Hot Topic: Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resilience
Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs
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U.S. and Korean Military Acquisition Leaders: Strengthen Industrial Base through Resilience and Cooperation
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William LaPlante, co-chaired the 48th annual Defense Technological and Industrial Cooperation Committee meeting with Mr. Eom Dong-hwan, the Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), of the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the Pentagon on July 28. Among many topics, the leaders highlighted the ROK's Defense Acquisition Programs Training Institute (DATPI) and its partnership with Defense Acquisition University. The delegations also discussed supply chain resiliency. Both leaders highlighted the need to look for opportunities to strengthen industrial base resilience through cooperation and collaboration, especially with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific. Dr. LaPlante emphasized the Department's commitment to building resiliency and better incentivizing industry to prepare for emergent global security needs. Learn More>>
SBA and DoD Leaders Highlight AM Forward Initiative
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman met with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks about the AM Forward Initiative, an investment in recruiting, retaining, and adapting the workforce so the full spectrum of the defense ecosystem will be able to leverage advanced manufacturing techniques and a highly skilled labor pool when producing innovative capabilities. Learn More>>
Leveraging Advances in Aerodynamics and Materials Tech
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released their FLARE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) effort, exploring how to design, build and test jump an automatically repackable parachute for special operations and other applications. The objective is to design, develop and demonstrate a proof-of-concept ram-air parachute specifically capable of low-altitude (<1000 feet) and long-distance (>10 km) flight, in a parachute rig weighing <50 kg. The close date is Aug. 17. Learn More>>
Trade Association Releases Acquisition Policy Survey
The 11th Biennial Acquisition Policy Survey "Decision Points for Federal Leadership" was recently released by the Professional Services Council, an association representing the government technology and professional services industry. The 2023 survey draws on nearly 200 detailed discussions and 22 post-discussion data responses from government acquisition professionals across 13 federal agencies regarding the most timely, relevant trends and policies in federal contracting. The survey outlines key opportunities for those agencies and their contracting partners in four areas: 1) budget challenges, 2) acquisition strategies, 3) workforce, and 4) communication and collaboration with industry. Learn More>>
Happy Birthday to the Small Business Administration!
The U.S. Small Business Administration marked its 70th anniversary this week, and to celebrate the occasion SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 31. The SBA was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 when he signed the “Small Business Act,” which established the agency and made it a policy to support and protect the interests of small businesses.
Project Manager (PM) Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Modernization's Project NorthStar is seeking industry partners with demonstrated experience in providing Assured PNT in a tactical environment for Army vehicle platforms. Attend a virtual industry event on Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. ET to learn more (note: registration closes at 4 p.m. on Aug. 4). Register>>
Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is hosting a virtual training session for small businesses with experts from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) on Aug. 8. Small Business Professionals from DCMA's Subcontract and Small Business Compliance Center will cover how DCMA contributes to DoD's Small Business Strategy, small business regulatory requirements, DoD Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test program, the DoD Mentor Protégé Program, and best practices. Register>>
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation is hosting a webinar on Aug. 15, 10-11 a.m. ET to share a live demonstration for how vendors can make the most of its new Vendor Information Hub ("The Hub"). The new platform is a one-stop-shop for increased communications, self-service tools, resources, and instructional materials from various DoD and DLA websites, tailored specifically for DLA vendors. Register>>
The National HUBZone Conference is Aug. 22-23 in Leesburg, Va. This two-day event emphasizes the importance of community collaboration to rebuild and strengthen after times of crisis, and highlights the role that HUBZone businesses can play in building resilient and sustainable communities. Register>>
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is hosting a Virtual Small Business Roundtable on Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. ET. to assess the state of its small business program and to allow small businesses to discuss barriers to doing business with them. Request an Invitation>>
The Professional Services Council Defense Conference is Oct. 19 at the Westin Arlington Gateway or virtually. Hear from senior officials about agencies’ top priorities and determine how your company can better support your federal customers. Key topics at the 2023 event: latest on the space race and opportunities to support DoD and IC priorities; how to offer solutions for DoD, the IC, allies, and partners in the Indo-Pacific region; how to best support U.S. objectives in the Great Power Competition. Register>>
U.S. Census Bureau Call for Papers: Advancing Research on Race, Ethnicity and Inequality; Virtual Workshop planned for Nov. 14-15. The U.S. Census Bureau recently launched an initiative to advance research on race, ethnicity and inequality by 1) enhancing data access for researchers from underserved racial and ethnic communities and increasing engagement with these researchers, 2) improving methods and data products related to racial and ethnic inequities and measurement, and 3) building a community of practice around this work. Draft of scholarly papers or extended abstracts are due Aug.14 and authors of accepted submissions will be notified by Sept. 11, in advance of the Nov. 14-15 workshop. Learn More>>