NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

June 7, 2024       —       Issue 200!

This week the House Appropriations Committee released its FY25 defense spending bill, with a topline of $833 billion that meets the limits of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and comes in slightly lower than the HASC NDAA released last month. 

• Notable features: it funds only one Virginia-class attack submarine, forces release of held weapons to Israel, removes funding for climate change initiatives, drops funding for Ukraine, and adds over $1 billion for innovation efforts led by either Defense Innovation Unit or the Office of Strategic Capital.
• Next week, the Senate is expected to mark up its version of the NDAA. No scheduled date yet for the Senate's FY25 defense spending bill.

DIU continues to sign agreements formalizing working relationships across the defense innovation ecosystem, both domestically and around the world. 

• The latest this week is an innovation memorandum of understanding with Singapore, marking an important investment in the Indo-Pacific. The MOU's focus: collaboration on adopting and scaling commercial technologies, shipboard counter-unmanned aircraft systems, and electromagnetic interference resilience.
• Also this week, DIU signed a memorandum of agreement with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) focused on AI, autonomy, digital technologies for CJADC2, and associated policies. 

Our top story brings a successful rapidly awarded contract from CDAO to Palantir using the relatively new Tradewinds marketplace.

• Palantir will take on the task of creating the Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories (DAGIR), a data ecosystem meant to support the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2).

John Sherman is stepping down as DOD CIO at the end of June to move to Texas A&M.  The DoD press release did not name a successor.

The Marines have opened a new, large capacity wargaming center at Quantico. Expect to see more use of simulation, modeling, and real-time data.

Several research reports of note came out this week: an exploration of the effects of raising the micro-purchase threshold, especially on small businesses; a CRS summary of the PPBE reform commission recommendations for Congress; and an analysis of contracts used in disaster management.

In ARP news, WE'RE HIRING! The Department of Defense Management at NPS, with which ARP is closely aligned, is looking for a faculty member with expertise in program management.  Come work with us in Monterey!  See below for details.

We're sharing a short summary of a research paper initially presented at the symposium by Jacob Winn and Wilson Miles calling for the creation of an Immediate Opportunity Pathway in the Adaptive Acquisition Framework.

We were thrilled to welcome former SECDEF James Mattis to campus this week to deliver a lecture for the whole campus and visit with students in one lucky class. 

Yesterday was the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with many activities and celebrations to mark the historic date.  Check out our "One More Thing" section to see how Rosie the Riveter was on the ground in Normandy to be part of the action.

And a final note: this is the 200th issue of our newsletter.  Holy cow!  Thanks for being a loyal reader and to all those who have shared news, research, events, and your thoughts over the past four years.  

This Week's Top Story 

Pentagon’s AI office awards Palantir a contract to create a data-sharing ecosystem
Edward Graham, Nextgov/FCW

The Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, or CDAO, leveraged its marketplace for fast-tracking the acquisition of innovative technologies to award Palantir a contract to develop a data-sharing ecosystem — a tool that will help the Pentagon with its connect-everything initiative.

CDAO announced last Thursday that the ecosystem — known as Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories, or Open DAGIR — will enable the Department of Defense to scale its use of data, analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities through greater collaboration with private sector partners.

Palantir said it received a $33 million prototype Other Transaction award from CDAO “to rapidly and securely onboard third-party vendor and government capabilities into the government-owned, Palantir-operated data environment to meet priority combatant command digital needs.”

The contract was awarded through CDAO’s Tradewinds Solution Marketplace, which allows private firms of all sizes to pitch DOD their AI, machine learning and data capabilities through five minute infomercial-style videos. Once companies are accepted into the marketplace, Pentagon components can search the platform to view videos of solutions from industry partners. Companies, in turn, are able to access post-competition, readily awardable contracts.

ARP and NPS News

Come work with us!

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is looking to hire one full-time faculty member specializing in program management.

Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or Professor of the Practice usually teaches 4 quarters per year.  Duty location of Monterey CA.

DDM faculty work in a collegial environment teaching mid-career military professionals with a wealth of operational experience and aptitude to be the next generation of defense leaders. Class content, discussions, and research projects are intellectually stimulating and have a direct impact on the nation’s military readiness.

Applications due as soon as possible. Start date: October 1, 2024.

Learn more and apply now!
 

Learning from Times the Department of Defense Broke the Rules
Jacob Winn and Wilson Miles, First Breakfast

The National Defense Industrial Association Emerging Technologies Institute (NDIA ETI) conducted a research study on these infrequent moments of rapid capability adoption. ETI found six attributes across these three case studies that provide a methodology for identifying when a technology candidate is the right “fit” for rapid acquisition.  ... The most significant reform which we propose is the addition of a new acquisition pathway to the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF). We call it the “Immediate Opportunity Pathway.”  Read more.

Former SECDEF Mattis Talks About Leadership, Democracy During NPS Guest Lecture
Naval Postgraduate School Public Affairs

Service to country, selfless leadership, and personal integrity define the character and career of retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, 26th Secretary of Defense, who visited the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) last week and addressed the NPS community in the school’s Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture series on May 28.

Speaking to a full house at King Hall Auditorium, Mattis answered questions in a fireside chat format with retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt, an NPS distinguished alumnus and professor of practice in the Department of Defense Analysis, before taking questions from NPS’ warrior-scholar students about national security threats and how to address them. ...

In addition to NPS students, faculty and staff, the audience included 101-year-old Edward Cavallini, a former Marine Corps captain and infantry platoon commander who was wounded twice during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Mattis met Cavallini, who lives in the Monterey area, and exemplified him in his talk. Read more.

Acquisition and Innovation

Open DAGIR: DoD plans July industry day, experiments for new CJADC2 command apps
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

GDIT’s Project Enigma inches toward production contract
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

DIU, Air Force pick four firms to prototype modular testing drone
Stephen Losey, Defense News

CDAO and DIU Codify Collaboration
DIU Press Release

Defense Digital Service directors used unauthorized tech tools, watchdog finds
Edward Graham, Defense One

‘America’s gatekeeper’ has a message for small defense contractors
Molly Weisner and Cristina Stassis, Federal Times

Retired Navy four-star admiral arrested in bribery scheme
Geoff Ziezulewicz, Navy Times

Commentary: Space Force must address cybersecurity in commercial acquisitions
Jason Blessing, C4ISRNET

Research

The Potential Effects of Raising the Micro-Purchase Threshold
Emily W. Murphy, Noah Rivers, Jerry McGinn, and Richard Beutel |  Baroni Center for Government Contracting

US federal government contracting for disaster management
Carlos Mena and Anand Nair, Journal of Operations Management

PPBE Reform Commission Final Report Recommendations: Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service

Audit of the Defense Digital Service Support of DoD Programs and Programs
DoD Inspector General

Events

Maritime Risk Symposium
11-13 June 2024
Naval Postgraduate School

The Maritime Risk Symposium is an annual three-day conference in which government and maritime industry leaders, port representatives, researchers, and solution providers convene to examine current and emerging threats to maritime security.  Check out details here.

2024 Federal Acquisition Conference
Professional Services Council
June 20, 2024

National Contract Management Association World Congress
July 21-24, 2024
Seattle, WA

2024 Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference & Exhibition
National Defense Industrial Association
August 7-9, 2024

Policy

Report to Congress: Acquisition Innovation & Small Business Participation in Federal Procurement 
Chief Acquisition Officers Council, Office of Federal Procurement Policy

This report discusses the innovative techniques and technologies agencies are using to promote acquisition stewardship and the steps that have been taken to create an innovation friendly culture. It also provides a roadmap for the scaling of acquisition innovation.

Memorandum: DoD Unclassified Wireless Mobile Services and Devices - Spiral 4
DoD CIO

This memo directs DoD Components to procure unclassified wireless services and devices for use within the 50 United States and U.S. territories through a single Department-wide contract vehicle - called Spiral 4. It replaces Spiral 3, a contract that saved the Department approximately $177M.

Defense and Federal Government

US, Singapore to work together on counter-drone, electronic warfare tech
Noah Robertson, Defense News

• U.S. and Singapore Sign Defense Innovation Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding
  DIU Press Release

New Marine center aims for immersive, realistic approach to wargaming
Todd South, Marine Times

Inside the Navy’s slick effort to find workers to build submarines
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

DARPA sees automated tools helping streamline software certification
Jen Judson, Defense News

Airbus reveals futuristic wingman concept, teams with German startup Helsing for AI tech
Tim Martin, Breaking Defense

China wants to recruit military pilots from the U.S. and its allies to strengthen Chinese air power, bulletin warns
Dan De Luce, NBC News

Congress

Defense spending bill forces Israel arms transfers, nixes Ukraine aid
Bryant Harris, Defense News

House defense spending bill nixes funding for second Virginia sub
Bryant Harris, Defense News

House lawmakers propose $1.3 billion for Pentagon innovation
Courtney Albon, C4ISRNET

Committee Releases FY25 Defense Appropriations Bill
House Appropriations Committee

One more thing...

D-Day anniversary shines spotlight on ‘Rosies’ who built WWII weapons
Sylvie Corbet and John Leicester, The Associated Press

When the 5,000th B-17 bomber built after Pearl Harbor rolled out of its Boeing factory, teenage riveter Anna Mae Krier made sure it would carry a message from the women of World War II: She signed her name on it.

Now 98, and in Normandy, France, for this week’s 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Krier is still proudly promoting the vital roles played by women in the June 6, 1944, invasion and throughout the war — including by making weaponry that enabled men to fight.  Read more.

Remembering D-Day
DoD Interactive Media Feature

The roughly 160,000 Allied troops who landed in Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, not only successfully executed the largest air, land and sea invasion in history, they did so amid daunting obstacles, terrible bloodshed and stakes that couldn’t have been higher.

This image-rich interactive feature gives a play-by-play of the events of June 6, 1944. Watch now.