November 19, 2021                                     Issue 79

Lots of documents were released this week: DoD's latest audit report, the priorities for the DoD Inspector General (with 33 projects on acquisition), the President's Management Agenda (PMA), and GAO's annual report on bid protests. Last week brought new policy to support the Adaptive Acquisition Framework: the DoDI for Product Support Management, which highlights the role of sustainment throughout a product's lifecycle. 

We see a positive trend in the federal government: the PMA calls for improving customer experience, and there is talk of a coming executive order on the same topic. The way Americans interact with government, including the Department of Defense, has becoming increasingly important as most of those interactions are digital or otherwise aided by technology. 

In acquisition news, GAO's report shows that protests are down 12% for FY 2021. The FCW article asks if enhanced debriefings are helping reduce the number of and need for protests. If disappointed offerers are getting the information they need without protesting, everyone wins. 

To help you contextualize the latest audit, we're including a recent ARP-supported research report on DoD's first three years of audits, highlighting the benefits and findings of the labor-intensive process. 

Our top story talks through how the National Defense Authorization Act is working through the Senate this week, navigating many amendments and potential riders. Chuck Schumer has also admitted that another continuing resolution is likely before December 3, although he is aiming for a FY2022 Omnibus bill "later this year."

Next week is Thanksgiving, so we'll be taking the week off from the newsletter. We're grateful to have you as part of the ARP community! Enjoy your time with loved ones, and don't forget that the deadline for proposals for next year's acquisition research symposium is the same day you return to work: November 29. 

This Week's Top Story 

Amendments Abound as Senate Starts Process of Passing 2022 NDAA
Greg Hadley, Air Force Magazine

After weeks of waiting, the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act is on the move in the Senate as Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took action on the bill Nov. 15. Schumer’s parliamentary procedure starts a process that could take days or even weeks, depending on how quickly Senate leaders want to press forward and whether any senator will raise objections and draw the process out. The Senate is also scheduled to be in recess Nov. 22-26 over the Thanksgiving holiday. Should the process drag into December, it would mark just the third time in the past 11 years that the NDAA has passed the Senate that late. Also potentially lengthening the debate around the bill are the hundreds of amendments that have been filed in the past few days—791 in total as of Nov. 15. Virtually every member of the Senate has sponsored or co-sponsored an amendment, and as part of his floor speech, Schumer indicated that two more high-priority pieces of legislation will be added as amendments.

ARP and NPS News

Evaluating the Impacts of Federal Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) Compliance
William Lucyshyn and Dylan Hunt  

This ARP-supported research evaluates the first three years of DoD audits. Lucyshyn and Hunt explore the benefits of producing auditable financial statements, their costs, and any impacts on DoD’s acquisition system. They describe the several forms of accounting and review the academic accounting literature that examines the value of audits. Benefits of DoD's audits include uncovering previously unaccounted inventory and improvements to internal accounting systems; even as no instances of massive waste or fraud were identified. They review the criticisms of financial accounting and audits and finally, the utility of management cost accounting is discussed. Read the report.

Submit your proposal for the 19th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Share your acquisition research with an informed, innovative community of researchers, policy makers, and acquisition experts at next year's symposium. Deadline is coming up fast: November 29. Submit now!

Adapting Naval Cultures for Advantage at Sea
Scott Humr, Center for International Maritime Security

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Scott Humr, a student in NPS' Department of Information Sciences, provides a cautionary argument against the over-reliance on emerging technologies. As demonstrated by the Sea Services' rapid adaptability in the face of COVID-19, he calls for bold leadership and bold decisions that guide an integrated Naval force toward realized cultural change.

Acquisition and Innovation

Foreign Military Sales Slowing Under Biden
Jon Harper, National Defense

Biden aims to limit turnover among federal contract workers
Zeke Miller, AP 

Army’s Shark Tank-style innovation competition is now open to other services
Todd South, Army Times

Analysis: Are better debriefings driving down protests?
Nick Wakeman, FCW

DoD's Office of Acquisition and Sustainment Announces 2021 Defense Acquisition Workforce Award Winners
DoD Press Release

Department of the Navy Recognizes Acquisition Excellence Awardees
Navy Press Release

Research

GAO Bid Protest Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2021
U.S. Government Accountability Office

Signs Point to China's Third Aircraft Carrier Launching Soon
Matthew P. Funaiole, Center for Strategic & International Studies

When Less Is More: Rethinking U.S. Military Strategy and Posture in the Middle East
Ilan Goldenberg, Becca Wasser, Elisa Catalano Ewers and Lilly Blumenthal  |  Center for a North American Security

State of the Space Industrial Base 2021
J. Olson, S. Butow, E. Felt, T. Cooley, and J. Mozer  |  United States Space Force, Defense Innovation Unit and Air Force Research Laboratory

Government Publications

United States Department of Defense Agency Financial Report
Department of Defense

Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Fiscal Year 2022 Oversight Plan

Policy

DoD Instruction 5000.91, “Product Support Management for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

President's Management Agenda
The Office of Management and Budget

Defense and Federal Government

DOD Outlines Results of Fourth Annual Department-Wide Audit
Transcript

Biden administration details initial vision, three top priorities under President Management’s Agenda
Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network

Upcoming customer experience executive order underscores Biden’s equity goals
Jory Heckman, Federal News Network 

Could kinetic warfare go the way of Blockbuster?: US Air Force chief
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

Rising costs for troops’ pay and benefits could hurt military readiness, experts warn
Leo Shane III, Military Times

Commentary: Pentagon’s first climate challenge: How to follow the money
Hallie Coyne, Breaking Defense

Congress

Another $25B boost, this time for shipyards, proposed for NDAA
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

We're getting more information on CMMC 2.0 after a town hall this Tuesday. Certification won't be required until the rulemaking process is complete, and that's a year or two away. The Accreditation Body is looking for volunteers to become level-two certified in the meantime. See our top story for more details. 

The FAR Council has moved out on a recommendation from the Section 809 Panel to change the definition of commercial items into two categories: commercial services and commercial products. This is a small but positive step forward in the panel's goals of simplifying commercial acquisitions, which research shows have become mired down in the kind of regulatory burdens they were originally designed to sidestep.

Eric Lofgren has a thoughtful blog post unpacking a recommendation to revise IP and data rights around the concept of modular open systems architecture -- MOSA being a recurrent solution identified in recent conversations about acquiring emerging technology.  

This week's news articles show a trend of DoD and the U.S. government moving to work more deliberately with partners and allies on cybersecurity, research & development priorities, and global infrastructure projects that counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. This seems like a notable shift in policy that has potential to significantly bolster national security.

It looks like the Senate will pick up the National Defense Authorization Act next week, now that the infrastructure bill is passed. But Congress has a lot of pending legislation between now and December 31, so TBD (still) on when the NDAA gets conferenced and finalized. 

We're excited to share newly published research from long-time friends and researchers in the ARP community.  Amir Etemadi and John Kamp conduct a deep dive into acquisition strategies that can enable ambitious goals for rapid acquisition and fielding of capabilities.

Since yesterday was Veteran's Day, we want to extend a sincere THANK YOU to all those in the ARP community who are active duty service members or veterans. It is always inspiring to hear from you about the smart, mission-focused work that happens every day, knowing that much more happens behind the scenes that the general public will never be aware of. Keep up the good work.

This Week's Top Story 

CMMC 2.0 could take as long as two years to come online
Justin Doubleday, Federal News Network

The Pentagon is encouraging defense contractors to follow cybersecurity practices laid out by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, but new requirements will not show up in contracts for at least nine months, with the potential for the rulemaking process to stretch out as late as fall 2023. Meanwhile, a Defense Department official said about 40,000 companies will still require a third-party assessment under the revamped Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. During a virtual town hall hosted by the CMMC Accreditation Body on Tuesday night, Pentagon officials explained the CMMC 2.0 changes announced last week and previewed the new path forward for the long simmering program. “My hope is that no company in the [defense industrial base] or in the broader commercial market is waiting for DOD contractual requirements to begin its cyber readiness process,” Jesse Salazar, deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy, said during the meeting. “We are encouraging all companies to start to improve their cybersecurity.” The Pentagon is suspending its CMMC pilots and will not require the certification as part of any contract until after the rules have been finalized, including a 60-day public comment period prior to the rule taking effect, according to Dees.

ARP and NPS News

Submit your proposal for the 19th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Share your acquisition research with an informed, innovative community of researchers, policy makers, and acquisition experts at next year's symposium. Enjoy Thanksgiving without a deadline looming over your head. Submit now!

NPS Students Finish Strong, Take Top Honors, in NavalX Challenge MC2 James Norket A field of 200 participants from across the Navy stepped forward to be a force for innovation in the sea services through the NavalX Agility Summit Challenge, part of NaxalX’s annual Agility Summit. When the dust settled, it was the fourth NPS team, a solo student force of one from the university’s mechanical engineering program, U.S. Navy Lt. Sam Royster, who took top honors in the Agility Summit Challenge competition. While pursuing his mechanical engineering degree, Royster’s focus on robotic controls and total ship systems engineering led his research toward developing a 21st century solution to marine biofouling management. He’s exploring innovative methods of cleaning algae and barnacles off ship hulls to make them more fuel efficient when underway, and reduce their maintenance burden during in-port periods.  Read more.

Acquisition and Innovation

Pentagon tech chief seeks to bolster R&D work with allies
Joe Gould, Defense News

Who's going to volunteer for the new CMMC?
Lauren C. Williams, FCW

Goodbye Commercial “Items”: FAR Council Replaces Definition with Commercial Products and Services
John E. McCarthy Jr., J. Chris Haile, Nicole Owren-Wiest & M.Yuan Zhou |  Government Contracts Legal Forum

Amid explosion in DoD’s use of OTAs, myths abound about how and whether to use them
Jared Serbu, Federal News Network

Center Playbook Blog #6: Intellectual Property
Eric Lofgren, George Mason Center for Government Contracting

Commentary: Congress passes $1T infrastructure bill – but how does the government go about spending that much money?
Ana Maria Dimand, The Conversation

Research

Acquisition strategy factors related to faster defense acquisitions (subscription required)
Amir Etemadi and John Kamp, Systems Engineering

Test and Evaluation - Where the Rubber Meets the Road in Digital Engineering
Eileen Bjorkman, Ph.D., and John Grigaliunas, M.E.  |  Defense Acquisition Magazine

Browse the full issue of the latest Defense Acquisition Magazine

Policy

Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revision of Definition of “Commercial Item”
Federal Register

Defense and Federal Government

Hackers have breached organizations in defense and other sensitive sectors, security firm says
Sean Lyngaas, CNN

U.S. eyes January rollout of first projects to counter China's Belt and Road -official
Andrea Shalal, Reuters

Pentagon wants industry’s help to bolster allies and partners’ cybersecurity
Jen Judson, Defense News

RPA in the acquisition lifecycle at DOI and former Federal CIO Suzette Kent (listen)
The Daily Scoop Podcast

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency issues new commercial strategy
Nathan Strout, C4ISRNET

Pentagon’s JADC2 office could phase out in coming years
Andrew Eversden, Breaking Defense

Advisory panel outlines how agencies can meet ‘open data by default’ goal
Jory Heckman, Federal News Network

DHS launches public survey on use of AI
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

Congress

The Senate’s year-end to-do list is ‘going to be a train wreck’ Burgess Everett and Marianne Levine, Politico

Sen. Peters’ GOOD AI bill advances in Senate
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

November 5, 2021                                         Issue 77

The big headline this week is yesterday's release of CMMC 2.0, a dramatically simplified version that allows many more defense contractors to self-certify their compliance with cybersecurity standards. The defense industry will no doubt heave a collective sigh of relief on this one. It's also worth noting that the new CMMC website is refreshingly well designed and user friendly, something of a rarity for DoD websites. 

Meanwhile, pending changes to Buy American requirements are getting increasing pushback from both American and allied defense contractors. Additional provisions to increase the required domestic content for goods supplied to the federal government are in both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA. That legislation, however, seems stalled out in the Senate, with no indication of when the bill will come up for full chamber vote.

In acquisition news, GAO has sustained Microsoft's protest of NSA's cloud contract, awarded earlier this year to Amazon. Blue Origin's protest of NASA's award to SpaceX, however, has been denied by the Court of Federal Claims.

The DoD's annual report on China is out, with the latest updates on China's all nation effort to become the dominant economic and military country by 2049. In other research, CSIS dropped three solid reports this week: Bob Hale on the budget process, Todd Harrison on the future of JADC2, and Mark Cancian's analysis of the Navy's fleet for 2022. 

And we highlight a research ARP-supported student thesis that makes the case for using a smart phone app to get user feedback on the Army's contracting process. Their comparison of customer journey maps in the commercial sector and the Army highlight current roadblocks that can be minimized or eliminated, largely by making data accessible to multiple stakeholders at once.

This Week's Top Story 

Pentagon strips down CMMC program to streamline industry cyber assessments
Justin Doubleday, Federal News Network

The Pentagon is revising its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program by massively reducing the amount of companies that would require third-party assessments and providing new waiver processes for select requirements. The Defense Department is also suspending the CMMC pilots for select contracts until it enacts the revised rules. DoD announced the new “strategic direction” of CMMC today after a months-long review that delayed its planned implementation this year and raised questions about the program’s future. A frequent criticism was the potential for the program’s costs to force small businesses out of the defense industrial base. DoD is calling the revamped program “CMMC 2.0.” The revisions are intended to carry forward the original intent of the program to ensure contractors are following best practices for protecting sensitive information on their networks, while also making it easier for small businesses to comply with the mandates. Read more.

ARP and NPS News

Analysis of the User Feedback Mechanism in the Army Service Contract Acquisition Process Robert Puente and Cindy Rodriguez-Herdon This ARP-supported student thesis examined how end user feedback for Army service contracts could be standardized and streamlined to better inform the requirements managers. They examined how three Army requirement managers from a MICC, PEO and combat theater currently collect, evaluate, document, and disseminate end user feedback for service contracts and what considerations they use in their evaluations to improve those contracts. The team compared example customer journey process maps from commercial companies to the Army's process for customer feedback. They recommend a more efficient process using a smart phone app that increases transparency, standardization, and capacity, making contractor performance ratings more available and useful.

Acquisition and Innovation

GAO sustains Microsoft’s protest of NSA’s $10B WildandStormy award
Dave Nyczepir, Fedscoop

U.S. defense allies push to block new ‘Buy American’ boost
Joe Gould, Defense News

Buy American: Biden sees industry pushback as allies warn of trade consequences
Joe Gould, Defense News

A simple user agreement is changing how the Air Force looks at software
Scott Maucione, Federal News Network

Federal court rules against Blue Origin in HLS lawsuit
Jeff Foust, Space News

DARPA Seeks Mission System Concepts Aimed at Peer Competition
Angeline Leishman, ExecutiveGov

Research

U.S. Military Forces in FY 2022: Navy
Mark Cancian, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Battle Networks and the Future Force. Part 2: Operational Challenges and Acquisition Opportunities
Todd Harrison, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Financing the Fight: History and Assessment of DoD Budget Execution Processes
Robert F. Hale, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Events

Think Differently: Special Edition: Increasing the Urgency on Acquisition Speed AND Security
Defense Acquisition University
November 9, 2021  |  12:30-2:00 ET

Avoiding Catastrophe: Strategies for Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
November 16, 2021  |  2:00 pm ET  

Policy

DOD 2021 Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China
Office of the Secretary of Defense

Defense and Federal Government

Contractors get new January deadline to comply with federal vaccine mandate
Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News Network

Biden Nominates Navy Adm. Grady to Replace Hyten as Vice Chairman of JCS
Greg Hadley, Air Force Magazine

U.K.’s Tempest Jet Fighter Program Embraces ‘Digital Revolution’
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

China’s march toward a ‘world-class’ military, and how it threatens Taiwan
Meghann Myers, Military Times

NSA, CISA Weigh in on Shared Responsibility for Cloud Security in the 5G Era
Mariam Baksh, Nextgov

Pentagon Will Add a Climate-Policy Czar
Jacqueline Feldscher, Defense One

Commentary: Greater transparency will ensure the TMF endures
Alan Thomas, Federal News Network

Congress

Delayed defense bill sparks bipartisan anger at Schumer
Connor O'Brien, Politico

Lawmakers introduce bill to support adoption of secure cloud tech at federal agencies
Dave Nyczepir, Fedscoop

 NEED TO KNOW

October 29, 2021                                       Issue 76

Home     Student Program     Work with us     Events     DAIR     News

This week's top story delves into the case study of the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) program at DIU-- the biometric technology Mike Madsen discussed at this month's webinar on acquiring emerging technologies. The technology is an incredible example of DoD's ability to harness commercial innovation. Sadly, it is also a tale of the gravitational pull of the "valley of death"--a fate Schneider attributes to the disconnect between revolutionary innovations and the DoD's need "to label things in order to know what to compare them to and what regulations to apply."

In other acquisition news, the State Department is crafting a $8 billion IT services contract that will be flexible enough over its five years to adapt to changing technologies and the corresponding changes in policies and practices. The draft solicitation states, "With the pace of change it is impossible to anticipate how IT requirements and individual programs will evolve over the life of the contracts. It is intended that the EVOLVE contract remains current and continues to provide the full range of IT capabilities/solutions and emerging technologies throughout its life.”

Our research section has a few resources for you, including a new report by the Defense Department’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation that breaks down defense spending for FY 2020 by state, county, service, and more. The maps and graphs convey tons of information and insights. 

In ARP news, check out the latest piece from Professor Bob Mortlock, who breaks down the various biases and cognitive tendencies that need to be acknowledged--and overcome--to enable truly data-driven acquisition decisions. And a friendly reminder that we are reviewing submissions for next year's symposium. 

As we gear up to celebrate Halloween this weekend, it's time for our annual reminder that the Pentagon has a CONOP for the zombie apocalypse. Brush up on the phased response plan to this threat scenario, just in case.

This Week's Top Story 

How Innovation Dies: The Case of RATE
Jeff Schneider, War on the Rocks

At the height of the pandemic, the Department of Defense developed an algorithm that used biometric data provided by commercially available rings and watches to predict COVID-19 infections, including asymptomatic cases, with 73 percent accuracy. Now the research study that developed this capability is ending, but the Department of Defense does not have a program of record office ready to adopt it. As a result, the development of a promising technology has been halted. Rather than move at the pace of COVID-19 outbreaks and new variants, the Department of Defense instead relied on drawn-out business practices that will render this technology irrelevant by the time it is finally fielded. Over the past year and a half, I served as the program manager at the Defense Innovation Unit that created the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) program. The story of how RATE was developed, and why it ended, offers several valuable lessons for the Department of Defense as it seeks to innovate better and faster in the future. Through RATE, I learned that if the department wants to accelerate innovation, it can take three crucial steps. First, it should hold staff officers accountable for inaction. Second, it should develop a more robust waiver process to deal with new and uncertain situations like a global pandemic. And third, the Department of Defense should create a parallel fast lane to transition technology through temporary program offices that can do an interim lift while the larger program of record offices catch up. Read more.

ARP and NPS News

Call for Proposals Is Now Live for the 19th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Don't forget to submit your proposal for a paper or panel! The process is now open for next year's symposium. Deadline is November 29.

Been There, Done That: Behavioral Acquisition Dr. Robert F. Mortlock, Army AL&T Magazine I have coined the phrase behavioral acquisition, which explores defense acquisition from a behavioral standpoint, including the impact of psychology, organizational behavior and politics. Behavioral acquisition studies the decisions made in DOD acquisition programs and helps better understand and predict how acquisition professionals and senior leaders think and make decisions about program strategy, managing resources and leading people. Behavioral acquisition is analogous to behavioral finance, which has successfully applied social science theories—especially from psychology—to improve the accuracy of predictions about personal financial decisions.

Acquisition and Innovation

Military has only made ‘marginal’ gains in acquisition speed, Hyten says
Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

State to award $8B IT contract by end of June 2022
Billy Mitchell, Fedscoop

AWS inks cloud contract with UK spy agencies — report
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

TMF hiring new technical leads
Adam Mazmanian, FCW

Commander Optimistic About ‘Armed Overwatch’ Procurement Prospects
Jon Harper, National Defense

Commentary: The Pentagon’s Office Culture Is Stuck in 1968
Zachary Tyson Brown and Kathleen J. McInnis, Foreign Policy

Research

Defense Spending by State - Fiscal Year 2020
Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation

Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending
Congressional Research Service

Defense and Federal Government

Space Force ‘Very Happy’ With Air Force Research Lab Realignment
Shaun Waterman, Air Force Magazine

DISA seeks to flatten leadership structure with reorganization
Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

With a Wink and a Nod, Japan Has an Aircraft Carrier Again
Konstantin Toropin, Military.com

Navy’s Unmanned Ships Sail With US Ally In The Middle East
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

Raytheon CEO: Air Force may not be able to afford new F-35 engine
Stephen Losey, Defense News

Board of Advisors 2021 Task Force Report
Common Mission Project

Congress

Senate Appropriators Pile On Congressional Criticism Of Next-Gen Missile Warning Program
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

Too Many Civilians? Pentagon Officials and House Lawmaker Disagree
Travis Tritten, Military.com

DOD’s Sherman teases new talent strategy in CIO confirmation hearing
Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

This week the Senate Appropriations Committee released the remaining nine appropriations bills. The committee follows the trajectory set by the pending NDAA bills, modestly increasing funding above DoD's request. For the first time since 2010, there is no separate account for overseas contingency operations. The committee also expressed support for PPBE reform, along with $2 million in funding, admitting that "there is no doubt that the Department of Defense labors under a variety of processes that constrain efficient decision-making...."

The committee goes on to say that "Discussion of PPBE reform should first distinguish between the mechanics of a process, as opposed to the values and priorities that direct the process," and this discussion should include talk of "how to better transition technologies into the acquisition system."  Our top story gives more detail on the bill's proposed appropriations and priorities, and you can find the explanatory statement in the Congress section. 

On a related note, we include recent ARP-supported research from Todd Harrison and Seamus Daniels at CSIS, who studied annual differences between defense budget requests and congressional appropriations over two decades. Their charts tell some clear stories about Congress's penchant for funding major programs and missile defense and the effects of the Budget Control Act. 

In acquisition news, the recent DHS multi-billion dollar cloud contract is being protested, which is not a surprise, but raises questions about how to award large-scale modernization contracts without indefinite delays of protests. The JEDI-replacement Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability contract will require providers to meet cybersecurity requirements similar to a beefed-up FedRAMP certification.

Our friend Nick Guertin testified on the Hill this week in his bid to lead the Operational Test & Evaluation Office, arguing that DoD needs the ability to conduct independent cybersecurity assessments of cloud infrastructure supporting the department. And the Q&A with Defense Business Board chair Deborah Lee James shared how the reconfigured board will operate, focusing efforts on issues related to transformation, business processes, and talent. 

This Week's Top Story 

Senate Committee Aims To Boost Pentagon’s Budget By $24B With Eyes On China
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

The Senate Appropriations Committee is proposing to boost the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2022 budget by $24 billion with a focus on countering China, improving facilities and infrastructure across the services and advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The bill’s big plus ups come with $2.5 billion of additional investments with an eye toward America’s rival in Asia, such as funding specific to Marine Corps Force Design 2030 efforts, accelerating INDO-PACOM missile tracking capabilities, funding for the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii and Guam Defense System as well as $100 million to establish the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve to “accelerate real-world demonstrations of innovative technologies,” according to a summary published by the committee. The bill also provides various increases for artificial intelligence, cyber and microelectronics capabilities which includes a $500 million program in increase adoption of AI at combatant commands. It would provide the still nascent Space Force with $17.9 billion for military personnel, operations and acquisition accounts, a 16% increase over last year’s enacted budget. Read more.

ARP and NPS News

Measuring Congressional Impact on Defense Acquisition Funding
Todd Harrison and Seamus P. Daniels, Center for Strategic & International Studies

This ARP-supported research assesses the role of Congress in the resourcing of defense acquisition programs. The study compares the actual funding level for procurement and RDT&E accounts with the original level proposed in the administration’s budget request and identifies patterns in which accounts are regularly adjusted by Congress. It assesses procurement and RDT&E accounts between FY 2001 and FY 2020 and conducts data cuts of acquisition funding at the account, category, military department, and budget activity levels. This analysis ultimately aims to inform defense planners, acquisition officials and program managers, and industry partners of trends in congressional appropriations for defense so they can better anticipate Congress’ impact on defense acquisition funding.

Pacific Fleet Leverages NPS, Silicon Valley to Advance Solutions to Key Challenges MC2 James Norket, Naval Postgraduate School With the constant evolution of Strategic Competition, Navy leaders must explore all avenues to master complex advanced technologies to maintain an advantage over competitors. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Samuel Paparo traveled to the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Oct. 15, to do exactly that, leveraging the university’s expertise and its proximity to Silicon Valley to engage academic and industry leaders on critical operational challenges facing the fleet in the Pacific. Watch: Virtual SGL with Adm. James Stavridis (ret.) and Dr. John Arquilla - Oct. 12, 2021 NPS YouTube

Acquisition and Innovation

Space Force Shakes Up Acquisition Again in Effort to Achieve Efficiencies
Abraham Mahshie, Air Force Magazine

General Dynamics protests $2.7B DHS cloud contract award
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

The growing importance of GWACs
Chris Riotta, FCW

Space Force teams with venture capital company on SpaceWERX
Nathan Strout, C4ISRNET

JWCC cloud contract providers will have to adhere to FedRAMP-like cybersecurity regime
Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

Former Navy acquisition leader joins robotics company Sarcos

Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

Shark Tank 2021: Use of Emerging Technology to Streamline Acquisition
ACT-IAC

Research

2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength
The Heritage Foundation

Defense Primer: Quantum Technology
Congressional Research Service

Events

Innovation that Sticks: Accelerating Culture Change in Contracting and the Workforce
George Mason University and Defense Acquisition University
November 3, 2021

Policy

Fact Sheet: Prioritizing Climate in Foreign Policy and National Security
The White House

Department of Defense Climate Risk Analysis

Fiscal Year 2021 Contractor Service Contract Reporting in the System for Award Management
John Tenaglia, Principal Director of Defense Pricing and Contracting

Defense and Federal Government

Biden's pick to lead DOD's weapons testing wants cyber assessments for commercial cloud systems
Lauren C. Williams, FCW

Four Questions With Army Futures Commander Gen. John Murray
Andrew Eversden, Breaking Defense

Algorithmic Warfare: New Navy Task Force Focused on AI, Robotics
Yasmin Tadjdeh, National Defense

Q&A: Defense Business Board chair Deborah Lee James, on helping Pentagon see ‘forest for the trees’
Stephen Losey, Defense News

Defense Digital Service looks to ‘SITH’ to stop insider threats before they happen
Billy Mitchell, Fedscoop

Next round of TMF awards likely within weeks, says Clare Martorana
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

Commentary: Can’t Sail Away From Cyber Attacks: ‘Sea-Hacking’ From Land
Chris C. Demchak and Michael L. Thomas, War on the Rocks

Congress

Explanatory Statement for the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2022
Senate Appropriations Committee

Senate Committee Warns Navy Against ‘Unneeded Risk’ In Second Frigate Shipyard
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

Lawmakers introduce bill to increase oversight of federal contractors’ use of AI
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

Subcommittee on Readiness Hearing: “Depot Modernization and Optimization”
October 28, 2021

NEED TO KNOW

Today we’re all excited that the government continues to be funded. The continuing resolution was passed and signed yesterday, keeping agencies operational until December 3.  Congratulations to everyone who’s still getting paid today!

We’re seeing lots of momentum in acquisition reform lately. The top story reports that DoD is shifting to a portfolio management approach, something advocated by the Section 809 Panel and others. Flexible funding is also coming along for IT projects, with more pilots for the concept of “colorless” money. The Technology Modernization Fund is awarding funds for seven modernization projects, with the new change that these funds may not need to be repaid.  And as we shared last week, both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA call for a reform panel to tackle the PPBE process.

DoD posted a call in the Federal Register for comments on supply chain vulnerability. Now’s your chance to weigh in on this important subject!

This week we invited you to our upcoming webinar on acquiring emerging technologies. Thanks to all who registered already! We’re looking forward to the questions and insights you’ll bring to the conversation. 

Finally, you may notice this week’s newsletter looks different. We are excited to be upgrading our email capabilities to connect with you more effectively. Make sure you add this email address to your contacts list, and, as always, let us know what you think. No doubt we’ll be making adjustments along the way.

This Week's Top Story 

DOD embarks on new acquisition portfolio reviews
Tony Bertuca, Inside Defense

The acting Pentagon acquisition chief said today the Defense Department has begun a new series of weapon system reviews that could impact future budget and programming decisions. “We are in the midst of a rebalance from a program-centric approach to a portfolio-based perspective," said Gregory Kausner, who is performing the duties of under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Speaking at the Common Defense 2021 conference, Kausner said DOD is conducting integrated acquisition portfolio reviews, or IAPRs, as it builds its future budget. “For example, instead of looking only at a specific munition, we're more focused on how that system fits into the broader integrated air and missile defense capability portfolio," he said. “Such an outlook enables us to not only see all the dots, but actually connect them to directly align decision-making with operational needs.” The IARPs, he said, will help DOD identify “critical funding shortfalls and inform strategic resourcing decisions.” The reviews, Kausner added, will also help “reduce redundancies associated with sustaining platforms that are ineffective against a strategic adversary, and better inform efforts to divest of legacy systems.” First ordered by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, the reviews are part of a DOD effort to establish a new doctrine of "integrated deterrence," to block a rising China. Kausner said integrated deterrence is a “call to action” and will guide DOD acquisition. Read more.

ARP and NPS News

Acoustics Experimentation Helps NPS Researchers Better Understand Sensor Capabilities, Monterey Bay Soundscape
Rebecca Hoag, Naval Postgraduate School

It was a surprisingly sunny day when the small group of researchers equipped the R/V Fulmar for their first of five days data collection trip off the coast of Santa Cruz in the Monterey Bay. Their goal was to use vector sensors, passive acoustic technology that detects particle motion and pressure changes, to collect data for several projects. The trip was run by Dr. Kevin Smith, a Professor of Physics at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Chair of the NPS Undersea Warfare Academic Group, and Dr. Paul Leary, a Research Assistant Professor of Physics at NPS. Together they run the NPS Undersea Sensing Systems Lab. Read more.

Acquisition and Innovation

For DoD, new flexibility for IT spending is a test of trust with Congress
Jared Serbu, Federal News Network

Pentagon IG pushes back on Republicans’ criticisms of JEDI review
Billy Mitchell, Fedscoop

Navy Reorganizing Submarine Acquisition Offices To Prepare For Columbia
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

Space Force issues $47.5 million for prototype data transport service
Nathan Strout, Defense News

Technology Modernization Fund support awarded to 7 new agency IT projects
John Hewitt Jones, Fedscoop

Hondo Geurts Joining Silicon Valley Defense Group
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

Opinion: Want To Solve Supply Chain Security? Do Business Differently
Stephanie Halcrow, Breaking Defense

Research

The Adversary Gets a Vote: Advanced Situational Awareness and Implications for Integrated Deterrence in an Era of Great Power Competition
Rebecca Hersman and Reja Younis, Center for Strategic & International Studies

CNAS Launches New Project: Unfinished Business in Defense Innovation
Center for a New American Security

DOD Software Acquisition: Status of and Challenges Related to Reform Efforts
U.S Government Accountability Office

Virginia Tech launches National Security Institute; Eric Paterson appointed executive director
Virginia Tech Press Release

Events

Acquiring Emerging Technologies: A Conversation Acquisition Research Program at Naval Postgraduate School October 14, 2021  |  12:00-2:00 PT

Weapons of Mass Disruption: A Conversation with Admiral James Stavridis on the Future Force, Geopolitics and Leadership
NPS SECNAV Guest Lecture
October 12, 2021  |  3:00 pm PT

Acquisition Innovation/Research Transition
SERC Annual Research Review
Systems Engineering Research Center
November 2, 2021

Defense and Federal Government

Security Demands Challenge Air Force, Defense Contractor Collaboration With Academia
Shaun Waterman, Air Force Magazine

DoD Publishes Federal Register Notice for Input on Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Opportunities
DoD Press Release

Continuing Resolutions Could Extend Well into 2022
Jon Harper, National Defense

Algorithmic Warfare: AI Key to Unlocking New Space Applications
Yasmin Tadjdeh, National Defense

Commentary: Users Can’t Be Afterthoughts in the Pentagon’s AI Efforts
Devaki Raj and Jake Harrington, Defense One

Commentary: Congress should accelerate the Navy’s unmanned revolution
Bryan Clark and Timothy A. Walton, Defense News

Congress

Biden signs bill to avert shutdown
Morgan Chalfant, The Hill

Bill to create cybersecurity workforce rotational program passes House
Jackson Barnett, Fedscoop

Senate Panel Wants the Services to Manage F-35 Sustainment, Not the JPO
Greg Hadley, Air Force Magazine

Biden hit with backlash over removal of Pentagon’s top nuclear policy official
Joe Gould, Defense News

Commentary: Senate Commission To Fix Defense Budgeting Is Right On The Mark
John Whitley And Gregory Pejic, War on the Rocks