with the CEO of AM General and more.
'Nontraditional' contractors are getting the bulk of other transaction agreements:
Dominance of 'nontraditional' players in DOD's prototype pipeline raises questions about next-gen weapons
The Pentagon says the vast majority of its "other transaction agreements" -- contracts typically used to sidestep regular acquisition regulations to quickly build prototype weapon systems -- have gone to companies it considers "nontraditional" defense contractors.
Speculation about DOD's intentions for fifth-generation wireless networks has swirled since it released a Sept. 18 request for information on "Dynamic Spectrum Sharing":
Pentagon spectrum proposal sparks controversy, as DOD denies plans to nationalize 5G networks
The Pentagon has faced confusion, pushback and controversy over its latest spectrum proposals, forcing the Defense Department to issue a denial about plans to nationalize fifth-generation wireless networks and muddying DOD's role in U.S. 5G initiatives.
Inside Defense interviewed the CEO of AM General this week:
AM General CEO says he sees opportunity for humvee-maker to expand its business approaches
The chief executive of AM General, which was recently sold, said the company is focused on expanding not only its product line, but also the ways it does business.
Space and Missile Systems Center Production Corps Chief Engineer John Morris spoke this week during an SMC industry day:
SMC leveraging Air Force cloud services, tools as it builds digital ecosystem
The Space and Missile Systems Center plans to leverage existing Air Force cloud services and integration efforts as it works to establish a cloud-based ecosystem to enable greater use of digital and model-based systems engineering -- a plan it expects will allow the Space Force to move more quickly toward greater adoption of digital engineering practices and increase commonality and collaboration between the two services.
Digital engineering in future munitions is a new focus area for the Air Force:
Air Force's weapons PEO doubling down on digital and agile transformation
Brig. Gen. Heath Collins is taking on his new position as the Air Force's program executive officer for weapons by launching initiatives like the Global Precision Attack Weapon to promote the use of digital engineering and open architecture principles in legacy and future munitions.
The Government Accountability Office issued a report this week looking at how the Defense Department is considering changing the way it acquires the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system:
Boeing: GMD program faces 'irreplaceable' loss of expertise, experience if next contract broken up
Boeing, prime contractor for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, has warned government auditors that if the Missile Defense Agency breaks the current contract used to manage the homeland defense system into smaller projects as the Defense Department is currenting considering, then the company could lose "irreplaceable" personnel with experience and expertise on the program.
Document: GAO report on GMD acquisition challenges
Last but certainly not least, some cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:
DOD sets timeline to establish new contractual relationship with CMMC Accreditation Body
The Defense Department has set a deadline for the accreditation body behind the Pentagon's cyber certification program to establish a contractual relationship with DOD by the end of this month.