Aaron Starks

GSA Schedule Holders - Don't Miss This!! GSA is planning to release Refresh 22 to its MAS Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 and an associated mass mod for existing schedule holders in August 2024. GSA will hold a webinar on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 1pm ET. The link to join is https://lnkd.in/gSAT5biS Refresh 22 expands OPTIONAL participation in the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) pilot to 67 SINs! Make sure you understand what that means to you should you select to participate. Learn more about TDR at https://lnkd.in/g-h8Yn9A The refresh also adds a statement to FAR Clause 52.232-36 under GSAR/M clause SCP-FSS-001 regarding payments made by the Governmentwide Purchase Card (GPC) and related processing fees, that reads: "Proposed prices must be inclusive of all costs associated with acceptance of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card (e.g., payment processing fees). Schedule contractors may not impose a surcharge at the order level for payment by Governmentwide commercial purchase card." This is important so you can recoup processing fees as the Government pushes to expand its use of the GPC into contract payments. Sell software on GSA Schedules? GSAM/R clause I-FSS-600 will be modified to add that MAS contractors MAY indicate if a software producer has attested that software complies with Government-specified secure software development practices and has an attestation form uploaded to the CISA repository by adding language provided in the Refresh under bullet 18b, Terms and Conditions, in their text file. Addinional updates include: ▶ Updates to specific large categories, subcategories, and SINs as follows: ⏩ Facilities (B), Subcategory B02, SIN 541690E ⏩ Industrial Products (E), Subcategory E04, SINs 332510C and 332510S ⏩ Industrial Products (E), Subcategory E05, SIN 325320 ⏩ Transportation and Logistics Services (K), Subcategory K03, SINs 492110 and 492210SB ⏩ Transportation and Logistics Services (K), Subcategory K05, SINs 485 and 532111 ⏩ Travel (L), Subcategory L01, SIN 531 ⏩ Travel (L), Subcategory L02, SIN 531110 ▶ Implement minor revisions to the Modification Products Price Proposal Template (PPT) ▶ Incorporate clause and provision updates, through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05 and GSAR/M Change 182 Details can be found at https://lnkd.in/grVYMCnf #gsa #schedules #refresh22 #massmod #MAS

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With the House Armed Services Committee highlighting its concern about capacity to support the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program in the FY25 NDAA the Chamber supports several bills and initiatives which would stimulate investment in much needed infrastructure upgrades at national space ranges and spaceports. ✔     The “Securing U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2024” is bipartisan legislation introduced in both the Senate and the House that would allow spaceports to access private activity bonds (PABs) to attract private sources of capital to fund badly needed infrastructure projects. ✔      “The Spaceport Act” would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration’s Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching (STIM) grant program to support construction and space transportation infrastructure projects nationwide.  ✔     The “Digital Spaceport of the Future” initiated by the Space Force and intended to ensure that the U.S. proactively adapts to the rapidly increasing demand and complex dynamics of space launches. Like all our transportation systems the investment in modern infrastructure at our nation's space facilities will deliver tremendous long-term economic value. #space #infrastructure #bonds #finance https://lnkd.in/eNYvjvHJ

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DHS to split $125M+ CBP OA Program Management and Engineering Support recompete - It can be hard to read the tea leaves, but it appears that #CBP is planning to split this contract into two components, with one RFP expected to go out next month as unrestricted, while another will go out as a SB set-aside on OASIS SB. ==>> https://lnkd.in/e_jiWhhw

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📣 Join us for the Software Enabled Weapons Industry Day, hosted by AFWERX Spark, on July 17-18, 2024! This event will bring together industry leaders, investors, academia, and government agencies to explore how to accelerate weapon performance through innovative modular software and AI-based decision making. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to drive product-market fit and solve critical defense challenges. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Learn more below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #Innovation | #DefenseTech | #AI | #SoftwareEngineering

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The U.S. Air Force and Space Force's strategic pivot emphasizes innovation, modernization, and specialized capabilities in the GovCon sector. The shift, outlined in "The Case for Change," focuses on technological advancement, space capabilities, personnel specialization, command structure optimization, and readiness enhancement. It presents opportunities for GovCon entities to align with military needs, especially in areas like technological innovation, personnel development, command structure, and readiness improvement. How does the U.S. Air Force and Space Force's strategic pivot impact the GovCon sector? #GovCon #Defense #SpaceForce #AirForce #Military https://lnkd.in/gGkNVwVw

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Day One of Global SOF Foundation Many don't realize the impact toxic exposures on all military personnel, but especially those in #SpecialOperations FYSA - our immediate needs support numeric (01/01/2024 - 04/24/2024): 197 Post-9/11 Military Veterans (conventional and SOF) - $296,822 spent thus far 144 are post-9/11 special operations (73%). (30) Green Berets were covered by SFCT ($50,000). (7) Navy SEALs were covered by SEAL Future Foundation ($12,250). (5) SOF Personnel were covered by Task Force Dagger ($7,600). Of those post-9/11 SOF supported via cancer treatments, cancer care, and cancer screening (n=144), HunterSeven covered 103 of those SOF individuals. Not bad for just being 114 days into the year.  Granted, we serve all post-9/11 veterans, not just SOF. Caring for those who serve is what we do, it is the sole purpose of our mission, and, we are looking forward to tripling these numbers by the end of the year. Humans ARE more important than hardware. #SOFWEEK

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Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has selected Near Earth Autonomy (Near Earth) to lead a team demonstrating optimized logistics using rotorcraft for the United States Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under the NAVAL AVIATION SYSTEMS CONSORTIUM (NASC). In collaboration with Leonardo and Honeywell, Near Earth will showcase advanced autonomy on the versatile Leonardo AW139 helicopter, aiming to provide logistical support during expeditionary operations in contested environments. The 20-month initiative will demonstrate rapid cargo deployment, transporting up to 3,000 pounds over a 200 NM radius. Leonardo will implement a fast loading, securing, and unloading system for Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMIC) on the AW139, while Honeywell will enhance the helicopter’s autopilot for autonomous take-off and landing. As the prime contractor, Near Earth will demonstrate a fully integrated logistics system featuring onboard autonomy that guides the aircraft and modifies flight trajectories to avoid hazards without requiring a remote operator. Additionally, mission autonomy will allow lightly trained personnel to request, dispatch, monitor, and retask supply deliveries in contested environments. Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth, stated, “We started the company in 2012 to demonstrate autonomous resupply operations in austere environments. Now, the ALC program allows us to demonstrate a complete system that meets operational needs. We look forward to working with Leonardo, Honeywell, and NAVAIR to advance military logistics.” Robert (Scott) Volkert, Director of USMC Programs for Leonardo Helicopters, added, “The AW139 helicopter will provide the Marines relief on their combat rotorcraft fleet and reduce their workforce requirements.” Matthew Milas, President of Defense & Space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, remarked, “The future of aviation will include several layers of autonomy. Honeywell is proud to provide cutting-edge technologies that enable safe and secure autonomy solutions across a range of vehicles, including the AW139.” This project builds on Near Earth's extensive experience with defense logistics products and initiatives, including the first autonomous helicopter flight for the Army Combat Medic program and the USMC Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS). #AvfoilNews #NearEarthAutonomy #Leonardo #Honeywell #NAVAIR #USMC #AerialLogistics #AutonomousFlight #MilitaryInnovation #DefenseLogistics #AviationTechnology

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Spaceport needs increase- In the House Armed Services Committee's draft fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, concerns were raised about the increased launch demands on the two main spaceports - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida (Space Florida) and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. United States Space Force is exploring options to increase the number of launches its existing ranges can support through an initiative called Spaceport of the Future. The bill lists potential alternative sites (and GSA members), including Virginia Spaceport Authority's Wallops Island in Virginia, Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska, and the only U.S. inland vertical launch facility - Spaceport America in New Mexico. 👉 Read the article at https://lnkd.in/eYRSJUiC Image- © Provided by Defense News

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Partnering with PEO Aviation’s project offices, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center conducts government-executed Crew Station Working Groups to assess the avionics requirements through human-factors engineering, utilizing early #Soldier evaluations. The key mission of the DEVCOM AvMC Aviation Crew Stations Branch is conducting CSWGs comprising Army and industry partner stakeholders, all with a vested interest in ensuring that Army aviators have the best solution at their fingertips. “We support the end user,” said Jena Salvetti, lead human factors engineer for the Crew Stations branch. “We evaluate prototype interfaces, with users-in-the-loop, while addressing human factors principles, aviation mission tasks, and sub-system conventions to ensure that final designs are intuitive. The CSWG process was designed to ensure aviators have a say in their interfaces rather than pushing an interface to the field and saying, ‘You’ll figure it out.’ One of the things we hear from the field is that systems are not being used because they’re too hard to use. The CSWG was created to mitigate this issue.” #Partnership | #WeAreAvMC

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During a three-week effort, Future Vertical Cross Functional Team (FVLCFT) partnered with U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center, U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center and the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center (RTC) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to advance Launched Effects (LE) behaviors and characteristics for the #warfighter. FVL completed Phase 3 of the advanced networking waveform characterization during the experimentation. The team collected data on multiple radios and waveforms during multi-ship flights at extended operational ranges against both contested and uncontested environments. Data gathered will be used to inform future aviation modernization; and to validate, modeling and simulation efforts. The intent was to learn about the trade space of long-range air to air; and air to ground communications. The emphasis is increased range and endurance for future LEs combined with a low probability of detection, and a low probability of jamming from perceived threats. LE surrogates successfully demonstrated teaming behaviors, characteristics, and attributes against both contested and uncontested conditions as they negotiated the test area. The Eglin experimentation is a key component of the #FVLCFT efforts to help the US Army “transform in contact,” accelerating the delivery of technology, and capabilities into the hands of our warfighters. #DeliverArmy2030 #TransformInContact Army Futures Command I PEO Aviation I U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence I U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

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The Pentagon wants to shift ~$3.3B of budgeted funds to support a handful of new-start projects, including: (1) Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which has already seen ~40% cost growth. The Pentagon wants to shift $150M in FY24 funds, which increases the CCA program request to $542M. Unsurprisingly, this request came with a news statement that the Air Force will evaluate the NGAD platform design concept to determine if there are cost reductions or capability trade-offs. (2) Army wants to shift $39M to purchase 8 SM-6 Block1A missiles for its Mid-Range Capability ground launch system. Army and Navy would coordinate procurement on the SM-6 contract, which was awarded to Raytheon. (3) Additionally, Army wants to shift $33M in advanced component development and prototypes to fund its tank and medium caliber ammunition procurement #Army #AirForce #defensespending #defensebudget #CCA #NGAD Craig Belanger, Joe Giandomenico, Anirudh Suneel, Ben Osterholtz, Robyn Pirie, Scott Bethel, Mark Kipphut, Kristin Robertson, Jerry Spruill, Richard Mascolo, James Hvizd, Jim Walker, Doug Reep, Aaron Prupas, Martin J. Bowling, Dennis Carroll, Jeff Snyder https://lnkd.in/e8Qma_9G

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In case anyone wondered how much it costs to shoot down a drone, here is your answer - ". . . according to the Pentagon’s chief of weapons procurement . . . efforts to take out uncrewed aerial systems are now exceeding $100,000 per shot." The inexpensive cost of one-way attack drones, such as those sold by Iran, means that it is often cheaper for terrorists/adversaries to buy and employ drones than it is the for US/allies to intercept them. Terrorists/adversaries are well aware of this cost-benefit ratio and are further emboldened. As Congress continues consideration of the FY25 defense authorization and appropriations bills, it is urgently important that resources be provided for development and fielding of counter UAS systems that can bring these costs down "to meet the high rate of interceptions happening in the Middle East" and likely to happen elsewhere. IMHO. https://lnkd.in/e-fiM5cn #dronetechnology #drones #uas #counterdrone #counteruas #congress #terrorism

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There are plenty of resources out there to help AMTs or future AMTs follow safety protocols and procedures. Like this one from the Federal Aviation Administration: https://lnkd.in/gyCCC6Kf One of The Council's top core values is safety. If you have any safety tips like the ones provided in the link, please share! #EndOfWeekSafetyPeek

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Cara Wulf and Marcos Gonzalez breakdown the changes in the DOD Final Rule amending the DFARS Buy American requirements and explain what contractors should be aware of when supplying “domestic end products” to the government. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gV6Q9JDk #governmentcontracts #DOD #DFARS #buyamerican

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Great article highlighting how public-private partnerships can be a win for all! Stratolaunch moves at the speed of industry, the DOD obtains a capability needed for our country, and the taxpayer receives an efficient solution without the typical risk burden. Read on! https://lnkd.in/gcdQF7fH

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How do you increase speed, while maintaining such a large and complex inventory of Air Force materiel? Can applying more digital-first approaches help? Digital Materiel Management (DMM) enables an accelerated and synchronized delivery of integrated capabilities. Two experts in the subject joined the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center podcast recently to talk DMM and how it can benefit the warfighter. This one is worth a listen! #podcast #Digital #defense #AFMC

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United States Air Force and United States Space Force professionals need agile and innovative solutions to solve the technical problems of today and tomorrow—and the Project Arc team delivers just that. 🔥 From October 2023 through April 2024, the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (AGOW), hosted the first Project Arc team at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The team integrated with 435th AGOW units, and conducted a broad range of technological support and advancements to improve mission accomplishment and solve problems encountered by warfighters in the field. Project Arc’s primary project while embedded with 435th AGOW units centered on advancements to the Global Command and Control System, which is designed to provide United States armed forces with a near real-time picture of air and ground obstacles that might affect ground troops in the battlespace. “Through the collaboration with the Project Arc team, we have successfully defined processes and technical requirements for integrating spectrum data into the wing’s core operational processes,” said Tech. Sgt. Blake Golledge, electromagnetic support innovation cell noncommissioned officer. Read more about the additional projects from Project Arc’s visit: https://ow.ly/LT7J50RqSaa 🗨️ DID YOU KNOW: Project Arc leverages the STEM talents of uniformed members by embedding them with operational units in the field to identify and solve emergent problems for the warfighter. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/Qpws50RqSa6 . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #Spark #ProjectArc #USAF #DAF #USSF #DoD #435thAGOW #RamsteinAirBase #GlobalCommandandControlSystem #STEM #talents #innovation

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