John Hillen

🚨 The most consequential change to the revised FAR Part 8 is the removal of the FAR 8.4 FSS ordering procedures and their relocation to a new General Services Acquisition Regulation, Subpart 538.71. The impact? A remarkable reduction in word count: FAR 8.4: ~9,500 words GSAR rewrite: ~2,400 words This isn’t just fewer words—it’s meaningful simplification that will: ✅ Enhance competition ✅ Increase efficiency ✅ Deliver greater value for agencies & contractors But beyond word count, several updates stand out: 🔹 No FAR Part 15-style processes (evaluation plans, scoring, competitive ranges), yet GSAR encourages innovative RFQ approaches (GSAR 538.7102-2). 🔹 Agencies retain discretion to set aside orders for small businesses (GSAR 538.7102-2(c)(1)), continuing a track record where 30%+ of FSS purchases already go to small businesses. 🔹 GSAR now emphasizes best value, removing the “lowest cost alternative” language (GSAR 538.7102-2(b)(4)). 🔹 Separate ordering procedures for supplies vs. services with SOWs? Gone—unnecessary complexity eliminated. 🔹 Restrictions on single-award BPAs over $100M removed (GSAR 538.7104-1), unleashing a powerful tool to drive best value solutions. 🔹 Open market item guidance consolidated under “order level materials” and removes OLM 33.33% limit (GSAR 538.72). These changes represent a commonsense modernization of the MAS program: simpler, clearer, and better aligned with how agencies and contractors actually operate.

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Excited to chair another session at the #DefenseTechExpo TLV Conference: From Research to Operational Reality: Defense Tech and the Transformation of Military Doctrine AI is at the heart of modern military transformation - turning the digital revolution into real operational advantage. During this session, we’ll explore how emerging technologies are reshaping doctrine, decision-making, and battlefield effectiveness. Key areas of #AI & #Quantum impact include: 🔹 #Autonomous systems – Real-time situational awareness and decision support, but limited in data sharing during fast-paced operations 🔹 #Weapon systems – Target identification and AI-guided precision, while full autonomous offensive use faces ethical and legal constraints 🔹 #Cyber & electronic warfare – Anomaly detection and defense tools integrated into military and commercial operations for advanced resilience 🔹 #Quantum technologies – Quantum sensing for enhanced detection, navigation, and ISR; quantum communication and encryption for secure command-and-control; and long-term disruptive potential for cryptography and optimization 🔹 Combat & #intelligence / operational support – Data fusion and target recognition show proven benefits, though full integration is still evolving 🔹 #Infrastructure & logistics – Predictive maintenance and supply route optimization demonstrate strong development and technological maturity 🔹 #Command & organizational support – Budget and personnel automation exists, but structural barriers hinder full adoption 💡 My initial thought: Countries that integrate AI and Quantum across doctrine, procurement, and defense industry will gain a clear strategic advantage. The challenge remains #responsible, ethical use to preserve norms in warfare. Thrilled to be joined by my colleagues from the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS Israel) - an exceptional group of senior researchers: ▫️ Inbal (Biran) Kreiss, Chief Innovation Systems, Missiles & Space Division, IAI; INSS Board Member ▫️ MG(R) Yacov Bengo, Ph.D., Ph.D., Military Expert ▫️ Rear Admiral (Res.) Yuval Eylon, Senior Research Fellow, INSS ▫️ Dr. Yehoshua Kalisky, Senior Researcher, INSS 📍 DefenseTech Expo | Tel Aviv | February 17, 16:00-16:30 🗓️ Agenda & Registration: https://lnkd.in/dS_a-zWD See you there!

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Our RAND Army Research Division team published a fantastic new set of reports recently on human-machine integration in the context of growing #AI capabilities in warfare. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotics have raised the possibility that the profession of arms will soon include integrating human soldiers with AI-enabled machines and applications as part of the collective whole. Machines and software applications enabled by AI are starting to demonstrate capabilities that are relevant to military settings, such as moving autonomously through complex urban traffic and creating startlingly humanlike and interesting derivative works through large language models. However, this does not mean that such developments can be implemented in military settings smoothly. Integrating humans and machines in military contexts will likely draw from civilian parallels but will also require substantial contextualization. In this set of reports, Volume I makes recommendations to address how these potential obstacles can best be overcome and ensure that the Army effectively creates AI systems that will integrate well with the soldiers who must interact with them. In Volume II, the authors wrote fictional narratives about the difficulties that the Army might encounter to illustrate potential pros and cons of using AI tools in warfighting scenarios. A highly recommended read on a problem set that will continue to pose challenges for some time to come. Jonathan Wong Alex Hou https://lnkd.in/eREH27jJ

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Tune in to the latest episode of the CEPA podcast featuring CEPA Distinguished Fellow and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation General Philippe Lavigne and CEPA Fellow Dr. Kari Odermann for a great conversation on NATO’s AI strategy, the rapid evolution of autonomous systems since 2022, security in the High North, and the need for a stronger European defense pillar within NATO.  As Gen. Lavigne outlines defense tech and the Arctic are critical areas for future cooperation and collaboration within the NATO alliance. CEPA has been doing a lot of work on this issue so stay tuned for our upcoming report by Federico Borsari and Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. on defense technology and the arctic. LISTEN now here: https://lnkd.in/e_7GGyWV

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The U.S. and its allies across the Atlantic must forge a technology partnership and win the artificial intelligence race even as China makes steady advances, the U.K.’s envoy in Washington said. Ambassador Peter Mandelson warned of the consequences if China continues to get ahead in AI and other key technologies. https://lnkd.in/dVDXt29G

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