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US Army Taps AI to Streamline Acquisition Requirements
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US Army. Service branch taps AI for streamlining procurement process

The U.S. Army has started using an AI-enabled tool to help simplify and modernize its acquisition process by identifying and eliminating outdated or redundant requirements. Part of an initiative called CORA, reversing the AROC acronym of the Army Requirements Oversight Council, the AI-based effort aims to make the Army’s acquisition system more efficient across weapons, software and other procurement areas, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Joe Welch, executive deputy to the commanding general of the Army Futures and Concepts Center, told media on the sidelines of the recent AUSA conference that CORA uses AI to review existing procurement listings, discard inactive and irrelevant items, and consolidate overlapping requirements into broader categories.

US Army Taps AI to Streamline Acquisition Requirements

AI is now an integral part of how the U.S. military and the federal government are processing information and complex systems functions, one of the areas that the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit will cover come March 19. Secure your seat now for this sixth edition of the conference where representatives from Department of Defense components, federal agencies and the GovCon industry will discuss strategies and future plans for AI, machine learning and automation.

 

According to an Army spokesperson, the AI tool, which was not identified, has examined 3,577 requirements, flagging 1,500 as inactive and 2,077 as active. Of the active group, Army leaders identified 516 for potential inactivation. So far, 215 have been officially deactivated and another 130 are under review.

Requirement owners are given 30 days to request a reconsideration if they believe an item should remain active and up to 180 days to present their case. If no action is taken, the requirement is automatically removed after the initial 30-day period.

“We don’t want to inadvertently cut something that’s important,” Welch pointed out. But with nobody making a strong case against an inactivation, “that’s a good indicator for us,” he added.

Some deactivated requirements are not being discarded entirely but merged into larger programs. For example, several individual requirements linked to the Next Generation Command and Control initiative, designed to integrate intelligence, C2 and fires, were consolidated into a single Characteristics of Need category.

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DOI Deploys Mark43 RMS & CAD to Modernize Law Enforcement Operations
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DOI seal. DOI has deployed the Mark43 Law Enforcement Records Management System and Computer Aided Dispatch.

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security has teamed with Simple Technology Solutions to launch the Mark43 Law Enforcement Records Management System, or LE RMS, and Computer Aided Dispatch, or CAD.

What Does the Mark43 Deployment Mean for Federal Public Safety?

Mark43 said Thursday the LE RMS and CAD platform enables the DOI’s law enforcement bureaus to identify crime trends, monitor incidents across jurisdictions, exchange data seamlessly and operate with real-time mobility. With Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program authorization, National Institute of Standards and Technology compliance and a secure cloud-native architecture, the system enhances officer safety, situational awareness and operational resilience across federal lands.

Learn more about the latest business opportunities in federal law enforcement at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12!

The deployment spans six law enforcement programs, connecting about 3,000 officers and over 850 locations nationwide under a single operational platform. The interoperable system brings together over two dozen dispatch centers, enhancing communication and response coordination across federal lands that cover roughly 20 percent of the U.S. landmass and 40 percent of the southern border. The system replaces dozens of legacy systems and paper-based processes, creating one of the world’s largest connected public safety networks.

“This modernization effort is expected to enhance the effectiveness of federal law enforcement officers within the Department of the Interior. By enabling more seamless and secure data sharing across law enforcement components, it supports officer safety and operational coordination,” said Robert MacLean, director of the office of law enforcement and security at the DOI.

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Sean Cairncross on Upcoming National Cybersecurity Strategy
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Sean Cairncross. The national cyber director described the forthcoming national cyber strategy as a streamlined framework.

National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross has outlined the Trump administration’s upcoming national cybersecurity strategy, emphasizing a streamlined approach to securing the nation’s digital infrastructure with a focus on practical implementation over exhaustive documentation, Homeland Security Today reported Saturday.

“It is not going to be a 100-page document that has charts and every detail is spelled out. This will be a strategy document,” he said during his remarks Friday at the 2025 Meridian Summit in Washington, D.C.

“It will be setting the posture of the United States in this domain and things that we are driving toward,” added Cairncross, who was confirmed as head of the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, or ONCD, in August.

Sean Cairncross on Upcoming National Cybersecurity Strategy

Learn about the role of AI in assisting DHS-led cyber operations at Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12!

Strengthening ONCD’s Role

Elevating ONCD’s role as the federal government’s primary cyber coordination mechanism was a key theme of his remarks at the summit. This priority reflects recommendations from the recently published CSC 2.0 report, which called for enhanced resources and authorities for the office.

“The U.S. government has never had a single point of cyber coordination or a cohesive, coordinated cyber strategy coming from the White House,” Cairncross said. “It is a goal of ours to get this office there.”

Breaking Down Silos Through Collaboration

ONCD is developing the strategy in collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Council and the FBI. According to Cairncross, the approach emphasizes breaking down silos that have fragmented cybersecurity initiatives within the federal government.

“Across the administration, we are making a full effort to align our actions and operations and tactics so they link with a strategy designed to put America first,” he added.

Cairncross on Need to Reauthorize CISA 2015

The national cyber director stressed the need to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, or CISA, of 2015.

CISA, which expired on Sept. 30, established legal frameworks to enable government and private sector organizations to share cybersecurity threat intelligence while offering antitrust and liability protections.

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DNI Gabbard Unveils NCTC’s Interagency Fusion Cell to Target Foreign Threat Networks
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ODNI Director Tulsi Gabbard. Tulsi Gabbard announced the creation of the NCC’s Interagency Fusion Cell.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the creation of the National Counterterrorism Center’s Interagency Fusion Cell during a White House roundtable with President Donald Trump and senior administration officials on Oct. 23.

DNI Gabbard Unveils NCTC's Interagency Fusion Cell to Target Foreign Threat Networks

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 to hear top leaders, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and officials from ODNI and other agencies, discuss technologies and strategies to enhance homeland security.

What Is the Purpose of the NIFC?

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Friday the NIFC aims to enhance two-way information-sharing between the intelligence community and law enforcement to support Homeland Security Task Force dismantlement operations and President Trump’s Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

The fusion cell is part of the Homeland Security Task Force, or HSTF, a national initiative designed to unify law enforcement, military and intelligence community efforts to disrupt foreign terrorist organizations, criminal cartels and gangs. The HSTF has conducted over 3,000 arrests and seized more than 150,000 pounds of narcotics since it began operations in April. This includes the recent arrest of Sinaloa Cartel boss, El Pato, and CJNG cartel-affiliated baby trafficker, La Diabla.

Also attending the White House roundtable were Wash100 Award winners Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

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Army Expands Cyber Command Authority to Corps Level in New Pilot
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Leonel Garciga. The Army CIO discussed a new Army pilot letting corps commanders manage their cyber terrain.

The U.S. Army has launched a pilot program granting corps commanders the authority to manage their cyber terrain, Breaking Defense reported.

“For the first time ever in the Army, we actually push those authorizing official authorities down to a corps commander to make sure that they can manage their cyber terrain and fight their cyber terrain,” said Army Chief Information Officer Leonel Garciga, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, during a Federal News Network webinar. “It’s about giving commanders the space to make decisions instead of relying on a headquarters element that’s disconnected from the fight.”

Why Is the Army Changing How It Manages Cyber Terrain?

Previously, corps commanders needed permission from program executive offices or the Department of the Army to make adjustments to their assigned network equipment or move systems into theater.

By delegating authority to corps-level leaders, the Army is giving decision rights to those responsible for mission outcomes. “That delegation was really about just putting the risk in the right place for the right risk decision maker,” Garciga said. “It made a lot of folks uncomfortable and some folks are still uncomfortable, but it’s really about how we’re going to fight and how we’re going to fight in the future.”

Where Is the Pilot Program Taking Place?

The pilot began three months ago with the XVIII Airborne Corps, with I Corps scheduled to follow. Garciga said his office is working with the Army G-6 to capture lessons learned and issue implementation guidance to accelerate future rollouts.

What Are the Boundaries of the New Authority?

Garciga emphasized that the delegation of authority is not absolute. “There’s flexibility, but within reason,” he said. Corps commanders will still follow the same authorizing framework that governs cybersecurity risk decisions across the Army.

However, they will no longer need to reach back to a program office or another command for routine approvals. For issues involving critical vulnerabilities or higher-level risk, units must still coordinate with headquarters.

“The big thing is making sure that they’re manned, trained and equipped to support that requirement and take on those risks and put that overhead that was done somewhere else, back on to commanders.”

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EPA Unveils Resources to Strengthen Cybersecurity of US Water Systems
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Jess Kramer. The EPA assistant administrator for water stressed the need to strengthen cybersecurity for the water sector.

The Environmental Protection Agency has released new and updated resources to help water systems nationwide prevent and respond to cybersecurity incidents. 

EPA said Thursday the tools aim to protect access to safe water while supporting utilities in risk management and emergency planning for digital threats.

What Are New EPA Resources for Water Utilities?

EPA’s newly released tools include:

EPA’s Jess Kramer on Boosting Cybersecurity for US Water Sector

“Strengthening cybersecurity for the U.S. water sector is critically important because cyber resilience and water security are key to national security,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer.

“Water systems across the country are facing cyberattacks that threaten the ability to provide safe water. As part of advancing the Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, EPA is committed to ensuring every American has access to clean and safe water. Guarding against cyberattacks is central to this mission,” added Kramer, who was confirmed by the Senate in September.

GAO’s Recommendation for EPA

In August 2024, the Government Accountability Office called on EPA to develop a national strategy to address the cybersecurity threats against U.S. water and wastewater systems.

GAO also urged the agency to review if its legal authorities to carry out cybersecurity responsibilities remain sufficient and seek additional powers if needed.

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TSA Issues Presolicitation Notice for TALON IT Services Program
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TSA logo. The DHS agency needs IT services from industry to modernize operations and enhance capabilities under TALON.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, has started seeking industry feedback on companies capable of delivering IT services supporting the Technology for Applications, Logistics, Operations and Networks, or TALON, program.

TSA Issues Presolicitation Notice for TALON IT Services Program

The TSA operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Catch the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 to hear how various DHS agencies are advancing technology, operations and national security initiatives.

What Is the Scope of the TSA TALON Contract?

According to the presolicitation notice posted Friday on SAM.gov, the potential contract will cover scalable IT support services to advance TSA’s strategic IT objectives, including modernizing operations, boosting service delivery and enhancing capability to address emerging challenges. 

The agency intends to establish a potential 10-year multiple award blanket purchase agreement, or BPA, under the General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule’s IT category. Through the BPA, TSA aims to integrate advanced technologies, strengthen data-driven decisions and enhance traveler services.

Task orders will be competed and awarded simultaneously. Funding will be allocated individually to each task order. Interested companies have until Nov. 11 to submit their responses to the notice.

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PSC Supports SBA’s Proposed Size Standard Increases, Warns Against Future Reductions
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Small Business Administration logo. PSC backs SBA’s updated size standards.

The Professional Services Council has voiced support for the Small Business Administration’s plan to increase monetary-based size standards for small businesses, while warning that any future reductions could harm competition and limit growth opportunities for federal contractors.

Why Does PSC Support SBA’s Proposal?

In formal comments on SBA’s proposed rule, “Small Business Size Standards: Monetary-Based Industry Size Standards,” PSC said the plan to increase 263 monetary-based standards, retain 249 and eliminate one receipts-based standard is a fair adjustment reflecting inflation, higher labor costs and market shifts over the past five years.

The organization also noted that many mid-sized firms, particularly those affected by reduced contract scopes and budget pressures, now fall back into the small business range, underscoring the need for updated benchmarks.

PSC Warns Against Market Imbalance

While backing the increases, PSC cautioned that some size thresholds may be rising faster than actual company growth, creating barriers for new entrants and smaller firms. It noted that preparing bids for major “best-in-class” or governmentwide acquisition contracts can cost $75,000 to $100,000, discouraging participation by early-stage companies.

PSC said these trends, combined with the decade-long decline of small business prime contractors, risk tilting the marketplace toward the upper end of the “small” category, making it harder for newer firms to compete.

Council Opposes Reductions, Seeks Added Market Growth Factor

The trade group urged the SBA to maintain its policy against lowering size thresholds, saying that reductions would penalize successful small firms and run counter to SBA’s goal of reversing the drop in small prime contractors. PSC also opposed removing the marine engineering and naval architecture exception under North American Industry Classification System 541330, arguing that it would reduce opportunities rather than expand them.

PSC supported SBA’s continued use of equal weighting for its five main assessment factors but recommended that the agency add a “market growth” factor in future reviews. The new metric would capture how small businesses progress after growing out of their eligibility, reenter the small business pool or exit the federal marketplace, providing a clearer picture of long-term economic performance.

How Should SBA Balance Growth and Opportunity?

PSC concluded that while the current proposals are reasonable, the SBA must ensure that future updates sustain competition, foster innovation and promote fair access for new entrants. The organization said effective size standards should maintain a stable growth environment while continuing to strengthen the small business industrial base supporting federal missions.

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Senate Bill Seeks DOE-NASA Research Partnership to Strengthen Energy, Space Innovation
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Capitol Hill. Senate bill seeks to fast-track U.S. innovation in science, energy and space exploration

Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Adam Schiff, D-Calif. are seeking a stronger partnership between the Department of Energy and NASA in a bill they have filed in Congress. 

Their proposed DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act seeks to fast-track U.S. innovation in science, energy and space exploration through the sharing of research, technology and data between the two agencies, according to a press statement from Sullivan’s office released Friday.

Proposed Research Areas’ Focus

The bill filed Thursday mandates a formal DOE-NASA partnership on joint research efforts in such areas as advanced computing, energy storage, materials science and space-based observation. 

“This bill helps ensure our state’s scientists, engineers and students are part of the national mission to explore, innovate and power the future,” Sullivan said. “The Department of Energy brings unmatched research labs and supercomputing capabilities. NASA brings world-leading space expertise,” the Alaska senator noted.

He also noted that space and energy converge in Alaska, with world-class launch facilities in Kodiak, while the University of Alaska Fairbanks hosts some of the most advanced U.S. micro grid research.

Reps. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, and George Whitesides, D-Calif., have introduced a counterpart legislation in the House.

One of NASA and DOE’s current collaboration efforts focuses on quantum technologies to advance national security and improve the U.S. economy. Their partners from the private sector in the Quantum in Space Collaboration program include Boeing, Axiom Space, the Universities Space Research Association, Vescent and Qrypt.

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Army Document Details Requirements for Self-Propelled Howitzer Acquisition
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U.S. Army logo. A new document from the U.S. Army details the service's requirements for its next self-propelled howitzers.

The U.S. Army intends to make domestic production a requirement under a planned competition for the development of its next self-propelled howitzer, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

What Are the Howitzer Acquisition Requirements?

The requirement for domestic production, which applies to the howitzer itself as well as a resupply vehicle, is one of the provisions articulated in a document dated Oct. 20 that provides fresh details about the upcoming Army contracting opportunity.

Be the first to learn about new business opportunities with DOD at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29!

According to the document, a copy of which had been obtained by Breaking Defense, the other requirements include the ability of the howitzer to fire U.S. ammunition and be as heavily armored as the existing M109A7 while being more mobile and transportable. In particular, the future howitzer must be capable of moving on, or offroad, and must be transportable by air, sea, rail or road. The weapon must also demonstrate reliability and maintainability that reduces logistical burdens and sustains combat operations.

In terms of effectiveness, the howitzer must be capable of achieving precision fires up to 70 km, massed lethal effects at a maximum of 58 km and have a minimum range of 4 km.

Resumption of Howitzer Acquisition Effort

The latest document supports a request for information released in September by the Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems. The issuance of the RFI had been the latest development in an acquisition effort for a self-propelled howitzer which was announced earlier in the year, but was apparently put on pause in May. Though the October document specifies the domestic production requirement, the RFI had only asked interested vendors to describe their onshore production abilities.

Known interested vendors include Rheinmetall, Hanwha, Elbit America and a team comprising Leonardo DRS and KNDS. BAE Systems and General Dynamics are also potential players.

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