The General Services Administration is shutting down its reverse auction platform after five years of service, due to financial constraints, Federal News Radio reported Monday.

Erv Koehler, acting deputy commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, wrote to GSA customers and partners that the agency will shut down the platform as it was no longer viable to continue.

He added that the platform will no longer allow the creation of new auctions after Sept. 30, but those scheduled to end after Oct. 1 will be allowed to finish.

“GSA will maintain RA system access for users through Dec. 31, allowing for the retrieval of auction-related documents,” Koehler noted.

Tim DiNapoli, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, said that only a small fraction of of federal reverse auctions were processed using the platform.

“It seems to me that despite their efforts, the use of the platform never seemed to pick up enough steam or visibility to make it,” he said.

The U.S. Army will perform a fourth non-developmental evaluation for additional active protection system proposals on the Stryker combat vehicle in November, Defense News reported Tuesday.

Army Spokesperson Ashley Givens announced that the service will be assessing more proposals to see if they meet the given requirements and can serve as possible alternatives to already selected APS offerings, which have been experiencing delays.

The Army’s initial options were Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Trophy system for the M1 Abrams tank, Israel Military Industries’ Iron Fist for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Artis’ Iron Curtain for Stryker.

The service’s next wave of assessment will involve putting potential systems to an initial limited test against various threats.

Rheinmetall has been invited to participate in the fourth evaluation with its Active Defense System, which was developed in partnership with Unified Business Technologies.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Command, participated in a discussion with Army Materiel Command leaders last week to discuss cybersecurity of the Defense Department‘s information network, DVIDS reported Friday.

Fogarty said at the meeting that ARCYBER aims to help secure the DoD information network, craft defensive and offensive strategies and deploy multiple tools in cyberspace.

“Our bread and butter is to operate and defend system networks,” he added.

Daniel Bradford, chief information officer of the Army Materiel Command’s G-2/G-6 sections, said the talks offered an opportunity for the organization to communicate its cyber and mission assurance requirements.

“Our discussions with the ARCYBER team highlighted the importance, dependencies and complexity of the joint network,” Bradford added.

The Defense Department recently claimed that China has been pursuing its military modernization objectives by acquiring foreign technology and intellectual property through legal as well as illicit means.

The DoD stated in a recent report to Congress that, to modernize its armed forces, China has been augmenting local efforts with the procurement of foreign technology, typically through technology importation, foreign direct investment and partnerships with research centers, among others.

The department noted, however, that China has also been engaging in clandestine activities, including cyber espionage and mobilizing national intelligence resources, to tap “individuals with relevant placement and access” and use them as agents to obtain heavily regulated or export-restricted material.

Military modernization is a crucial component of China’s long-term developmental goals, especially in terms of protecting national interests beyond the country’s borders.

By 2020, the Chinese military seeks to achieve a “great rise” in strategic capability as well as an increased ability to leverage information technology during conflict, and by 2035, it aims to reach “basic modernization,” the DoD reported.

Finally, by 2049, the Chinese military expects to become “world-class,” which, the Defense Department said, may be interpreted as achieving “peer capability” with the U.S.

Several defense officials have questioned the Trump administration’s plan to create an independent military organization for space operations, especially on its possible financial priorities, Space News reported Sunday.

Wesley Hallman, senior vice president for policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, asked if the Space Force’s overhead cost would take up funds from other programs and warfighter priorities.

The retired U.S. Air Force officer requested the government to further analyze the advantages of creating a new military branch, which will include establishing a new recruiting command, basic training program, a service academy and a medical corps.

Hallman recommended establishing the Space Force under the Department of the Air Force, similar to when the U.S. Marine Corps was assigned under the Department of the Navy.

Meanwhile, Frank Kendall, former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, said that creating an independent space organization could further separate space programs from military operational needs.

Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute, added that the Air Force will possibly no longer be assigned to oversee the United States’ satellites, ground stations, intercontinental ballistic missiles, warfighter networks and cybersecurity operations once the Space Force is established.

She stated that the Space Force may also threaten the service’s logistics functions in the long run.

The Professional Services Council has commended the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for finalizing and passing a defense spending bill for fiscal 2019.

President Donald Trump signed Monday the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 that would authorize $717 billion in FY 2019 defense budget.

“The final conference report recognizes the critical role that contractors play in the Defense Department’s mission success, and when implemented, many provisions will help ensure that the federal government purchases services in an effective and efficient manner,” David Berteau, PSC president and CEO, said in a statement published Aug. 13.

Those provisions include limitations on the use of “lowest-price technically-acceptable” factors for some information technology and professional services; establishment of a standard definition of the procurement administrative lead time; and restoration of prompt payments to small businesses that support DoD as subcontractors.

The Office of Management and Budget has issued a statement saying the White House is not in favor of a provision in the fiscal 2019 defense appropriations measure to procure a second littoral combat ship, Defense News reported Saturday.

That provision reflects a $475 million increase from the administration’s requested budget for FY 2019.

“One LCS in FY 2019, when combined with the three funded in FY 2018, would keep both shipyards supplied with enough work to remain viable for the frigate competition,” according to the statement obtained by the publication.

The report said the agency’s statement suggests that the Trump administration wants the U.S. Navy to accelerate the procurement of FFG(X) guided-missile frigates.