The Borenstein Group, a marketing and public relations agency focused on defense and technology government contractors, has been recognized as a Top 200 Chief Marketer Top Marketing Agency for 2023 by Chief Marketer magazine.

Among others listed, Borenstein Group ranked as one of the Top National B2B Brand Engagement Agencies, which marks its third year on the list, the Tysons Corner, Virginia-based company announced on Wednesday.

“Increasingly, technology firms are seeking agencies that can deliver evidence-based, synchronized engagement strategies that align with their growth goals. That’s what The Borenstein Group delivers,” emphasized Gal Borenstein, the organization’s CEO.

Chief Marketer considered several factors during the selection process, including client testimonials, case study submissions, consistent work across programs and clients, creative executions and impactful concepts and ideas.

Agencies chosen for this year’s list are top brand engagement and activation marketing agencies across 11 categories and specialties, according to the magazine.

“This year’s CM200 represents an agency community made stronger and more resourceful than ever before,” said Jessica Heasley, group editor and publisher at Chief Marketer.

“They have all demonstrated incredible creativity and resilience and are poised to transform challenges into opportunities in the year ahead,” she added.

A $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill released by Senate Appropriations Committee leaders Tuesday morning calls for a 10 percent increase in fiscal year 2023 defense spending to $858 billion from fiscal 2022 figures.

The package — which combines 12 pieces of legislation — would allocate $772.5 billion for non-defense discretionary programs, $40.6 billion for disaster relief efforts nationwide and another $44.9 billion for U.S. emergency assistance to Ukraine, according to a bill summary from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

“Passing this bipartisan, bicameral, omnibus appropriations bill is undoubtedly in the interest of the American people. It is the product of months of hard work and compromise,” said Leahy, who serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., noted the package meets the spending level set by the National Defense Authorization Act, which received final approval from Congress Thursday and offers $76 billion more than the prior-year funding level.

As part of the defense bill, legislators proposed a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members and civilian employees at the Pentagon.

Congress is aiming to vote on the omnibus before the current short-term measure to extend government funding expires at midnight Friday.

A task force appointed by U.S. Government Publishing Office Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern has recommended the transition of the Federal Depository Library Program to a digital environment.

In a report released Monday, the task force affirmed the feasibility of digitization but clarified that libraries will still have print versions of the published materials as part of the National Collection. 

“This is a critical issue for the public, our library partners, and GPO, and the Task Force has delivered a serious and thorough report. I am looking at the Task Force’s recommendations and will provide feedback in the early part of 2023,” Halpern stated.

Despite the digital program, GPO will print publications requested by federal agencies and FDLP will distribute them to select libraries. The print copies will continue to serve their purpose in legal and statutory requirements, and rules on their retention will stay the same.

Once Halpern approves the transition, the publishing office will formulate migration and training plans and engage with stakeholders.

The Department of Homeland Security has opened the Small Business Innovation Research 23.1 Solicitation for seven technology projects.

The agency, which launched a pre-solicitation last month, said that it will only accept online research proposal submissions until Jan. 17.

Vendors that specialize in accurate and real-time hardware-assisted detection of cyber threats, air cargo manifest analysis to support screening, first responder credentialing, and machine learning-based integration of alarm resolution sensors are sought by the 23.1 Solicitation.

The rest of the topics focus on server-to-server communication, voice communications and 3GPP standards for mission-critical services; reduced order modeling of critical infrastructure protect surfaces; and theoretical classification methodologies to enable detection with predicted signatures.

“One of the best ways for small business to begin partnering with DHS is with the non-dilutive funding through the SBIR program, which is designed to engage them in federal research and development,” said Dusty Lang, DHS SBIR Director. “Publishing the annual solicitation is an exciting time for our program as we prepare to foster new relationships with small businesses in support of the pursuit of innovation.”