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Senate OKs VA IT Reform Bill; Sen. Jon Tester Quoted
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Senate OKs VA IT Reform Bill; Sen. Jon Tester Quoted

The U.S. Senate has voted to pass a bill that aims to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) better manage information technology activities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act aims to boost the transparency and oversight across VA's IT projects, the office of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Friday.

Tester introduced the bill alongside Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., making the bill bipartisan. The bill would direct VA to strictly monitor spending done in IT programs critical to the care services and benefits being provided to the nation's veterans.

The legislation also calls for VA to support the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Data Center Consolidation Initiative and address IT-related recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

“When veterans can’t access the benefits and care they earned because the VA’s IT systems don’t work, are over budget or take years to come online—well, we’ve got to do something about it,” said Tester, who is the ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The House of Representatives will examine and vote on the bill next.

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Exclusive: EverWatch Acquires BrainTrust; John Hillen Quoted
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Exclusive: EverWatch Acquires BrainTrust; John Hillen Quoted

EverWatch announced on Monday that the national security services provider has acquired BrainTrust Holdings, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions to the intelligence and defense communities, for an undisclosed sum to further expand technical service offerings and contract pursuits in the intelligence sector.

“We are thrilled to add one of the leading software development companies in the intelligence arena to EverWatch, said John Hillen, CEO of EverWatch and a former Wash100 Award winner.

“The partnership with BrainTrust and its talented team positions EverWatch with over 500 dedicated national security professionals, committed to delivering technology solutions across the defense and intelligence sector,” Hillen added.

Senior management and founders from BrainTrust will merge with EverWatch’s current business unit. Fred Funk, chief growth officer of EverWatch, will lead the merged unit in Columbia, Md. to help the company pursue mission critical programs and continue its growth across all its businesses in addition to the intelligence sector.

“The combination of BrainTrust with our ACES business unit in Columbia, Maryland gives us a highly enhanced set of technical capabilities, mission expertise, and contract presence for our intelligence community customers,” said Funk.

“We aim to use that combination to bid on and win mission critical work with unique technology solutions in much the same way we did with our recent win providing a unique C4ISR solution for the US Navy,” Funk added.

The acquisition comes less than two weeks after ACES secured a potential five-year, $100.3 million contract on July 27th to build command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems for the service branch.

Baird served as the exclusive financial advisor to BrainTrust for EverWatch’s acquisition.

About EverWatch

EverWatch is a government solutions company providing advanced intelligence, defense, and deployed mission support to our country’s most critical missions.  The company has approximately 350 employees, nearly 100% of which hold government security clearances.

Primary customers include the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSDI), the Intelligence Community, the Air Force, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice.  The company is headquartered in Reston, VA with operations in Columbia, MD and Aurora, CO and has employees deployed in five continents.

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Unisys Adds to Cloud Capabilities to Strengthen CloudForte Capabilities; Brad Parks, Vishal Gupta Quoted
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Unisys Adds to Cloud Capabilities to Strengthen CloudForte Capabilities; Brad Parks, Vishal Gupta Quoted

Unisys Corporation has added additional offerings to the company’s CloudForte, an integrated, multi-cloud and application optimization platform, Unisys reported on Monday. 

Unisys’ CloudForte Cloud Management Platform 2.0 will merge the Unisys-built capability and multiple partner products for hybrid cloud management. Unisys has added Morpheus Data as a technology partner to enhance CloudForte's capabilities.

"With Unisys and Morpheus working together, clients have the best of all worlds. They benefit from an agile next-generation cloud management platform combined with the advisory service and support of a world-class solution provider," said Brad Parks, chief marketing officer of Morpheus.

The new CloudForte capabilities will enable organizations to easily accelerate their move to multi and hybrid-cloud environments and provide an optimized way to continually assess cloud environments. Unisys has enhanced its offerings to include CloudForte Navigator 2.0, CloudForte Cloud Management Platform 2.0 and CloudForte Accelerators 1.0.

CloudForte Navigator 2.0 provides clients at any stage of cloud implementation with a well-architected framework to modernize legacy infrastructure and applications for maximum value. Enhancements in Navigator 2.0 include:

"CloudForte Navigator helps organizations optimize their overall enterprise cost, security and performance," said Vishal Gupta, senior vice president, Products and Platforms and chief technology officer, Unisys.

The enhanced CloudForte CMP has integrated disparate technologies to create an agile, secure and efficient environment. Unisys’ solution will provide automation and orchestration; a validated reference architecture; and advanced analytics to optimize cloud spend. 

"Unisys offers a comprehensive, vendor-agnostic multi- and hybrid-cloud review to streamline their cloud assessment process and understand exactly where they can make informed infrastructure decisions as well as easily improve cloud security and application-migration processes," added Gupta. 

About Unisys

Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services; and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing.

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Sehlke Names LTG Mark Brilakis to Board of Advisors; Chad Sehlke Quoted
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Sehlke Names LTG Mark Brilakis to Board of Advisors; Chad Sehlke Quoted

Sehlke Consulting has appointed LTG (Ret.) Mark Brilakis, as the Marine Corps Programs chair for Sehlke’s Board of Advisors, the company reported on Monday. 

“LTG Brilakis is well-known throughout the community and will be able to provide us with a broad understanding of the Marine Corps.  We look forward to LtGen Brilakis’ contributions to our board we have assembled, and for their collaboration and continued efforts to support and guide Sehlke’s continued growth efforts,” said Chad Sehlke, CEO and founder. 

Former commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, LTG Brilakis’ also served as the deputy commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department Headquarters. 

LTG Brilakis’ other general officer assignments included: Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Director Programs Division and Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Commanding General Third Marine Division, Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Assistant Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Deputy J-3, U.S. European Command.

“We are extremely proud and fortunate to welcome Lt Gen Brilakis to the Board of Advisors at Sehlke Consulting,” added Sehlke. 

LTG Brilakis’ appointment follows the naming of Jim Ballard, chairman of the board of directors at Preferred Systems Solutions,  to  Sehlke Consulting’s board of advisers, the company announced in May 2020.

Ballard brings to Sehlke’s advisory board his experience in defense, homeland security, civilian federal and intelligence markets, the company said in a May 4 news release.

Ballard previously led PSS as CEO. He joined the McLean, Va.-based professional and technical services provider as president of its federal services group upon PSS’ August 2014 acquisition of Global Services & Solutions, which he established and led.

About Sehlke 

Sehlke Consulting, LLC (“Sehlke”), founded in 2011, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Professional Services and Management Consulting Firm based in Arlington, Virginia. Sehlke offers comprehensive and leading solutions in Financial Management, Business Systems, Acquisition Management, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Sehlke focuses its support to the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Civilian Agencies and the Intelligence Community.

Furthermore, Sehlke has earned the International Standards Organization (ISO) 9001:2015 certification by using proven and repeatable processes to capture, analyze and successfully implement our customers’ requirements and achieve high levels of cost and schedule predictability.

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Michael Davenport Joins POC’s Weaponizing Data Across the Digital Battlefield Virtual Event as Moderator
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Michael Davenport Joins POC’s Weaponizing Data Across the Digital Battlefield Virtual Event as Moderator

Michael Davenport, a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, will moderate the expert panel during Potomac Officers Club’s Weaponizing Data Across the Digital Battlefield Virtual Event on Aug. 11th.

Click here to register for the Weaponizing Data Across the Digital Battlefield Virtual Event.

Davenport leads Booz Allen’s Army command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) business. He brings more than 25 years of experience in managing and leading complex C5ISR programs and teams to Potomac Officers Club’s virtual event. 

The organizations that he’s developed engineering and software solutions for include: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical Program Executive Office Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors. 

Prior to his current role with Booz Allen Hamilton, Davenport led the company’s network engineering team, where he designed and implemented solutions for military satellite communications and software-defined radio networks for the Air Force and Navy.

As the U.S. Army continues to evolve to meet the demands of emerging technology and the changing defense landscape, challenges arise in combat. Innovation requires speed of integrating and exploiting innovative technology into the digital battlefield through investments such as open architecture, DevSecOps, next generation governance and converged data platforms. 

Davenport will utilize his knowledge acquired from his career in the public sector to foster conversation revolving around intel and operation mission capabilities, the challenges and priorities of data in warfare and how defense has evolved from the traditional standards to meet the demand of emerging technologies. 

The event will also feature BG Rob Collins, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T) with the U.S. Army and MG Peter Gallagher, director of the Network Cross-Functional Team with the U.S. Army, who will serve as keynote speakers. 

Do not miss this must see event. Click here to register for the Weaponizing Data Across the Digital Battlefield Virtual Event to learn more about defense operations as technology and the defense landscape continue to evolve.

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GSA Completes Phase 2 of MAS Consolidation; Emily Murphy, Stephanie Shutt Quoted
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GSA Completes Phase 2 of MAS Consolidation; Emily Murphy, Stephanie Shutt Quoted

The General Services Administration (GSA) has successfully completed the second phase of its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) consolidation to modernize federal acquisition, the administration reported on Monday. 

“MAS consolidation is already improving the experience for our agency customers and our vendors — making it easier and faster for companies to modify contracts and add Special Item Numbers, and for contracting officers to place orders for the goods and services they need,” said GSA administrator and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient Emily Murphy. 

With the completion, GSA will enter phase three: multiple contract consolidation for current MAS holders. GSA has already consolidated its 24 MAS into a single solicitation for products, services and solutions, under phase one of the modernization plan. 

In phase two, current contracts were updated to streamline terms and conditions for the new solicitation. GSA will work with industry partners in phase three to consolidate the administrations multiple contracts down to one per unique entity identifier (UEI). 

Under MAS, GSA will create long-term, governmentwide contracts with commercial firms offering more than 10 million commercial supplies and services that federal, state, and local agencies order directly from GSA Schedule contractors. 

MAS consolidation is one of the four cornerstones of GSA’s Federal Marketplace Strategy (FMP) to modernize and simplify the buying and selling experience for customers, suppliers and acquisition professionals. 

“In choosing their main contract, industry will streamline their Schedule business strategy and have just one point of contact for all MAS business moving forward,” explained GSA MAS Program Management Office director Stephanie Shutt. 

Shutt will be featured as a keynote speaker during GovConWire’s 2020 Business Development (BD) Trends Forum on August 27th. Shutt has supported GSA’s MAS program for over 15 years. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing the agency’s $30 billion MAS program offering almost every commercial product and service available to agencies government-wide.

During the event, Shutt will dive into current Business Development (BD) trends, tips for securing contracts and Fiscal Year 2021 federal budget projections. Do not miss out on this must see forum!

Click here to register for the 2020 BD Trends Forum on Aug. 27th!

About GSA

The mission of GSA is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government. One of its four strategic goals is to establish GSA as the premier provider of efficient and effective acquisition solutions across the government.

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Accenture Closes Acquisition of PLM Systems; Nigel Stacey, Andrea Ruscica Quoted
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Accenture Closes Acquisition of PLM Systems; Nigel Stacey, Andrea Ruscica Quoted

Accenture has completed the acquisition of PLM Systems, a boutique systems integrator, Accenture reported on Monday. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Accenture announced the acquisition of PLM Systems in May 2020, noting that the company would expand Accenture’s product data in design, engineering and manufacturing for its customers. 

Nigel Stacey, managing director and global lead of Accenture Industry X.0, after the announcement said, “Digital technologies like artificial intelligence are taking product lifecycle management to a new level. This offers industrial companies a huge opportunity to transform a core business function – engineering… PLM Systems’ expertise and experience in product lifecycle management will allow us to help clients make the best use of their product data.”

PLM Systems has specialized in designing and building information systems for product lifecycle management. With the purchase, PLM Systems’ team will merge with Accenture Industry X.0 in Italy to improve Accenture’s capabilities. 

The acquisition of PLM Systems is part of an overall growth strategy to expand critical skills and capabilities in strategic, high-growth areas. It is the fourth digital manufacturing advisory, services and solutions provider that Accenture has acquired recently.

Accenture’s acquisition follows the company’s purchase of Callisto Integration in Canada, Silveo in France and Enterprise System Partners in Ireland. Other recent acquisitions Accenture has made to strengthen its Industry X.0 business include German embedded software company ESR Labs.

“We are honored that leading global professional services company Accenture has chosen an Altea Federation subsidiary to boost its capabilities and presence in the market for digital engineering services,” said Andrea Ruscica, president of Altea Federation, former majority stakeholder of PLM Systems.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services.

We combine unmatched experience and specialized capabilities across more than 40 industries – powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. With 513,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture brings continuous innovation to help clients improve their performance and create lasting value across their enterprises.

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Raytheon Missiles & Defense Enters JV with RAFAEL to Develop Defense Systems; Sam Deneke, BG Pini Yungman Quoted
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Raytheon Missiles & Defense Enters JV with RAFAEL to Develop Defense Systems; Sam Deneke, BG Pini Yungman Quoted

Raytheon Missiles & Defense and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli-based defense technology company, have entered a joint venture to establish an Iron Dome Weapon System production facility in the United States, Raytheon Technologies reported on Monday. 

"This will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel, and it will help the U.S. Department of Defense and allies across the globe obtain the system for defense of their service members and critical infrastructure," said Raytheon Missiles & Defense Systems' Sam Deneke, vice president of Land Warfare & Air Defense business execution.

The joint venture will operate under the name Raytheon RAFAEL Area Protection Systems, and has projected finalizing a site location before the end of 2020. The facility will produce the Iron Dome Weapon System and a U.S. derivative of Tamir. 

The Iron Dome Weapon System will comprise the Tamir interceptor and launcher, and the SkyHunter missile. Both Tamir and SkyHunter intercept incoming cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems and short-range targets such as rockets, artillery, mortars and other aerial threats.

The joint venture’s development will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel, and it will enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to obtain the system for defense of their service members and critical infrastructure. 

"We are excited about this new stage in our partnership with Raytheon and proud of our U.S. production," said BG (res.) Pini Yungman, executive vice president for Air and Missile Defense of RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems. "We have long partnered on U.S. production of Iron Dome and are pleased to increase manufacturing and bring SkyHunter to the U.S."

About Raytheon Missiles & Defense

Raytheon Missiles & Defense brings global customers the most advanced end-to-end solutions delivering the advantage of one innovative partner to detect, track, and intercept threats. With a broad portfolio of air and missile defense systems, precision weapons, radars, command and control systems and advanced defense technologies Raytheon Missiles & Defense solutions protect citizens, warfighters and infrastructure in more than fifty countries around the world.

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Rule Change to Include CMMC Requirements in Contracts On Track; Katie Arrington Quoted
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Rule Change to Include CMMC Requirements in Contracts On Track; Katie Arrington Quoted

The Department of Defense (DoD) is on track with the final step to begin integrating Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements into contracts, FedScoop reported Friday.

DoD is now waiting for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)to clear a rule change to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations in order for it to incorporate clauses in solicitations directing the inclusion of CMMC requirements into contracts.

“We are still tracking right along for the DFARs rule change,” Katie Arrington, chief information security officer at the office of assistant secretary of defense for acquisition and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said at a webinar. “That has not deviated.”

The full CMMC program will be implemented over a period of five years and the Pentagon said contractors should expect to see such requirements in a few contracts by the end of 2020.

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Gen. James McConville: Army Exploring Basing Options for Long-Range Precision Fires in Indo-Pacific
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Gen. James McConville: Army Exploring Basing Options for Long-Range Precision Fires in Indo-Pacific

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said the service considers long-range precision fires as its top priority for modernization and is examining options for basing such weapon systems in the Indo-Pacific region in support of its deterrence strategy, National Defense reported Friday.

“We're standing up a new organization, it’s called multi-domain task forces that provide the ability to do long-range precision effects," McConville said Friday at an online event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“As far as the exact positioning, we do have some capability in the extremely long-range precision fires to give us certain effects, but that capability as far as exact positioning is still being determined,” McConville added. 

He also offered updates on the service’s hypersonic weapon development and other modernization priorities.

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