Shannon Sullivan

For Government Contractors working with the DoD 36% of folks surveyed said budget is the biggest issue with 31% saying the technical complexity around #cmmc Cost and technical complexity yet it’s required going forward to do business in the #DIB Another interesting stat, which I can validate in general with leases of businesses, is that while 56% of technical/compliance folks think they have their policies and controls in place it moves to 80% for CEO’s - there is a disparity between what leadership thinks and what the boots on the ground know.

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Here's my summary of FY25 Defense Appropriations and impact on Emerging Tech, SBIR, Industrial Base and Manufacturing ' DOWNLOAD SUMMARY HERE: https://lnkd.in/e8hfdjHK INNOVATION AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS - Greater DoD Autonomy in Innovation & R&D Investments – DoD gains more flexibility to allocate funds for high-impact tech like AI, hypersonics, and autonomy. - Modernization Budget Squeezed – While overall funding is slighlty down, DoD can still prioritize AI, electronic warfare, space, and cyber. - Strategic Capital & Loan Programs Expand – More funding for startups via the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) and non-dilutive financing options. - New Programs & Startups Can Proceed – Unlike other agencies under the CR, DoD can still launch new initiatives in AI, quantum, biotech, and more. SBIR/STTR PROGRAM - SBIR/STTR Funding Remains Secure – The program continues for another three years, with a strong focus on dual-use defense tech. - New “Strategic Breakthrough Allocation” for Phase II – Up to $30M for high-impact startups that align with military needs. - Faster Transition from Phase II to Phase III – Streamlined contracting and direct-to-Phase II options improve commercialization pathways. - New Phase 1A Awards – Encourages first-time SBIR applicants with $40K grants. - Stronger National Security Oversight – Stricter due diligence to prevent foreign adversary influence in SBIR-backed firms. SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE AND INDUSTRIAL BASE - $1B for the Defense Production Act (DPA) – Boosts domestic manufacturing for semiconductors, batteries, and energetics. - Increased Investment in DoD Procurement & Manufacturing – More funding for shipbuilding, aircraft production, and missile programs. - Workforce Development & STEM Initiatives – Expanding skilled labor pipelines for defense manufacturing. - Stronger Buy American Provisions – Prioritizing domestic sourcing for key defense components. - Restrictions on Foreign Supply Chains – Tightened regulations to reduce reliance on adversarial nations. #DefenseTech #Innovation #EmergingTech #SBIR #AI #SupplyChain #DoD Anne Laurent Dr. Dolores Kuchina-Musina Matt MacGregor Tyrome Smith Rob Handfield Thomas Kull Simon Lipscomb Brooke Pyne G. Nagesh R.

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The Pentagon is working to improve efficiency by leveraging industry-developed software. Prioritizing the Software Acquisition Pathway will help the #DoD explore marketplace options more effectively. These guidelines enable contracts outside formal federal #acquisition regulations, allowing for faster procurement and expanded partnership opportunities with non-traditional defense contractors. Expanding marketplace diversity will create more opportunities for innovative partners to collaborate with federal agencies and deliver mission-enabled tools and solutions for success. https://lnkd.in/eFwMRDDT

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On March 6, the Secretary signed our direction on the Software Acquisition Pathway. PTDO CIO Katie Arrington quickly kicked off a 90-day sprint to develop the Software Fast Track (#SWFT) program. As part of this program, Ms. Arrington recently signed a memo entitled "DoD Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Information and Communications Technology Supply Chain Risk Management" which directs the team to update the "Requirements for the Acquisition of Digital Capabilities Guidebook." This update will build on the 12 risk categories developed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (OASD(S)). These categories are outlined in the attachment to Ms. Arrington's memo. The memo can be found at https://lnkd.in/gWJJwupb The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) supply chain is critically important to the Secretary's ongoing transformation of the Department into the most lethal fighting force in the world. As we reform acquisition and authorization processes to bring innovative technologies to the Warfighter faster and more effectively we can't ignore security. This effort will enhance the comprehensive catalogue of ICT-SCRM guidance maintained by the #DoDCIO at https://cyber.mil/ict-scrm. #Cloud #Cybersecurity

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The Pentagon has announced that starting November 10, all Defense Department solicitations will require contractors to submit #CMMC Level 1 or 2 self-assessments. This marks the beginning of a phased, three-year rollout aimed at enhancing #cybersecurity across the defense supply chain. Nextgov/FCW has details: https://carah.io/ca939a

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Under the agreement, Carahsoft will serve as TechnoMile's value-added reseller, making the company's AI-powered solutions for Federal opportunity and market intelligence and streamlined management of task order notices available to Carahsoft customers in the GovCon and aerospace and defense sectors. Read more → https://lnkd.in/gnb998EQ Notable Quotes "We are thrilled to partner with Carahsoft to make TechnoMile's GovSearchAI and GovSearch NoticesIQ solutions available to Carahsoft's network of Government IT solution providers." Billy Biggs, Chief Revenue Officer and President at TechnoMile "Our partnership with TechnoMile enhances Carahsoft's robust portfolio of Government solutions, allowing us to offer specialized AI-powered tools designed specifically for the Government contracting process." Edward Walinsky, Sales Director and GovConVertical Lead at Carahsoft Thanks to Ed Walinsky, Craig Abod, Billy Biggs, Megan Frech, and Madeline Spears for their roles in solidifying this new partnership. #TechnoMile x #Carahsoft x #GovCon

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#DOGE now has approval authority for defense IT, consulting contracts A new memo from the United States Department of Defense acquisition leader spells out what agencies and components have to inform the Department of Government Efficiency before proceeding on certain contracts. The Defense Department has laid out more detail on how reviews of new contracts and task orders for IT consulting, management services, and advisory and assistance support work will happen. Effective immediately, DOD agencies and components must seek to obtain approval from the Department of Government Efficiency before they make a new unclassified award that falls under either of those three categories. Contracts falling under this scope include FAR-based IT and management services contracts exceeding $10 million and advisory and assistance services contracts north of $1 million, according to the memo sent Monday and signed by DOD’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, Michael Duffey. https://lnkd.in/g8US5gEp #doge #defense #govcon #consolidation #acquisition #IT

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DOD Cuts the Middleman in Software Acquisition Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s March 6, 2025, memo mandates the Software Acquisition Pathway, CSOs, and OTAs for new DOD software programs (Breaking Defense). “By sidelining traditional red tape, it connects innovative vendors directly to the Pentagon, prioritizing speed and commercial solutions for “software-defined warfare.” Takeaway: It’s a win for innovation—nontraditional firms can shine, bypassing legacy gatekeepers. But can rapid deployment maintain quality and security? Execution will tell. How will this reshape defense tech? https://lnkd.in/edxj22YT

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The 2026 NDAA is rewriting the rules for vendor vetting in the defense industry. With new requirements to root out foreign ownership and hidden influence, U.S. defense contractors must now prove they're free from ties to Chinese intelligence services. Babel Street delivers AI to reveal Foreign Ownership, Control and Influence – before contracts are at risk. Are you ready for this new era of compliance and transparency? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e3USqTqT #NationalSecurity #DefenseIndustry #NDAA2026 #VendorVetting #FOCI 

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What is happening with the Missile Defense Agency? 1) COMETS RFP Canceled (June 3, 2025) The Request for Proposals (RFP) for Communications Management and Enterprise Technology Services has been permanently canceled. 2) MIOES RFP Canceled (June 3, 2025) The Missile Defense Agency IT Operations and Engineering Solutions RFP has been permanently canceled. 3) Golden Dome Industry Summit Canceled (June 2, 2025) The June 11, 2025, summit at the Von Braun Center has been canceled. Strategic Implications: This represents a significant shift in MDA's approach to Golden Dome. MDA is fundamentally rethinking its acquisition strategy and will concentrate the majority of its efforts on the Multiple Award Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Based on the latest AUSA “Space: Enabling Multi-Domain Operations” conference, it appears there are more unknowns than certainties in this effort. 

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