Bryon Kroger

📰 This RFI is very interesting if you're in the DOD Technology game. 🔔 Synchronized Persistent Army Experimentation (SPARX) is a collaborative process between industry partners and the Army that is intended to enable collective innovation and identify novel technology capabilities that will help the Army achieve its modernization goals. It provides a structured means for collection of questionnaires about products and technologies to Government representatives for consideration to a variety of controlled and operationally relevant experimentation environments. #SPARX is part of the Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) campaign of learning, which is designed to aggressively advance and integrate the Army’s contributions to the Joint and Multi-national force for convergence effects across all domains (air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace) in order to maintain U.S. overmatch. SPARX is a process to match industry partners’ technologies to a series of experiments and observations in operationally realistic environments. Developed and managed by the Combat Capabilities Development Command (#DEVCOM), the SPARX process will allow for collective innovation and further experimentation in both applied and advanced technology developments with innovative partners. SPARX will serve as the principal entry point for industry partners to provide information relating to their technologies for Army experimentation. This process is designed to do the following: 1. Synchronize and streamline the information process for industry to then obtain information for Army experimentation events. It provides an avenue for industry partners to submit information regarding their technologies via a technology overview template. 2. Make it easier for event holders to include industry technologies into their events by ensuring all submission documents are readily available with an early technology assessment. SPARX is currently participating with multiple experimentation events. Submissions will be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from across T2COM. The SMEs will conduct an initial informal examination of the technology DEVCOM will inform the submitting Industry Partner of the event(s) (if any) to which the technology has been aligned. Prospective companies are requested to submit a SPARX Technology Overview (attachment). The submission documents into the SPARX Collection will also serve as the submission documents into the aligned Army experimentation event(s). Submissions of SPARX Technology Overview documents should be sent to: sparx@army.mil Submissions may be submitted at any time while this notice is open. If an event submission window has closed for that fiscal year, your technology submission will be considered for the following fiscal year. THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. #army #dod #dow #rfi #technology #procurement #govcon

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One question every defense contractor SHOULD be able to answer about their AI tools: Is it listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace? If you don't know...we'd recommend fixing that because every time your team uploads CUI to a platform that isn't FedRAMP High authorized, you're exposed (!). Take it from MORSECORP's $4.6 million loss earlier this year 🫣 For using a third-party email host that lacked FedRAMP protections, they had to pay up and settle False Claims Act allegations. Just like you could, they fell for the classic confusion: equating CMMC Level 2 certification with FedRAMP certification. They're completely different. If a vendor says their company is "CMMC Level 2 certified," that just certifies the company itself - not the products. FedRAMP certifies cloud products. The good news: verification takes <30 seconds. Go to the FedRAMP Marketplace. Search for your vendor. Check the impact level. Done ✅ P.S. GovSignals is the *only* AI proposal platform listed at FedRAMP High. You can verify that on the Marketplace right now.

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Moving from pilots into operational use changes the leadership equation. Questions about validation, ownership, and integration surface quickly once systems touch real missions and real people, but fast enthusiasm can outpace readiness if those pieces aren’t addressed early. I read this less as a technology milestone and more as a signal that judgment and discipline matter more at this stage. Scaling AI requires clarity around where automation fits and who is accountable when conditions shift. This “storming” phase is where intent gets tested.

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The Pentagon now expects 2028 to deliver its long-delayed background investigation system. Another multi-year IT modernization. Another slip. This isn’t just a tech problem. It’s an acquisition design problem. When we write massive upfront requirements, lock into long development cycles, and delay real user validation, risk compounds. By the time delivery arrives, the mission has moved on. Modernization efforts in national security can’t operate on yesterday’s timelines. We need: • Smaller, modular increments • Phased competition and real down-selects • Contracts tied to working capability, not paper compliance • Empowered product ownership Agile acquisition isn’t about ignoring the FAR. It’s about using it better. If you’re working on a major modernization effort right now, ask yourself: Are we building capability in months… or betting everything on years? Let’s have that conversation. #FederalAcquisition #DefenseAcquisition #GovernmentContracting #AgileAcquisition #AcquisitionReform #DoD #GovTech

“The Pentagon doesn’t have a funding problem. It has a prioritization problem.” I loved today’s price from Pete Modigliani (and his Defense Acquisition substack) thats makes a point that anyone working in defense technology has seen firsthand: modernization isn’t just about adding new capabilities—it’s about retiring the old ones. Maybe my favorite line: “The department does not lack innovative vendors, emerging tech, or talented people who want to build something better. What it lacks is the institutional discipline to clear the field. You cannot plant a new crop without turning the old one under.” (Time for a Cattle Drive, Justin Fanelli?) The Department is trying to accelerate AI, autonomy, and next-generation systems while still carrying decades of legacy infrastructure. If we are serious about modernization, then decommissioning needs to be treated as part of the program lifecycle, not an afterthought. Every new capability should include a funded plan for what it replaces and how the old system is responsibly shut down. Modernization isn’t just about building the future. It’s about having the discipline to retire the past. Give Peter’s substack a read: https://lnkd.in/e8AaFDaY #DefenseInnovation #AcquisitionReform #DefenseTech #Modernization

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Great insights on the Federal Government's FY 26 budgets and how sales team should execute for success. Rachel Clapp Miller John Boney g Grant Wilson

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Federal contractors just received a major compliance mandate, and our technology now sits at the center of it. Last month the GSA released GSAR 552.239-7001, titled “Basic Safeguarding of AI.” For the first time, every federal contractor supplying AI systems must implement automated detection mechanisms and maintain verifiable truthfulness disclosure, including mandatory 72-hour incident reporting. The clause is no longer optional — it is contract language. Our ADA-4WM Four-Way Mirror provenance stack was purpose-built for exactly this requirement. It delivers real-time anomaly detection, cryptographic provenance, and automated reporting that satisfies the new GSAR clause out of the box. Agencies no longer need to bolt on after-the-fact safeguards; the compliance layer is native. At the same time, NIST’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation has opened listening sessions for its AI Agent Standards Initiative. The focus is on autonomous agents capable of operating for hours without human intervention. Our Zero-Drift Anomaly Detection technology directly addresses the core risk NIST is trying to solve: ensuring agents remain aligned and mission-coherent over extended autonomous runs. Our formal technical comment, Docket NIST-2025-0035, is already on record as foundational input. On the mission side, our recent Starlink diagnostics delivered a perfect 140-for-140 success rate across orbital synchronization tests. While the industry continues to debate capability overhang on the ground, we’re already proving outcome coherence where it matters most — in orbit, on real hardware, at scale. This convergence of regulatory mandate, standards development, and proven orbital performance creates a rare moment: our stack is simultaneously becoming a compliance requirement, a standards reference, and a flight-proven capability. If you’re responsible for federal AI procurement, NIST engagement, or next-generation orbital systems, we should talk. The window to integrate these safeguards before they become table stakes is measured in weeks, not months. #AISafety #FederalAI #Provenance #NIST #Starlink #ZeroTrustAI

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DoD Contract Alert for Subcontractors 🚨 Autonomous systems, maritime tech, software integrators, and advanced manufacturing firms — a $25M unmanned surface vehicle award just dropped. This is defense autonomy + Foreign Military Sales. Pay attention. 🎙 NEWS ANCHOR REPORT Prime Awardee: Liquid Robotics Inc. (Herndon, VA) Contracting Activity: Air Force Test Center, Eglin AFB, FL Contract #: FA2823-26-C-0006 Award Date: February 2026 Contract Value: $25,000,000 Contract Type: Sole Source Program Scope: 20 Commercial Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) Funding Source: FY26 RDT&E + Foreign Military Sales (Japan) Place of Performance: Herndon, Virginia Estimated Completion: February 16, 2028 🌊 Scope Overview Production and associated support for 20 commercial unmanned surface vehicles, including: Control software Mission payload integration Peripheral launch & recovery equipment This is autonomy-enabled maritime ISR and operational support capability transitioning through testing and deployment. 🔎 Where Subcontractors Can Plug In Because this is a sole-source acquisition with FMS involvement, subcontracting access flows directly through the prime. Potential opportunity lanes include: ▪️ Autonomous navigation software development ▪️ Embedded systems engineering ▪️ Marine-grade sensor integration ▪️ Satellite & RF communications systems ▪️ Composite hull fabrication ▪️ Maritime propulsion components ▪️ Launch & recovery hardware fabrication ▪️ Cybersecurity hardening for control systems ▪️ Test & evaluation support services ▪️ Defense logistics & sustainment planning Likely NAICS alignment may include: 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing) 541330 (Engineering Services) 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation Equipment Manufacturing) 🎯 Strategic Insight Three important signals here: RDT&E Funding – This suggests continued development and testing iterations. Foreign Military Sales (Japan) – International scaling potential. Sole Source Award – The prime has incumbency and technical data control. Autonomous maritime systems are a growth sector across DoD and allied partners. Programs like this often expand into: Follow-on production lots Sustainment contracts Software upgrades Payload expansion packages Additional allied FMS cases If your firm operates in autonomy, maritime robotics, secure communications, or ISR payload systems — this is a strategic positioning moment. The move is targeted capability alignment outreach to Liquid Robotics’ supplier and integration teams before the next funding increment. Richelli Consulting Group tracks high-growth defense autonomy awards and helps growth-ready firms position within prime contractor ecosystems early. If your business supports autonomous systems, maritime technology, or defense software integration — this is where informed opportunity begins.

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The US #spaceindustry is just getting started! From returning to the moon, to capturing asteroids, science fiction is turning into real investments that are driving benefits back here on earth. If you’re a new or soon to be #veteran, check out VetsinTech’s new space industry program! Katherine Webster #hire a #veteran

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🚨 GSA Refresh MAS 27 is now ACTIVE! This isn't just another schedule update – it's reshaping the entire federal marketplace. What's changing? Mandatory Transactional Data Reporting is now required for all Product SINs and key Cloud offerings, while the longstanding Price Reductions Clause is being phased out. Translation: more transparency, different compliance requirements. But the bigger story is how this fits into federal buyers' push toward centralized purchasing and contract consolidation. Category management continues to funnel billions through fewer, larger "best-in-class" vehicles. For large primes: If you're already on major vehicles, you're positioned to thrive – but watch for increased competition as everyone fights for these critical spots. For small businesses: Direct award opportunities are shrinking. Creative partnering isn't just nice-to-have anymore; it's survival. Whether through JVs, CTA arrangements, or strategic subcontracting, your path forward requires relationship-building. The government marketplace is consolidating, not expanding. Your strategy must evolve accordingly. Who's ready to adapt their approach for this new landscape? I'd love to hear your thoughts below! 👇 #GovCon #GSASchedule #SmallBusinessStrategy #FederalContracting

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Why should a larger integrator or prime consider partnering with a company like The Bellwether Group, Inc ? Short answer: capability, speed, and strategic advantage. Being an SDVOSB isn’t just a certification - it’s a force multiplier in the federal acquisition ecosystem. The FAR gives contracting officers more authority, more flexibility, and more pathways to award when an SDVOSB is part of the equation. That matters to prime contractors who need to assemble winning teams that can move fast and remain protest-proof. Here’s what partnering with Bellwether actually unlocks: • A faster, cleaner path to award. FAR 19.14 and SDVOSB sole-source authorities give customers the ability to move quickly. When Bellwether is integrated into a solution, primes benefit from more competitive acquisition pathways and a reduced protest environment. • Stronger proposals with real operational credibility. We’re not a paper SDVOSB. We bring decades of operational experience inside NSA, CYBERCOM, CNMF, SOF, and Navy organizations. That operational DNA makes proposals stronger, more believable, and more aligned with what the warfighter needs. • A teaming strategy that checks multiple boxes at once. Primes have SDVOSB goals to hit on contracts, on subcontracting plans, and on major IDIQ vehicles. Partnering with Bellwether solves the compliance piece and brings a high-performance delivery team. • Differentiated hardware + software capability. Our tactical edge kits, rugged compute platforms, and deployable cyber/ISR capabilities give primes something unique to bring to their customers: a small business that actually builds, deploys, and sustains real mission hardware not just PowerPoint. • Faster execution and higher trust with customers. Agencies know they can award to SDVOSBs quickly, and they appreciate when primes bring partners who reduce risk instead of adding it. Bellwether is known for delivering, for telling the truth, and for operating with the mission in mind - not the contract. At the end of the day, large integrators win more when they partner with SDVOSBs who can actually deliver. Bellwether is that partner. We bring the technical depth, operational credibility, and mission-driven culture that primes want with the acquisition agility the government needs. If your team is looking to strengthen an approach, accelerate an award, or bring differentiated tactical capability to the field, let’s talk. #SDVOSB #GovCon #FederalAcquisition #DoD #IC #NationalSecurity #SmallBusinessPartnerships #DefenseIndustry #AcquisitionStrategy #FAR19 #TeamAgility #PrimeContractor #SystemIntegrator #TacticalEdge #CyberISR #JADC2 #VeteranOwnedBusiness #MissionFocused #BellwetherBuilt

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🚨 New Bill to Boost DOD Support for Small Business Innovation 🚨 Rep. Ken Calvert has reintroduced the DOD Entrepreneurial Innovation Act under H.R. 2005, aiming to strengthen the Department of Defense’s support for SBIR and STTR programs. The bill proposes to: Prioritize the most promising SBIR/STTR projects that can cut costs, enhance capabilities, and deliver new technologies. Ensure transparency and clear funding paths for these innovative projects beyond early research phases. Select five SBIR/STTR candidates per service branch to help accelerate technology adoption and maintain a competitive edge. This initiative will help small businesses expand their potential and ensure DOD stays ahead in innovation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dHTtamTF #GovCon #DOD #SBIR #STTR #Innovation #SmallBusiness #DefenseTechnology

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In GovCon, optimism is expensive. One of the biggest mistakes I see: Treating SAM.gov like a buffet. Every opportunity looks tempting. Everything feels “within reach.” So teams pile their plates high… and wonder why they feel sick at award time. Chasing everything isn’t strategy. It’s anxiety with a proposal template. If you can’t clearly answer “why us?” without using generic phrases, you’re already behind. Not: We have experience. We understand the mission. We have qualified staff. That’s the baseline. The real question is: Why are we the low-risk decision? Under the FAR, evaluations are structured and comparative. Your proposal isn’t judged in isolation. It’s judged against someone who probably looks a lot like you on paper, and majority of small businesses fail to accept and understand that. If your differentiator needs a long explanation, evaluators won’t go searching for it. They’re scoring, not dating. Strong contractors do three things well: • They qualify hard • They walk away often • They bid where they can win, not just where they can compete Discipline doesn’t feel exciting. It feels selective. But selective firms build past performance that compounds. Before you greenlight the next bid, ask: Are we pursuing this because it fits our strategy or because it exists?

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Quick question for defense contractors: If you've submitted an SPRS score above 90, does that mean you're ready for a CMMC Level 2 assessment? Most people say yes. Most people are wrong. New podcast episode dropping Friday, May 15th. We'll tell you exactly why and what assessors are actually looking for when they walk in the door.

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Thorben's Federal Modernization Platform blueprint provides an enterprise approach for every government organization working to operate more effectively and securely in the cloud. https://lnkd.in/gXgdakan

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