⚡115M NIH ESSS/142M CMS DME/CISA CEOSS/NOAA OBS/Navy NSIPS/NIH Cloud/DHA LMT wins; VA/HHS/USDA/SSA IT & Data Exec moves; Polaris/Army CyberSec Protest

This month’s OS AI Fresh Squeezed Daily News sponsor:

Magpie Health Analytics helps federal health agencies transform program challenges into actionable insights by applying deep expertise in data, programming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, empowering them to make informed decisions. Learn More.

🍦GovCon M&A Talk: Buyer’s Eyes: David Truong of PSI shares his experience on what he, as a larger entity, looks for when he shops for acquisitions of set-aside companies. Listen here.

🐝The Morning Buzz:

• New SB Alliances formed for 40 leading IT & Consulting firms set to jumpstart 2025 across FedCiv and DOD
• M&A: Govplace Acquired by Digital Capital Partners, Strengthening Fed IT Modernization and Cybersecurity
• US Air Force focused 8(a) small businesses to know – Here we spotlight the USAF focused 8(a) small businesses which are drawing interest of late. Meet them here.
• Looking to engage your next SME? These (currently) active Feds are seeking new opps:
  • Top OPM IT Exec Melvin Brown II seeking consulting, speaking, advisory board roles
  • Longtime VA/ HHS/Education Cybersecurity Chief and SME Dan Galik open to work

💲#DOGE Scoop – Avert your eyes if you don’t want to watch – we get it

• Musk’s DOGE representatives search Medicare agency payment systems for fraud
• In reversal, CISA workforce now permitted to take deferred resignation offer
• 8(a) Firms May Feel the Heat from Recent Small Disadvantaged Goal Reset
• Makpar pens open letter to Elon Musk on the importance of continued IT investments for the IRS
• Snehal Talati launches GovCon AI Weekly newsletter with all the latest on the #DOGE and AI-First movement
• The Silent Shred – New Administration Contract Cancellations picking up steam (VA CIDMO and several FDA contracts terminated)

The Juice🥤: These firms are gearing up to make big noise in 2025 and beyond:

• HHS ACF names new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• SSA Names Michael Russo CIO
• USDA recruits familiar face to serve as a new Chief Data Officer
• VA adds taps former DOL and FMC lead as Chief Data Officer/Division Chief – Multi-Channel Technology
• USAID Contracting Branch Chief takes Chief of Staff role at HHS
• Planet technologies recruits now former OPM CIO Guy Cavallo as new Innovation Chief
• GSA taps Eleni Gesch-Karamanlidis as Head of BD and Account Management, Cloud.gov
• White House names new Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director
• LMI recruits proven Fed Health Growth leader Joni Fernbaugh
• Longtime Federal leader Nick Andersen promoted to President with Invictus International
• Mike Hume promoted to Eliassen Group Executive Director, Federal Services
• The rich get ricker: PingWind adds Jessica Gressett to drive DoD Capture
• Rebecca Link recruited by OneGlobe to serve as Chief Growth Officer
• Mark Hitch Named Serco’s Citizen Services Business Development VP
• Mike Daniels Appointed VP, General Manager of Public Sector at Databricks
• GDIT adds Bob Morse to drive Business Development
• T-Rex welcomes Joe Notarangelo to drive IDIQ growth
• Megan Ward joins Indigo IT to drive Business Development
• Palo Alto Networks adds proven vet Rob Sherry to drive Next Generation Security sales

🍊OS AI Premium: Handpicked, crisp, juicy content for our Premium Sponsors/Subscribers:

• All GAO Protests on $10B Polaris Small Business GWAC Dismissed – But new challenges growing
• Fight for $116M US Army JRTC Information Technology support contract heats up

Not Yet a Premium Sponsor? Learn about our corporate and individual plans here, starting at $295 annually.

⚖ GAO and the Courts – Check out the latest:

• Protest Denied: US Army HRC Cybersecurity support
• Protest Update: $200M Air Force Advanced Systems and Development Directorate Command Staff Support

🔍 Been heads down working on a proposal? Search and track all the latest protest activity here.

🌟Elev8 GovCon Spotlight: J29 – Back on the Growth Train with a Focus on #doingitright – J29 CEO & Founder, Tracy Mills, and President, Nick Vass, share how being mindful is guiding this team’s trajectory for growth and maintaining culture. Read on.

⚡Check out some of the key Contract Awards:

• NIH: Dynanet beats out 7 to win $115M Enterprise System Support Services (ESSS) task
• NIH names Steampunk as an additional Prime awardee on the new CIT Cloud Support Services BPA; AND
• NIH: Steampunk scored the first task win on the new CIT Cloud Services BPA
• CMS: Noridian wins $142M DME Medicare Administrative Contractor JA support contract
• HHS: Q90 wins Independent Living Performance Progress Report System Support contract
• CISA: In advance of RFP, Sev1Tech awarded $23M Enterprise Engineering and Ops Support (CEEOSS) contract
• VA: Vecna awarded VISN 22 Kiosk and Support Services IDIQ
• DOL: MTC beats out 7 to win $79M Centennial Job Corps Center support contract
• NOAA NWS awards Office of Observations (OBS) Administrative Support contract to ITegrity
• DOD Contract Award: Office of Inspector General IT Support Services
• DLA: Nationwide IT Services (NIS) scores KO Portal (B-KOP) Sustainment Support task
• USAF: Skyward Federal secures TENCAP Talon Revolution SBIR Phase III Contract
• DHA Contract Award: PEO DHMS Lifecyle Management Tools (LMT) Hosting Support
• Navy: Competition delays force $50M Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) support contract to GDIT

🔍Looking for a specific award or other news? Check out OS’s Advanced Search Function here Did we miss highlighting your key win? Message us at support@orangeslices.ai” style=”mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #1f5301;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;”>support@orangeslices.ai.

🔥 Hot Off The Presses – Announcements posted recently that are drawing interest:

• Product Special Forces (PSF)—a new JV that brings together Gov-aaS and GovProduct under a single, unified framework
• SPA Wins Data Analytics Work to Support Entire USAF F-15 Fleet
• Inadev awarded GSA OASIS+ SB and GSA Polaris SB (through AI JV, LLC) contracts

📢 Most Viewed Comments:

• Re: QED Enterprises – QED is a great company for which to work. The leadership team focuses on providing best-in-class services to QED’s clients and values each employee’s contribution to the team. More here.
• Re: Game-Changing GovCon AI Tools (and Why Ownership Transparency Matters) – I was wondering about what folks are using for contacts management, capabilities organizing, etc.? …More here.
• RE: HHS Special Notice: Compliance with President Trump’s Priorities and Agenda – This is ridiculous – now Federal Health leaders who were just doing their job are being individually and publicly targeted. More here.

🎯Events and Updates:

• Next week: BridgeHER Way to GovCon meetup
• Event: DIA Missile and Space Intelligence Center Industry Engagement Technical Exchange Meeting

🚀 OS AI launched a new GovCon Events Calendar! – Track More Federal GovCon Events Here.

🌶 Solicitation Updates/Opportunities Drawing Interest:

• DHS CBP Pre-Solicitation: Traveler Communications Center Support Services
• DHS ICE RFI: Content Asset Management Portal Support
• USGS RFI: Federal Geographic Data Committee Support for Geospatial Shared Services
• USPTO Pre-Solicitation: Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA) Services
• DOT Small Business Innovation Research SBIR FY 2025 Solicitation and Pre-Offer Webinar
• DOT FHWA RFI: Advanced Crash Analysis Technical Support Services
• Army CDAO RFP: Unstructured Data Search Enhanced by AI/ML – AI TALENT 2.0

Magpie Health Analytics: Telling Stories, Connecting Data, & Building Trust to Transform Healthcare – Looking back on a decade’s worth of experience focused on CMS, Bil Westerfield shares some insight into how this team has become a trusted advisor and partner, advice for others who may wish to follow suit, and what’s ahead for this growing firm as it looks to expand its reach, and relationships. Read on here.