Air Force plans drones with commercially available components
An Air Force plan to acquire a new type of semi-autonomous drones follows an emerging pattern of buying items that are already at least partially available commercially and…
TikTok banned again, this time for federal contractors
The TikTok ban now applies to federal contractors. A new acquisition regulation released Friday bans contractors from using the popular social media app on any device used for…
Is it time to categorize space assets as critical infrastructure?
Recently, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission released a report recommending that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should identify space systems as a critical infrastructure sector. Such a move could help…
New small business subcontracting rule means headaches for everyone
Watch out, a new small business subcontracting rule took effect Tuesday. It brings new limits on subcontracting on set-aside contracts. It harmonizes a confusing situation of a mismatch…
No more ‘Big Bang’ programs: DHS shifts focus under emerging IT strategy
The Department of Homeland Security is updating its IT strategic plan this year as the department shifts away from a “Big Bang” approach to technology projects, and an…
What’s in that 99-page debt ceiling deal for contractors?
The debt ceiling bill must traverse a tortured path to become law. Nothing’s guaranteed quite yet. But presuming it becomes law, it will put defense and non-defense spending…
High per-license cost pushed many military services, Defense agencies away from DEOS
The build up to the Defense Enterprise Office Solutions contract vehicle, starting in 2015, was full of anticipation and promise. Before the award of this contract that many…
Best-in-Class IDIQS: A deep dive
Brian Friel, co-founder of BD Squared, joins Off the Shelf for a wide-ranging update on the leading governmentwide, Best-in-Class IDIQ contract programs. Friel analyzes the recent Polaris bid…
Deloitte adding a space entity to its repertoire
The accounting firm Deloitte recently announced the launch of a formal space practice to connect organizations in rapidly growing global space ecosystem. It hopes to start consulting small…
Army reorganizes acquisition workforce
The Army is overhauling the way it trains and deploys its acquisition workforce in an effort to align with the needs of its future force with a focus…