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The Defense Department will be starting a new program for “commercial tool demonstrations” to help small businesses learn about and strengthen cybersecurity measures “within the next year,” a department official said Aug. 8. In fiscal year 2023, Congress required DoD by 2027 “to establish a new program where we actually do commercial tool demonstrations for small businesses to help them to understand what their risks are when it comes to foreign control and influence,” Farooq Mitha, director of the DoD Office of Small Business Programs said. The strategy was designed to make it easier for small business to “do business with us, reduce barriers to entry, create some more alignment between our small business programs and provide more resources to small companies that are looking to do business with us,” Mitha said.

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The Department of Defense is executing a warfighter-centric innovation strategy to meet the urgent needs of the National Defense Strategy. Recognizing there is no silver bullet that can solve all the challenges DoD faces, DoD’s innovation initiatives span every stage of capability development and every process step, from policy to acquisition.

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In 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III directed the creation of a “tiger team” to look into ways the Defense Department could make the Foreign Military Sales system less foreboding for partner nations interested in purchasing U.S. military hardware. The team wrapped up operations in the spring and transitioned into a Continuous Process Improvement Board, or CPIB, meant to implement solutions recommended by the tiger team and to also be on the lookout going forward for new and novel ways of their own to improve the FMS system. Since then, the department scored wins by implementing four tiger team recommendations: establishment of the CPIB, creation of the Defense Security Cooperation Service, standing up of the Security Cooperation Execution Focus Forum, and the development of an acquisition and sustainment tool kit.

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The Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) announced the release of a Federal Register Notice and accompanying Request for Information (RFI) open for public comment. OSC seeks public input as it prepares to issue loans and loan guarantees for critical technology and supply chain components in support of the office’s mission to attract and scale private capital for national security. OSC invites public comment on the RFI from companies and financial institutions, including their representatives and industry associations, regarding contemporary market activity, capital requirements, and where OSC-provided loans and loan guarantees can support investment in critical technologies. OSC is particularly interested in responses from companies and lenders working in the 31 component areas identified as promising critical technologies and assets in Section 903 of the FY24 NDAA (The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024).

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Fincantieri Marinette Marine is looking to take the pressure off the bodies of its workers. Building massive military-grade ships takes a lot of hard work. In a field that can take a toll on the human body, Fincantieri Marinette Marine is testing out a wearable exoskeleton device with some of its welders and painters. The device, a Comau MATE-XT Exoskeleton, is worn like a backpack and is designed to provide support to the arms and shoulders, as well as improve posture. The trial is in its third week and will continue through next week.

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The Department of Defense (DoD) today published the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) Interim Implementation Report, detailing the progress that DoD is making toward implementing the actions laid out in the NDIS.

The NDIS, released in January by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)), offers a strategic vision, and identifies four strategic priorities for modernizing the defense industrial ecosystem. The Interim Implementation Report outlines initiatives from across DoD, showcasing how efforts to build a resilient industrial base are an ongoing, DoD-wide priority. DoD will be sharing further details on NDIS implementation later this summer.

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The federal government spent $14.9 billion on advertising contracts over the last 10 fiscal years to inform the public about programs and services, among other things. The government provides contract opportunities to businesses owned by minorities, women, and other socially or economically disadvantaged groups.

It was found that contracts with these businesses represented about 14% of total federal advertising spending, or $2.1 billion, during FYs 2014-2023. Additionally, federal agencies spent about $1.1 billion for COVID-related advertising contracts, and 3.5 percent, or about $37 million, was awarded to these businesses.

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The SBA is upgrading how our customers apply for and manage their federal contracting certifications.

SBA’s certification upgrade will start on August 1st, 2024:

• Initial certification applications will not be accepted during the upgrade period.
• The upgraded system is expected to be available for new applications in early September.
• New and prospective applicants for federal small business certification are encouraged to wait until the upgrade is complete before applying.
• Most certified firms will not be impacted by the pause in applications. Firms needing to renew during the upgrade period will receive guidance from their certification program.
• Applications submitted before August 1 will continue to be processed during the upgrade period in the order received.
• If your firm is facing a deadline on a proposal that will be impacted by your certification status before August 1, 2024, please contact certifications@sba.gov and provide the contract number, agency, and bid due date.

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FAR Case 2023-013, HUBZone Program, published on June 7, 2024.

• DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a final rule published by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
• For more information, click here.
• Comments for this case are due by August 6, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FAR-2023-0013-0001.
  

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FAR Case 2023-001, Subcontracting to Puerto Rican and Covered Territory Small Businesses, published on June 7, 2024.

• DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration to add incentives for certain United States territories under the Small Business Administration mentor-protégé program.
• For more information, click here.
• Comments for this case are due by August 6, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FAR-2023-0001-0001.
  

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FAR Case 2023-008, Prohibition on Certain Semiconductor Products and Services, published on May 3, 2024.

• DoD, GSA, and NASA are considering amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement paragraphs (a), (b), and (h) in section 5949 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 that prohibits executive agencies from procuring or obtaining certain products and services that include covered semiconductor products or services effective December 23, 2027.
• For more information, click here.
• Comments for this case are due by July 2, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAR-2023-0008-0001.
  

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Request for Information: FAR Part 40, Information Security and Supply Chain Security, published on April 9, 2024.

• DoD, GSA, and NASA recently established Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 40, Information Security and Supply Chain Security. The intent of this RFI is to solicit feedback from the general public on the scope and organization of FAR part 40.
• For more information, click here.
• Comments for this case are due by June 10, 2024. For information on how to comment, please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAR-2024-0054-0001.

The DoD Office of Industrial Base Resilience seeks public comment on actions it can take to enable the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to continue to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for defense applications. Of special importance to small businesses is the feedback sought on question #4: “How can the DoD support the involvement of non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses in the design, development, testing, and deployment of AI technologies for defense applications?”

Feedback from the public will guide the DoD in developing policies, initiatives, and resource distribution to ensure support for the DIB in integrating AI into defense systems. Public comments will also be used to formulate a Trusted AI Defense Industrial Base Roadmap. Public comments will be accepted until July 22, 2024.

For more information, click here.