John Weiler, CXO, CoFounder IT-AAC

The Department of Defense (DoD) is proposing changes to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement updates from the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) for FY 2018, 2021, and 2022. These changes aim to refine requirements for contractors to submit cost or pricing data. Key updates include: 1. Higher Threshold for Certified Cost or Pricing Data: The threshold is raised to $2 million, reducing paperwork for smaller contracts while maintaining certification requirements for larger ones. 2. New Requirements for Non-Certified Data: Contracting officers can request "data other than certified cost or pricing data" to verify price reasonableness, making organized and transparent pricing documentation essential. 3. Application to Commercial Products and Services: The rules now apply to commercial items, including off-the-shelf products and services, requiring the same data submissions as traditional contracts. 4. Stronger Focus on Fair Pricing: Contracting officers have increased authority to scrutinize pricing data, even when certified data isn’t mandatory, emphasizing the need for clear, well-documented pricing justifications. The public comment period for this proposed rule ends on November 25, 2024, with comments accepted at Regulations.gov.

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Three words I use when describing my company's #DigitalEnginerering solution, ReadyOne: award - winning, rapid, and transformative. Visit SAIC at #SMD2024 to learn how ReadyOne can level up your digital engineering journey.

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lots of companies will need this in the future get ready

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Its budget season for many A&D companies. Keep this in mind as you plan for next year: ‘DOD releases final rule for CMMC, setting the stage for implementation next year’ https://lnkd.in/egXXCDaT

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Read #BoozAllen Civil Sector President Rich Crowe's perspective on how federal agencies can fully leverage their #data to advance mission outcomes. https://lnkd.in/ejdpcDbG

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Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is an important protective measure for safeguarding critical information from adversaries. This is worth getting familiar with if you are collaborating with U.S. stakeholders.

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🚨 New GAO Report on AI Risks in Critical Infrastructure 🚨 The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report examining how federal agencies are evaluating artificial intelligence (AI) risks in critical infrastructure sectors. AI has potential to improve critical infrastructure systems but may also introduce vulnerabilities. Executive Order 14110 requires lead federal agencies to evaluate and annually report on AI risks to critical infrastructure sectors Gartner predicts over 70% of government agencies will use AI for decision-making by 2026 Key findings: - None of the 17 sector risk assessments fully addressed all 6 key activities for evaluating AI risks; - Major gaps included evaluating risk levels and the likelihood of risks occurring, as well as mapping mitigation strategies to specific risks GAO recommends DHS expedite updates to its AI risk assessment guidance to address these gaps before the next round of assessments in January 2025. #CriticalInfrastructure #AISecurity #Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #RiskNeverSleeps https://lnkd.in/envrigTF

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Check out ATARC's newest White Paper: "How Might We Improve Federal Program Management by Addressing the Gap between the Mission and Mission Support?" written from ATARC's Growing Good in Government (G3i) Working Group. The goal of this white paper is to explore strategies for enhancing interagency collaboration and improving the user experience on this collaborative platform, ultimately leading to measurable improvements in program outcomes. Read here - https://ow.ly/2M6U50TRFUB #data #tech #ATARC #WhitePaper

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$2.8 billion Small Business Investment Fund supported by the DoD and SBA: These two entities are working with the Small Business Investment Company Critical Technology Initiative (SBICCT), a $2.8 billion fund, which enables investors to finance small businesses creating technologies considered critical to national security. These technologies are microelectronics, space technology, software, AI and more. The original Small Business Investment Company Initiative, founded in 1958, has backed companies such as Apple, Intel, and Fairchild Semiconductor. Each investment fund that works with the initiative can borrow up to $175 million and postpone loan payments until the company becomes profitable. This is a great use of taxpayer funds because it promotes national security and competitiveness, and this program has a strong track record of investors repaying all of the loans. #SmallBusiness #SBIC #SBICCT #Investments #NationalSecurity #SBA #DoD

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Come learn about how to sell your technology solution without traditional bidding …

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As the US Army continues to drive toward a truly #Data Centric environment in future Multi Domain Operations (MDO) and watch current conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East, I continue to reflect on this quote from a journal paper ( https://lnkd.in/dDYDiX59 ) titled "The Graveyard of Command Posts: What Chornobaivka Should Teach Us about Command and Control in Large-Scale Combat Operations" co-authored by LTG Milford Beagle, Jr ("Beags"), Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center - "we must reduce reliance on the physical dimension (the materiel), increase our utilization of the information dimension (the data), and maximize our relationship with the human dimension (our leaders)". These words can resonated within the resent analysis from Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) and Emelia Probasco titled "Building the Tech Coalition: How Project Maven and the U.S. 18th Airborne Corps Operationalized Software and Artificial Intelligence for the Department of Defense". As you read this report, one can see the three dimensions from the "information dimension (the data)" with "system organizes and integrates data, allows users to select and leverage algorithms to process that data, and gives operators the ability to more quickly make decisions under accepted army doctrine and decision workflow" to the "human dimension (our leaders)" with "trilingual leaders—those who can communicate across operational, technical, and acquisition communities—were catalysts for success in paving a new path". These elements or factors help drive decision dominance on a modern battlefield. As we explore new ways and concepts to push the limits within MDO, this is a great report to read the "story of how the 18th Airborne Corps used the Scarlet Dragon Exercise series to develop the Maven Smart System (MSS), an instance where frontline army users and a coalition of technology companies—enabled by DOD (United States Department of Defense) leadership and policies—pursued and developed a new #technology that is having a meaningful impact on operations."   #artificialintelligence

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For the Partnership for Public Service, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, the best way forward for agencies hinges on five key areas: developing better government leaders; making federal hiring and retention easier; holding poor performers accountable; making better use of data and technology; and ensuring efficient federal services to the public.

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would like to see a little bit more stick, but its a start (still a slow process) Receiving AOs have the right to refuse participating in reciprocity with another organization due to insufficient content demonstrating an informed understanding of the security posture, risk assessment of the system, and the rationale for the risk determination as defined on the RMF KS, or due to excessive risk to the enclave or site, as determined by the site AO. However, the Receiving AO must document and report this refusal to the Granting organization’s AO within 10 business days. If a refusal does occur, both organizations will continue to work, and re-work, the ATO package to reach an agreement, if at all possible. When AOs cannot reach an agreement to leverage re-use and reciprocity, both parties must use the following resolution process to gain assistance in resolving the impasse: 1. If a conflict arises, due to reciprocity refusal there should be an attempt to resolve it at the AO level. This could include, but not limited to, the Granting AO conducting new assessments. 2. If the conflict cannot be resolved at the AO level, the RMF TAG Secretariat will be notified and the RMF TAG Chair will attempt to mediate the dispute as appropriate. 3. If the RMF TAG Chair cannot reach a resolution, the issue will be taken to the AO Council, chaired by the DoD CISO, who will serve as a mediator for the dispute. 

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Staying informed in the dynamic world of government contracting (GovCon) is crucial for success. The GovCon media offers a wealth of free information, keeping you updated on the latest news, issues, and trends. From defense technology to federal policies, these sources provide valuable insights to help you stay ahead of the curve. This article highlights 12 GovCon media outlets that every government contractor should follow. Bookmark these links and subscribe to their newsletters to stay well-informed. https://lnkd.in/eSH4mqJH #GovCon #GovernmentContracting #GovConNews #FederalContracting #DefenseTechnology #GovernmentPolicies #ContractorResources #GovConUpdates #StayInformed #GovConTrends #IndustryInsights #GovConMedia #GovConSuccess #Bids #Proposals #LohfeldConsulting #ExecutiveBiz #FederalNewsNetwork #GovBrew #GovCIO #G2Xchange #OrangeSlices #WashingtonTechonology

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Government Contracting #govcon seems to be a labyrinth 😕to many outsiders and newer folks coming into the space. I once created an Access database🧮 at a previous employer many years ago to highlight the importance of good data management and common unique identifiers... As the company tended to have some byzantine processes and nomenclature that I was trying to flesh out and focus 🔍on measuring the things that matter. So I've seen quite a bit of diverse contracts from over $100M 💰annual jobs to ones under $100K. I believe the process is essentially the same to ensure a smooth transition from pre-award to 🥇post-award. It starts with being able to accurately code 🔣your contract into your system of record. Do your #proposal 📚and #pricing 💵documents match the contract award 📝documents? Check that before you 🖋sign! Had an experience recently where there was some ambiguity 😵with a contract modification document in what it was doing as it relates to the changes we proposed. Some contracts get complex when you get to a dozen mods or so with many CLINs, SLINs, and 🗜ARCNs... IYKYK We both had differing interpretations🗣 as we worked through the document. There was a 💪🏼challenge with all the moving parts and new CLINs added and old ones removed and it turns out that we both had the same initial confusion that it wasn't done correctly... However, when we dug ⛏deeper into the changes in Section B (contract values) and Section G (funding values) we determined that this customer was doing It's important to have a uniform 🥋methodology on how you read and review your contract documents before you sign it and book the funding and contract values in your accounting system. Set your books up right the first time, or you'll pay💸 for it over-and-over again each month. And get the right people 🤼 and departments involved! Make it a great week 👊🏼

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