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White House Unveils Federal Acquisition Regulation Changes to Boost Small Business in Federal Contracting
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The White House. The White House recently released its Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul

The Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the White House has rolled out modifications to regulatory coverage on small business contracting to increase small business participation in the federal market

The changes are part of the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, Overhaul, also known as RFO, the White House said Friday. RFO is said to be the most significant reform ever to the 41-year-old FAR. The effort is intended to rewrite procurement rules in plain language and remove non-essential, non-statutory procurement requirements.

“The streamlining and common-sense stewardship that has been unleashed by the RFO is a once-in-a-generation win-win for agencies and the many tens of thousands of small business contractors that provide capability to our country,” Kevin Rhodes, senior adviser to OMB Director Russell Vought, commented. “Small businesses will have more manageable access to the federal market, and agencies will be able to leverage their talents to meet mission demands.”

Upcoming Changes for Small Businesses

According to the White House, some of the changes that are expected to strengthen small business participation in the federal contracting are:

  • Removal of boilerplate government-unique requirements that have not been mandated by statute or executive order for commercial work
  • Increase in the use of simplified acquisition procedures that shorten solicitation to award timelines
  • Encouraging on-ramps in existing contracts and set-asides to improve small business access to government-wide and agency enterprise-wide task and delivery order contracts
  • Improvement of post-award debriefings to improve small business performance in future competitions
  • Making signing up and maintaining registration in the System for Award Management easier
  • Highlighting non-regulatory best practices in the new FAR Companion and Practitioner Albums to help small businesses showcase capabilities without costly proposal processes and reduce barriers to participation

SBA said it will continue working with the FAR Council to align updates with government-wide small business contracting rules.

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Sierra Space Dream Chaser to Perform 2026 Free Flight Demo Under Revised NASA Contract
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Sierra Space's logo. NASA announced modifications to Sierra Space's Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract

NASA and Sierra Space mutually agreed to revise a previously awarded contract to send supplies to the International Space Station using the Dream Chaser spaceplane and its companion module, Shooting Star.

Instead of docking to the ISS, Dream Chaser will conduct a free flight demonstration in late 2026, the space agency said Thursday.

“Development of new space transportation systems is difficult and can take longer than what’s originally planned,” stated Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS program at NASA. “The ability to perform a flight demonstration can be a key enabler in a spacecraft’s development and readiness, as well as offering greater flexibility for NASA and Sierra Space.”

New NASA Contract Terms

In 2016, Sierra Space’s former parent company Sierra Nevada Corp. secured a Commercial Resupply Services-2, or CRS-2, contract to conduct a minimum of seven Dream Chaser flights to deliver cargo to the ISS. The company also received firm-fixed-price task orders for four Dream Chaser resupply missions to meet the needs of the space station.

Under the new deal, NASA revealed that it is “no longer obligated for a specific number of resupply missions,” but the agency may still order Dream Chaser flights to the space station following a successful free flight demonstration.

Sierra Space will also continue providing NASA with updates on the development of Dream Chaser.

Weigel noted the decision supports long-term planning as NASA and its partners prepare for the ISS’s deorbit in 2030.

Sierra Space won a CRS-2 contract alongside Northrop Grumman and SpaceX. The contracts have a maximum potential value of $14 billion, around $1.43 billion of which was obligated to Sierra Space, according to Tech Crunch. 

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Army Directs Full Data Migration to Vantage to Boost Readiness, AI Integration
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The U.S. Army ordered all commands to migrate data to the Vantage platform by March 2026.

The Department of the Army has issued a memorandum requiring all commands and organizations to transition business and readiness data assets to the Army Vantage platform as part of an enterprise-wide modernization push.

Army Chief Information Officer Leonel Garciga, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, signed the memorandum on Friday, outlining the service’s plan to centralize Title 10 data into Vantage to enhance decision-making, strengthen readiness and accelerate the use of artificial intelligence across operations.

Data Modernization Improves Decision-Making

The Army said data is a strategic asset and that consolidating disparate data sources into Vantage marks more than a technical upgrade. The shift is intended to enable leaders at every level to access trusted, timely information, allowing them to make faster and more informed decisions in support of operational advantage.

The memorandum stressed that the transition is not optional, calling it a strategic imperative. It emphasized the platform’s role in providing secure, scalable and integrated data operations for business and readiness activities.

Implementation Timeline

Under the directive, all Army commands, service component commands, direct reporting units and headquarters elements must provide transition plans to Vantage within 90 days. Full migration to the platform is expected by March 31, 2026.

To support the process, the memorandum instructs commands to work with their command chief data and analytics offices to identify critical data sets, ensure governance compliance and secure final approval from the Army’s chief data and analytics officer. Exception requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and adjudicated based on factors such as cost, mission impact and cybersecurity risk.

Foundation for Artificial Intelligence

Vantage, which has already become the Army’s primary hub for consolidating Title 10 data, will serve as the foundation for feeding AI algorithms designed to enhance readiness and business operations. The platform is integrated with the Army Data Catalog and Army Data Marketplace, giving soldiers and leaders access to curated, enterprise-approved data products.

The memorandum builds on earlier Army data guidance issued in 2024 and 2025, including directives on enterprise product definitions, data stewardship roles and low-code/no-code development practices.

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GAO Urges Agencies to Improve Procurement Data Reports
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GAO logo. Watchdog office offers recommendations on improving procurement data quality

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that U.S. government agencies adopt measures to improve the quality of their reports to the Federal Procurement Data System that the General Services Administration administers to track federal awards. 

A GAO report released Thursday said 34 of the 70 agencies that filed procurement reports to FPDS in fiscal year 2023 did not complete a data quality report or failed to submit copies to the office. It also noted that the agencies with incomplete contract reports, while representing less than 1 percent of reported contract obligations, their procurements accounted for nearly $2 billion in spending in FY 2023. 

In addition, the federal watchdog’s review found that the procurement data 24 agencies reported did not comply with OMB’s reporting requirements, such as FPDS deadline compliance.

Recommendations on Report Accuracy

Following its findings, GAO issued separate recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget, General Services Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Energy and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The 12 recommendations included a call for the OMB director to ensure that the Office of Federal Procurement Policy coordinates with GSA in the collection and tracking of agencies’ procurement data quality reports.

GAO also recommended that the secretary of energy require their Office of Acquisition Management to develop a sampling process to help in ensuring the statistical validity of DOE’s procurement data and their compliance with OMB guidelines.

GAO’s recommendation to the DOD focused on the Navy taking corrective measures on the service branch’s verification and validation process to address data discrepancies as pinpointed under the department’s Procurement Data Improvement & Compliance Plan.

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NGA West’s Relocation to New St. Louis Campus Starts in Winter
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Frank Whitworth. NGA head highlighted the significance of the agency's new west campus

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will begin moving its western campus in the coming winter to a new location in St. Louis, Missouri. According to NGA, the facility is the result of years of planning and investment to support geospatial transformation for the next century.

“This state-of-the-art facility is a critical investment in our nation’s security,” Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, NGA director and four-time Wash100 Award winner, said during the opening  ceremony of the new NGA West campus Friday. “From this campus, our dedicated workforce will continue to deliver vital GEOINT that protects our nation and supports our warfighters around the world,” Whitworth added.

The NGA head earlier announced in May the scheduled September opening of the $1.7 billion campus.

NGA West's Relocation to New St. Louis Campus Starts in Winter

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Strategic NGA West Collaboration Site

The new 97-acre campus hosts the agency’s expanding geospatial ecosystem, and its strategic location in northern St. Louis enables the agency’s continued collaboration with industry, academia and civic organizations. The facility’s 700,000-square-foot office building features collaboration spaces and advanced equipment to enhance the capability of NGA West’s 3,150 staff members to provide intelligence and geospatial innovations vital to the agency’s goals and mission requirements.   

One of the innovative programs that NGA is currently pursuing involves the development of artificial intelligence standards for space-based sensor data, Whitworth disclosed during the recent Intelligence and National Security Summit in National Harbor, Maryland.

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Trump Signs Executive Order on TikTok
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The White House. President Trump signed an EO clearing a proposed deal on social media platform TikTok.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a proposed deal that would keep video-sharing platform TikTok operational in the U.S. while protecting national security.

Trump Signs Executive Order on TikTok

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‘Qualified Divestiture’ of TikTok’s US Operations

In a fact sheet published Thursday, the White House said TikTok’s U.S. operations would undergo a “qualified divestiture” under a proposed framework agreement.

Under the proposed deal, a U.S.-based joint venture would operate TikTok’s U.S. application, which will be majority-owned by U.S. investors, run by a board with cybersecurity and national security credentials and subject to strict rules to safeguard U.S. national security and data.

TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance will hold less than 20 percent of the stock, appoint only one director of the seven-seat board. 

According to the order, ByteDance will be excluded from the company’s security committee. 

The Trump administration designates Oracle as TikTok’s security provider responsible for monitoring and assuring the safety of all operations in the U.S.

Removing TikTok’s US Application From Foreign Control

According to the fact sheet, the proposed divestiture would remove TikTok’s U.S. application from China’s control, addressing national security concerns and complying with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Under the deal, the new joint venture will oversee the operation of the algorithm, code and content moderation decisions.

The proposed divestiture includes monitoring of the algorithm, software updates and data flows and tasks Oracle to operate a secure cloud environment in which all U.S. user data will be stored.

The EO directs the Attorney General not to enforce the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for 120 days to provide time for the divestiture process to be completed.

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Senate Confirms Retired Navy Vice Adm. Scott Pappano as NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator
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Scott Pappano, principal deputy administrator of NNSA. Senate voted to confirm Pappano

Retired Vice Adm. Scott Pappano has been confirmed as principal deputy administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration. According to Congress records, legislators voted 51-47 to appoint Pappano.

He also confirmed his new position in a LinkedIn post Thursday.

Who Is Scott Pappano?

President Donald Trump nominated Pappano to be principal deputy administrator for NNSA in February.

Pappano is a seasoned military leader who most recently served as principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. He also held leadership positions at the Special Operations Forces Mobility Program Office and the Strategic and Attack Submarine Program Office, his bio on the Navy’s website revealed.  

At sea, he served aboard USS City of Corpus Christi, USS Albuquerque, USS Michigan and USS Ohio. He also commanded the USS Buffalo while deployed to Guam.

Pappano retired from military service after three decades.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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GSA, xAI Partner to Bring Grok AI Models to Federal Agencies
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Artificial intelligence. GSA and xAI signed a OneGov agreement to bring Grok frontier AI models to federal agencies.

The General Services Administration and xAI have signed an agreement to make the latter’s Grok frontier artificial intelligence models available to federal agencies through March 2027.

GSA said Thursday the partnership with xAI is part of the agency’s OneGov initiative, which aims to simplify the procurement of AI tools to help accelerate federal AI adoption. The new deal is reportedly the lowest price yet for an AI offering through the partnership.

“Widespread access to advanced AI models is essential to building the efficient, accountable government that taxpayers deserve—and to fulfilling President Trump’s promise that America will win the global AI race,” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. 

“We value xAI for partnering with GSA—and dedicating engineers—to accelerate the adoption of Grok to transform government operations,” added Gruenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 Award recipient.

OneGov Agreement Between GSA & xAI

The OneGov agreement will make xAI’s Grok 4 and Grok 4 Fast AI models available for $0.42 per agency for 18 months.

To drive AI adoption, xAI will provide introductory training programs, deploy a team of engineers to help implement AI tools, offer custom enablement and work with agencies to facilitate integration efforts.

“Thanks to President Trump and his administration, xAI’s frontier AI is now unlocked for every federal agency empowering the U.S. Government to innovate faster and accomplish its mission more effectively than ever before,” said Elon Musk, cofounder and CEO of xAI. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump and his team to rapidly deploy AI throughout the government for the benefit of the country,” added Musk, a 2025 Wash100 awardee.

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Kristi Noem Backs Pete Hegseth’s Proposal for Coast Guard Civilian Secretary
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DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Kristi Noem has endorsed Pete Hegseth's proposal for a U.S. Coast Guard secretary.

Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has publicly endorsed a letter delivered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proposing the establishment of a civilian service secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kristi Noem Backs Pete Hegseth's Proposal for Coast Guard Civilian Secretary

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Leadership Role Meant to Boost Maritime Security Operations

The DHS said Thursday that the Coast Guard operates as both a military branch and a federal law enforcement agency, yet lacks a dedicated civilian official to guide policy and strategic direction. Appointing a service secretary could enhance the Coast Guard’s capacity to execute its collaborative missions with other armed forces branches.

“The Coast Guard is the tip of the spear in the fight to protect our Homeland. Every day, they are taking down drug smugglers, going toe-to-toe with our adversaries in the Arctic and the Pacific, and saving lives,” said Noem, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner.

“Having a Secretary of the Coast Guard will be essential for President Trump’s mandate to rebuild the service into the finest maritime fighting force in the world,” Noem continued.

Hegseth, also a recipient of the 2025 Wash100 Award, emphasized in the letter that the proposed position will enhance the DHS’s “stewardship of the Coast Guard’s multi-mission character and its unique homeland security capabilities.”

“The Department of War believes that the establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard can complement and reinforce these strengths while ensuring that, in times of peace or war, the service is postured to support the full spectrum of national security operations,” said Hegseth.

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NOAA NESDIS Publishes Study on AI-Driven Earth Observation Digital Twin Technology
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NOAA logo. NOAA NESDIS has published a study on the AI-driven Earth Observation Digital Twin by Lockheed Martin and NVIDIA.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, or NESDIS, has released a concept study by Lockheed Martin and NVIDIA on the artificial intelligence-driven Earth Observation Digital Twin, or EODT, technology.

NOAA said Thursday the study, conducted by the two companies under a 2022 Joint Ventures Partnership broad agency announcement contract, highlights how EODT can unify data from oceans, land, atmosphere, cryosphere and space weather to support forecasting and impact assessments.

EODT is a digital replica that simulates real-world systems, environments or objects, constantly updated through satellite inputs, machine learning and other data. These virtual copies deliver actionable insights to federal agencies, researchers and industry.

Recommendations for Future EODT Architecture

The study provided NESDIS with recommendations aimed at building an advanced ground enterprise system. These recommendations emphasize standardization and interoperability to enhance collaboration across government and other EODT initiatives.

The suggestions are as follows:

  • Expand digital twin initiatives across NOAA, other federal agencies, academia and industry by aligning data standards.
  • Develop a flexible EODT architecture with data archives, a standardized data file formatter, algorithm processing services, and common and tiled processed file formats.
  • Enhance NOAA-wide data standards for efficient ingestion.
  • Explore the development of a separate digital twin for space weather.
  • Develop multiple digital twins at different scales focused on specific aspects of the Earth system.
  • Utilize Observing System Simulation Experiments to optimize the integration of processes.
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