Podcast: Aligning government contracts with agile software
In this episode of the Acquisition Talk podcast, I host an amazing panel on contracting practices for modern software with Florence Kasule (Director of Procurement, […]
Blog Posts
Defense primes have an advantage in OTAs due to a quirk in IRAD
I was tipped off recently that there’s a weird loophole in contractor independent research and development (IRAD) that gives them a significant advantage when it […]
USD R&E Heidi Shyu on the valley of death, DIU, and budget reform
In a recent HASC hearing on S&T, several congress members bombarded USD R&E Heidi Shyu with questions about Defense Innovation Unit. Rep. Seth Moulton, who […]
Acquisition headlines (5/9 – 5/15/2022)
Acquisition experts ask Congress to address decline in small business awards. (FCW) “Agencies are increasingly consolidating contracts and adopting the use of category management, which […]
The state of Army munitions and modernization priorities
Rep. Hartzler: The Army continues to insufficiently fund these [munitions] efforts in the base budget. Unfortunately, the president’s proposed budget for FY 2023 appears to […]
Podcast: Bringing startups and government together with Andrea Garrity
Andrea Garrity joined me on the Acquisition Talk podcast to discuss how the government can build relationships with nontraditional companies. She is the Chief Growth […]
In the Pentagon, money takes so long it’s a death sentence for new tech
Here’s a slice of a panel discussion that includes former HASC Chair Mac Thornberry, former USD Policy Michele Flournoy, and Rep. Elaine Luria: Mac Thornberry: […]
Data: How DoD reprogramming has changed (1961 – 2019)
I talk a lot about budget portfolios and PPBE reform on this blog. Today’s excessive detail in the defense budget requires long planning timelines. By […]
Acquisition headlines (5/2 – 5/8/2022)
Maker of switchblade loitering munitions ready to produce “thousands” for Ukraine if Washington acts. (Forbes) “Loitering munitions, sometimes called kamikaze drones, can be launched from […]
Are SBIR contracts being dominated by very few companies, leading to poorer products?
Here are excerpts from a nice article from Ben Van Roo, “Emerging tech is transforming war in real-time, yet the biggest DOD incubator is stuck […]
We are literally suffocating from excess manning and excessive management
Giant-size administrative overheads in military industry seem to be an American specialty. The French designed and built the Mirage III with a total engineering staff […]
DoD Chief Software Officer leaves post, outlines acquisition challenges
Here is Jason Weiss, the DoD’s first Chief Software Officer, talking with Jared Serbu on the On DoD podcast. Weiss recently left his post after […]
PPBE’s negative impact on innovation also extends to contracting
Here’s a slice from my new article in the May 2022 edition of NCMA’s Contract Management Magazine, How Defense Budgeting Stymies Innovation (gated). Iteration and […]
Acquisition headlines (4/25 – 5/1/2022)
US Navy wirelessly beams 1.6 kW of power a kilometer using microwaves. (New Atlas) “1.6 kilowatts of power was beamed over a kilometer using a […]
Ukraine conflict exposes DoD bureaucratic inadequacies
Here is a viral LinkedIn post from the excellent Pete Modigliani. Also, be sure to check Pete out on the Critical Update podcast speaking on […]