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DOD Updates Policy for Managing Contractor-Prepared Data
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The Department of Defense's logo. The Defense Department issued DOD Manual 5010.12

The Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on Friday issued DOD Manual 5010.12, which updates its policy and processes for acquiring and managing contractor-prepared data across all defense components and throughout the contract lifecycle, from planning to post-award activities.

What Information Does Manual 5010.12 Offer?

Titled Acquisition and Management of Contractor-Prepared Data, the 102-page document applies broadly across all organizational entities within the DOD, including military departments and combatant commands. The scope covers both traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, also known as DFARS, contracts, as well as non-FAR agreements.

The manual, which takes effect on Nov. 21, amends DOD 5010.12-M, or Procedures for the Acquisition and Management of Technical Data, issued in 1993.

Among the information provided in DOD Manual 5010.12 are the roles and responsibilities of defense officials. The program manager, for instance, is responsible for developing the program’s intellectual property strategy and modular open systems approach. The data manager, on the other hand, advises the program manager on data management best practices and verifies that data deliverables meet contractual requirements.

Additionally, the manual includes adaptable guidance on preparing the contract data requirements list, or CDRL, which details data requirements.

The manual follows a broader organization-wide restructuring that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 winner, announced in early November.

Hegseth explained that the overhaul prioritizes speed to capability delivery, which he said is “the decisive factor in maintaining deterrence and warfighting advantage.”

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OSC Commits $700M to Vulcan & ReElement for NdFeB Magnet Production
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Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael. The OSC has committed $700 million in loans to Vulcan and ReElement.

The Office of Strategic Capital has announced a joint $700 million conditional loan commitment with Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies to expand domestic Neodymium Iron Boron, or NdFeB, magnet production.

OSC Commits $700M to Vulcan & ReElement for NdFeB Magnet Production

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How Will Vulcan Elements & ReElement’s OSC Loan Impact US Magnet Supply Chain?

The funding will expand U.S. capabilities in advanced rare earth element separation, metallization and magnet production, the Department of Defense said Friday. Vulcan will receive $620 million and ReElement $80 million to expand domestic manufacturing. The loans will enable the companies to produce up to 10,000 metric tons of NdFeB magnet material in the coming years, addressing a significant gap in the U.S. magnet supply chain.

How Are the OSC Loans Funded & Supported?

The conditional loans are funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which authorizes up to $100 billion for critical minerals projects. Under the agreement, the Department of Defense will receive warrants from Vulcan and ReElement. The Commerce Department’s CHIPS Program Office also signed a preliminary, nonbinding letter of intent for $50 million in equipment purchase incentives and will receive $50 million in equity from Vulcan Elements.

Remarks From DOD R&E Under Secretary Emil Michael

“These OSC conditional commitments build on the swift and decisive actions taken by the Trump Administration to secure a domestic supply chain for the magnets used in chip manufacturing, drones, electric vehicles, fighter jets, industrial motors, nuclear submarines, and satellites,” said Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering.

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Space Force Plans Prototype Request for Space-Based Interceptors
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USSF seal. The Space Force plans to issue a request for prototype proposal for level of effort 2M space-based interceptors.

The U.S. Space Force, through its Space Systems Command and the Program Executive Office for Space Combat Power, announced plans to issue a request for prototype proposal by Dec. 7 for level of effort 2M space-based interceptors, or SBIs.

What Is the Focus of the Space Force’s RPP for Space-Based Interceptors?

According to the pre-solicitation notice posted on SAM.gov Thursday, the RPP specifically targets proposals for kinetic energy space-based interceptors designed to neutralize adversary missiles during their orbital flight phase, enhancing midcourse missile defense. SSC intends to pursue hit-to-kill systems rather than directed-energy platforms.

What Are the Other Details of the SBI RPP?

SSC expects to award multiple fixed-price other transaction agreements by February 2026, building on the service’s earlier initiative for boost-phase SBIs. The awards may also include prize competitions. Interested parties can request bidding materials through Dec. 4.

What Are the Advantages and Challenges of Midcourse Interceptors?

A constellation of midcourse interceptors would give the Space Force an extra layer of defense against enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, that evade boost-phase SBIs, Breaking Defense reported. Midcourse interceptors benefit from shorter strike distances and the absence of atmospheric effects, making targeting easier. However, they face challenges from decoys released in orbit, which can make it hard to distinguish the real missile from fake targets.

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House Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restrict CHIPS Funding Recipients From Buying China-Made Equipment
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A semiconductor. The Chip EQUIP Act aims to ensure that federal investments support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing

Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., have introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit companies receiving CHIPS Act funding from purchasing specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment made by entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government and other U.S. adversaries.

The Chip Equipment Quality, Usefulness and Integrity Protection Act of 2025, or Chip EQUIP Act, aims to ensure that U.S. investments to revitalize its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity do not inadvertently subsidize state-backed companies.

Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., plan to introduce a Senate companion to the Chip EQUIP Act in early December.

How Might the Chip EQUIP Act Strengthen US Microchip Industry Security?

The Chip EQUIP Act bars companies that have secured funding through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors, or CHIPS, and Science Act from purchasing specialized manufacturing tools made by Chinese, Russian, North Korean or Iranian firms.

According to an overview of the bill published by Lofgen’s office, while China trails the United States in manufacturing advanced semiconductor tools, Beijing is ramping up manufacturing of legacy technologies that are not covered by export controls.

“The CHIPS and Science Act made historic investments to surge production of American-made semiconductors and address the supply chain vulnerabilities created by decades of offshoring in the semiconductor industry,” stated Lofgren, a ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

“It is no surprise that other nations have taken note of these investments and are working to grow their own domestic capacity. We must continue to put American manufacturing first and strengthen our supply chains to remain ahead of our adversaries, like China. This common-sense bill will ensure CHIPS investments are not used to support our adversaries’ capacity to develop semiconductor manufacturing equipment,” she continued.

This restriction is set for 10 years, though the commerce secretary may grant exemptions if equipment is unavailable from the U.S. or allied nations or is needed for national security purposes.

How Is the US Working to Bolster Its Semiconductor Supply Chain?

The CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law in 2022 to authorize a nearly $53 billion investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development and workforce.

In May, the Senate passed the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act, a bipartisan bill that increases investments in American manufacturing of semiconductors to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign suppliers. 

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Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford Confirmed as DCMA Director
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Stephen Tedford. The Navy rear admiral was confirmed by the Senate to serve as director of DCMA.

Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford will officially assume leadership of the Defense Contract Management Agency, or DCMA, after being confirmed by the Senate.

DCMA said Thursday Tedford was also promoted to vice admiral as part of his Senate confirmation.

“Rear Adm. Tedford is an exceptionally experienced naval aviator, engineer, commander and program manager,” said Sonya Ebright, acting director of DCMA. “I look forward to his leadership and know that DCMA will be in great hands.”

According to a congressional notice, the Senate confirmed Tedford as director of DCMA in October.

Who Is Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford?

Tedford currently serves as program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons at Naval Air Systems Command.

His previous roles include commander of the Operational Test and Evaluation Force; vice commander of NAVAIR; and deputy program manager for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and the Advanced Arresting Gear system.

The former test pilot has logged more than 3,100 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.

The Pennsylvania State University aerospace engineering graduate has a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Naval Test Pilot School.

What Does DCMA Do?

DCMA is a combat support agency that provides administration services for more than 300,000 Department of Defense contracts. It delivers hundreds of millions of items to the U.S. military each year and offers acquisition insights to inform DOD decisions related to the defense industrial base.

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DISA Advances DCI Initiative With $931M OTA for Data Center Modernization
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DISA logo. DISA awarded an OTA to modernize data centers as part of the Defense Cloud Instance initiative.

The Defense Information Systems Agency has awarded an other transaction agreement worth approximately $931 million to advance data center modernization under the Defense Cloud Instance, or DCI, initiative. 

DISA Advances DCI Initiative With $931M OTA for Data Center Modernization

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DISA said Thursday the OTA will expand global infrastructure capacity to support capabilities across all services in various operational theaters.

According to the agency, the effort is a core element of the DISA Cloud Environment and aims to strengthen support for mission-critical operations across the Department of Defense and its partners.

What Is the DCI Initiative?

The DCI initiative is part of DISA J9’s Smart Cloud Journey for Strategic and Mission Partners and reflects the agency’s commitment to upgrading its infrastructure to provide warfighters with access to secure hybrid cloud capabilities.

“This DCI initiative is designed to complement, not interfere with, Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability efforts,” said Jeff Marshall, director of hosting and compute at DISA. “It addresses specific use cases to ensure DISA can effectively deliver the full spectrum of capabilities required by the Department of War.”

According to DISA, the initiative aims to ensure data sovereignty for global operations and streamline command and control functions, providing commanders with enhanced visibility into computing resources in remote locations while reducing dependence on physical infrastructure.

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FAA Requesting Industry Input on Unified Air Traffic Automation System
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The Federal Aviation Administration's logo. FAA issued a notice on its plan to consolidate its en route and terminal systems

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking a Common Automation Platform, or CAP, that would give air traffic controllers access to flight data and facilitate the movement of aircraft from one facility to another.

What Is FAA’s Common Automation Platform Plan?

The agency said Thursday that CAP will consolidate the En Route Automation Modernization, or ERAM, system and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, also known as STARS.

FAA Requesting Industry Input on Unified Air Traffic Automation System

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ERAM manages high-altitude traffic at 20 air route traffic control centers, while STARS handles flight tracking and coordination at terminal radar approach controls facilities and air traffic control towers.

In a request for information posted on SAM.gov Wednesday, FAA said it wants to hear input from industry about new technologies, procurement strategies, implementation structures and other considerations to enhance CAP. The agency is also open to proposed approaches that would re-architect ERAM and STARS or other existing automation systems.

Responses are due on Dec. 19.

According to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, CAP is intended to improve safety, reduce delays and support future airspace needs.

“Under this administration’s leadership, we’re going to give our hard-working air traffic controllers the technology they deserve at their fingertips,” he stated.

Why Is FAA Modernizing Its Air Traffic Control System?

The effort is part of the Department of Transportation’s plan to modernize its air traffic control system following a September 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office, which found that 37 percent of the FAA’s 138 air traffic control systems were rated unsustainable.

DOT already issued a proposal solicitation for a new air traffic control system and said it would select a prime integrator to oversee the project. The department said it will also use a new type of procurement contract to accelerate the process of hiring contractors.

DOT and FAA are aiming to deploy the new air traffic control system within three to four years. 

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NRO Director Discusses How Commercial Space Partnerships Enable Faster Capability Development
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Chris Scolese, director of the National Reconnaissance Office. Scolese discussed commercial partnerships at a recent event

Broader engagement with the commercial technology sector is driving a shift in how the National Reconnaissance Office develops and fields new capabilities, said Chris Scolese, NRO director and a five-time Wash100 winner, at a conference hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies and the Hudson Institute on Thursday.

How Is Commercial Industry Changing NRO Operations?

He particularly noted how lower launch costs and more frequent access to orbit are enabling the agency to deploy spacecraft at a faster and more frequent rate.

“When launch was expensive, you didn’t want to put a cheap thing on an expensive booster,” the intelligence leader explained. “Now, we can put spacecraft up there at a higher pace, with shorter lives, to demonstrate technologies, demonstrate capabilities, and really allow us to mature those things that we’re going to want sometime in the future. But we don’t want to wait years and years. We want to get that proven now so the community can see the value of whatever technology it is.”

Lower launch costs also supported the NRO’s shift toward a proliferated architecture, which is meant to enhance resilience from adversary attacks through shorter revisit times, more frequent observational persistence and faster data transmission.

NRO Director Discusses How Commercial Space Partnerships Enable Faster Capability Development

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The agency has placed over 200 satellites in orbit over the past two years.

In September, NRO and the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 sent satellites to orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, dubbed NROL-48, marked NRO’s 11th proliferated architecture mission and the fifth proliferated launch of 2025.

NRO has more space launches planned through 2029.

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GSA Shifts All New MAS Contractors to FAS Catalog Platform
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GSA logo. GSA makes FCP the default system for newly awarded MAS contractors.

The General Services Administration has moved another step toward retiring the legacy Schedule Input Program, making the FAS Catalog Platform the default system for newly awarded Multiple Award Schedule contractors.

What Changed for New MAS Awards?

GSA said Friday that as of Nov. 6, all new MAS contracts automatically onboard into the FCP, a web-based system used by contractors to manage and update their product and service catalogs, which are then published on GSA Advantage.

The change eliminates the need for vendors to use the SIP or Electronic Data Interchange-832 to establish catalogs on the GSA online shopping and ordering system.

The shift is designed to reduce manual data entry, improve accuracy and streamline the start-up process for both industry and the GSA workforce.

What Are the New FCP Requirements?

New offers must use the latest product file or services plus file templates, which became mandatory for offers submitted under MAS Refresh 29 in August, with the exception of those offers using the SIN-specific price proposal templates.

GSA added a new “Step 0” to the FCP onboarding process, requiring vendors to register with the Vendor Support Center before they can appear on eBuy.

Awardees will receive an onboarding email after registering with the VSC, which outlines the steps for creating their GSA Advantage catalog.

What FCP Requirements Remain Unchanged?

Contractors still complete a seller profile and baseline action to establish their presence on GSA Advantage. Vendors using SIN-specific price proposal templates must continue to use those templates and include prices in their terms and conditions file. All other FCP vendors must not include pricing from their T&C file.

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Navy Awards University of Washington APL $474M Maritime Science R&D Modification
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University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory logo. APL-UW secures a Navy R&D contract modification.

The U.S. Navy has exercised a $474.3 million contract option with the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory to continue providing research, development, engineering, and test and evaluation support across several core maritime science and technology areas through October 2030.

Navy Awards University of Washington APL $474M Maritime Science R&D Modification

The Navy’s decision to extend major research work with APL highlights how rapidly advancing maritime science is reshaping U.S. defense priorities. At the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29, senior leaders, researchers and technologists will break down what these investments mean for undersea systems, sensing, modeling and the next wave of mission-driven innovation. Secure your spot to hear how cutting-edge research is being translated into real operational advantage.

What Work Does the APL Contract Option Cover?

Structured as a cost-plus-fixed-fee modification, the award extends the Navy’s existing contract with APL and specifically funds work in disciplines central to the laboratory’s core competency areas, such as experimental oceanography, acoustic propagation, underwater instrumentation, marine corrosion, acoustic and related systems, signal processing and simulation capabilities, the Department of Defense said Thursday. The work, which will be performed in Seattle, Washington, will support various programs of the DOD and other government agencies.

Funding will be applied at the task-order level and may come from multiple program offices and DOD components, depending on the nature of the individual research requirements.

The award was issued under 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(3), which allows for noncompetitive awards when industrial mobilization, unique engineering or research capabilities, or expert services are required.

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