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Our top story covers the upcoming acquisition strategy for the Space Development Agency, which will segment its purchase of satellite launches into two lanes: one tailored for commercial providers, one with more defense-unique requirements. (This is when we remind readers that the Section 809 Panel–and others–called for a radically simplified method of acquiring commercial capabilities as distinct from the defense-unique processes that suit the acquisition of major defense acquisition programs.)
In ARP news, check out a recent student thesis identifying emerging commercial capabilities in the realm of firefighting. The referenced Project Vespa is a collaboration between NPS, the NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge, and technology companies. As NPS expands its network to have more intentional and strategic engagement with industry partners, standby for more research and results in this area.
Continuing the theme of accessing commercial innovation, the latest thought piece from Hacking for Defense founders Steve Blank, Pete Newell, and Joe Felter offer an "organizational roadmap" that reorganizes DoD to better tap into private capital and commercial innovation. Hitting one of these points, they argue,
- "Viewing the DoD budget as a zero-sum game has turned the major defense primes and K Street lobbyists into saboteurs for DoD organizational innovation that threaten their business models. Using private capital could be a force multiplier by adding hundreds of billions of dollars outside the DoD budget."
A separate publication from the Atlantic Council's Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption makes similar assessment and recommendations, calling on DoD to better leverage private capital and create a $250 million bridge fund to scale up successfully demonstrated technologies–plus eight other recommendations that will hit familiar notes.
On the topic of funding, several articles analyze the FY24 budget request, which may be doomed because of wrangling over the debt ceiling and ever-increasing federal toplines. In other depressing news, we have the first prediction of a continuing resolution from Senator Tim Kaine.
Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Appropriations Committee, offers his two cents on the funding request for the Navy in this year's budget. In short, it's woefully inadequate. He also joins the chorus of voices criticizing the high percentage of defense dollars going to R&D:
- "Instead of using funds for basic tasks like shipbuilding, the Pentagon has been spending more and more taxpayer dollars on obscure experiments conducted by third-party contractors under the guise of research and development. In short, the government can and should invest in technological innovation, but not at the expense of production."
In other research, GAO has published three reports of note: analysis of satellite sustainment at Space Force, U.S. funding to Chinese entities, and contracting for wildfire responses.
In our "one more thing" article, did you know that Mother's Day has its roots in the Civil War? Learn about how two 19th century moms worked to heal the nation after this horrific war.
- Coincidentally, our symposium is always held the week after Mother's Day.
Do something nice for your mother on May 7, and then join us at what we hope is a nurturing event for our friends in the defense acquisition community.
20th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium
10-11 May 2023
Monterey, CA
We're a month out from the 20th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium. Don't miss hearing what our researchers and experts have to say about space acquisition in Panel 2: Exploring New Frontiers in Space Acquisition with research from GAO and IDA, plus insight from NPS' Jim Newman, former NASA astronaut and current chair of the Space Systems Academic Group. This one won't be livestreamed--you'll have to come to Monterey to be part of the conversation!
This Week's Top Story
US Space Force to simplify timelines, purchases as launches surge
Courtney Albon, C4ISRNET
The U.S. Space Force’s acquisition plan for its next phase of National Security Space Launch contracts will make it easier for the Space Development Agency to buy and schedule launch missions, according to the organization’s director.
Derek Tournear said April 5 the agency worked closely with the Space Force’s primary acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, to inform its strategy for NSSL Phase 3, which the service will use to fund launch missions between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2034. The service released a draft solicitation for the effort in February and plans to issue a final version this summer. ...
The NSSL Phase 3 strategy will establish two launch-provider groups split into “lanes.” The first lane will include mostly commercial companies that compete for less complex missions. The second lane will focus on more stressing launches with unique requirements, and the Space Force is to choose just two companies for this track.
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