Dawn Zoldi

📢 **Attention Army Professionals and 51Cs!** 🌍🚢Understanding Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) is crucial for rapid contracting effects in the Indo-Pacific Theater. It's not just the Navy that needs to care about our SLOCs! ⚓️🌊 To support the Joint Theater Distribution Centers (JTDC), we must grasp how our SLOCs connect to our commercial environment. As 51Cs, we must engage industry to harden our commercial environment, thus increasing our SLOCs and building resiliency for our contract effects. 💼🔗 As 51Cs, there are a few key areas we must focus on to support JTDC: 🔸 What supplies need to be there? 🔸 What life support is required? 🔸 Is vertical or horizontal construction required? 🔸 How are things moved inside and outside the JTDC? 🔸 Are other incidental services required?🔸 How does communication work inside and outside the JTDC? All these aspects are extensively covered in the 51C S3/SPO Course! 📚💡 I highly recommend contracting professionals join the next course, starting at the beginning of the next fiscal year. 🚀📅Let's strengthen our capabilities and ensure we're always mission-ready! 💪🇺🇸

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AFWERX AFVentures has issued a Notice of Opportunity (NOO) within the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program for both air and space projects. The window for government champion-led capability package submissions will open on July 25 and close September 18 at noon ET. "The STRATFI program underscores our commitment to transitioning dual-use commercial technologies into the hands of our Airmen and Guardians, ensuring that our military forces have access to the most advanced state-of-the-art capabilities that are emerging in our private sector,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the United States Department of the Air Force. “This Strategic Funding Increase is not just an investment in hardware; it's an investment in our national security, safeguarding our values and interests for generations to come." STRATFI is open to small businesses with an awarded Phase II SBIR/STTR contract. The company must either have a current Phase II contract, with a minimum of 90 days of performance executed, or have completed a Phase II contract within two years of submitting a capability package. Read more here: https://ow.ly/ZGyz50SHFci . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #STRATFI #noticeofopportunity #funding #opportunity #innovation

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The evolving global security landscape underscores the indispensable role of SOF in shaping and executing US military strategy. As the nature of warfare becomes increasingly complex and dynamic, SOF's agility, adaptability, and specialized capabilities are indispensable assets in confronting emerging threats and adversaries. The rise of strategic competition, characterized by the convergence of adversaries and the proliferation of disruptive technologies, necessitates a heightened reliance on SOF to maintain a competitive edge and safeguard national interests. Furthermore, the surge in demand for SOF missions, coupled with the evolving operational environment, underscores the criticality of sustained support and collaboration between USSOCOM and industry partners. By leveraging CRG's expertise in capturing, winning, and managing meaningful work with USSOCOM, GovCons/Industry can enhance SOF's operational effectiveness, technological superiority, and mission readiness in an era defined by strategic competition and rapid technological advancements. From capture to contract close-out, discover how our expertise can elevate your success. Visit https://crgroupinc.com/ or reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more. IL – VA – DC - Dubai, UAE #SOF #SOCOM #SpecialOperationsForces #SpecialOperationsCommand #GovCons #FedContractors #Multidomain #NationalDefense #StrategicCompetition #MilitaryTechnology #MissionReadiness #OperationalEffectiveness #USMilitary #DefenseContractors #DefenseInnovation

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Opportunity! United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) small Uncrewed Multidomain Systems Micro Event 25-9 (sME 25-9) Request for Information (RFI) Points of Contact: Any questions under this RFI must be emailed to at [email protected]. US-FED-00000283456 - United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) small Uncrewed Multidomain Systems Micro Event 25-9 (sME 25-9) Request for In - Deadline December 13,2024 1. General: This Request for Information (RFI) is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, quotations, or obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services, but for planning purposes only. This RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and to explore industry capabilities. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission to this announcement or the Government use of such information. The information provided may be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in development of its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marked proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this request for information or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI. 2. Purpose: a. The USSOCOM, Special Operations Forces-Acquisition Technology and Logistics (SOF AT&L), Program Executive Office-Tactical Information Systems (PEO-TIS), Program Management Office-Remote Capabilities (PMO-RC), small Uncrewed Multidomain Systems-Air (sUMS-Air) seeks information on specific technology areas to gain knowledge of, explore, and identify potential methodologies and available capabilities in the examination of Micro Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). Solicitation is posted at: https://lnkd.in/gk9vzPcM

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Changes to MGIB/PGIB. Link to VA info here https://lnkd.in/e6nefF23 Here is short summary that you (or Dependents) might be eligible for an extra 12 months of benefits. ------- Specifically, under the previous policy, eligible Veterans who served at least two periods of service were forced to choose between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill for a maximum of 36 months of GI Bill benefits. Under the updated policy, Veterans will no longer have to make that choice when they apply for benefits, meaning that they can qualify for up to 48 months of GI Bill benefits.   Many Veterans are also now eligible for additional, retroactive benefits. Specifically, Veterans who served at least two periods of service — one that qualified them for the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty and Selected Reserve) and a second that qualified them for the Post-9/11 GI Bill — may be eligible to receive 12 months of additional, retroactive GI Bill benefits (bringing them to a total of 48 months).

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Spacecraft operators need actionable space situational awareness (SSA) information and timely warnings to fly safely and avoid collisions. With multiple nations and commercial entities providing such data and services, including OSC’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), OSC published a vision for global SSA coordination, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to support spaceflight safety and sustainability. OSC envisions that in the future there will be a global, coordinated system of SSA providers, with a series of national or regional hubs providing SSA information and services to spacecraft operators. These centers will be supported by networks of international partnerships, and their services will be augmented by a robust global commercial SSA sector. With TraCSS, OSC is committed to maintaining an open and transparent system that enables global coordination with other SSA providers and ensures reliable and efficient services to global spacecraft operators. Since releasing our vision in early 2024, OSC’s Policy, Advocacy, and International Division (PAID) has been actively promoting it at bilateral dialogues and international venues, including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Download our SSA vision at https://lnkd.in/efqNqWYy #SpacePolicy #oscpaid

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Day #18 (11/24): Government Efficiency Initiatives - Get Money Out of Politics Congresspeople are no longer beholden to their constituents. Campaigns are won and lost based on financing - advertisements, payoffs, quid-pro-quo, image enhancers, social media influence, etc. This system generates career politicians willing to do the bidding of their financers and not their constituents. While laws exist to limit financial influence, they are very loosely and seldom enforced. This problem exists on both sides of the aisle. Until politicians are making decisions for reasons other than personal gain, the Government cannot possibly operate efficiently. Running List of Government Efficiency Initiatives: #1: FFP Contracts Only #2: 1 Acquisition System #3: Pay for Performance (Government Employees) #4: Rapid Gated Contracts #5: Extend Federal Whistle Blower Rights to Contractors #6: Free Compliance Systems #7: Eliminate Government Labs #8: Eliminate the SBA #9: Free Government IP #10: Share in Savings #11: Flat Tax #12: Fire for Performance #13: Root Out Corruption #14: Eliminate the Department of Education #15: End Proxy Wars #16: End Excessive Positivity #17: Enforce the STOCK Act #18: Get Money Out of Politics

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The 2024 Defense Acquisition Workforce Writing Awards recognize original ideas and innovative approaches to tackling challenges and implementing acquisition flexibilities. The award winners showcased exceptional skill in enabling acquisition and achieving the goals set out in the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and were awarded at the event. “I’ve never seen a defense strategy that had so many phrases that tell you we need to do things differently,” noted DAU President Jim Woolsey. “Organizations don’t change easily,” Woolsey remarked. However, the acquisition community must innovate and adapt to address new challenges arising from the evolving global environment, near-peer competitors and rapid technological advancements. DoD has received “massive wake up calls” with lessons learned from evolving conflicts. These awards highlight the value Congress places on the workforces’ innovative ideas. The winners received their awards and presented their publications to program management students and guests during a ceremony at DAU on June 12, 2024. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eg7RmckU

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SDA is seeking questions, white papers, and subsequent invited proposals through a new broad agency announcement for battle management apps for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (#PWSA). These BMC3 applications (#BMC3App) will add capability both within the PWSA tranches and as updates between tranches. SDA specifically seeks applications and services to support new and existing concepts of operation (CONOPS), knowledge gaps, system designs, key technologies, and/or risk reduction prototypes that enhance mission capability for defined tranches of PWSA capability layers, provide new capabilities addressing emerging or evolving warfighters needs, and provide enhanced Link-16 capability from space vehicles. Questions will be answered upon receipt. White papers are strongly encouraged and due by June 14, 2024. The BAA remains open through May 19, 2025. Get the details at https://lnkd.in/egKDRfkh #BMC3 #SemperCitius #Space #Defense #Satellites #Apps

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ITAR Update – The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has published a proposed rule to implement an AUKUS-related licensing exemption and an expedited review process. Please see my latest article summarizing the three proposed changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations in this rulemaking. https://lnkd.in/guna4Kkt #itar #exportcontrols #ddtc #aukus #defensetrade

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🚨 Announcing the New Implementation Plan for Strengthening America’s Defense Industrial Base 🚨 I’m honored to be an integral part of executing the Department of Defense’s (DoD) new National Defense Industrial Strategy Implementation Plan (NDIS-IP). Today, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)) unveiled this critical plan, detailing the ongoing and future actions needed to modernize and secure our defense industrial base. This initiative outlines six cross-cutting programs designed to ensure a more resilient defense ecosystem. From collaboration across DoD components and Services to vital partnerships with industry, international allies, and stakeholders, this strategy underpins the effort required to reinforce our industrial base. 📈 The NDIS-IP addresses a unified commitment to strengthening industrial capacity, building resilience, and reducing risks across the board. This will involve: • Key partnerships with private industry, academia, and international allies, • New OTAs under the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) for rapid research, including the recently announced request for white papers on “Critical Chemicals for Defense,” • Support from Congress as a cornerstone of sustainable security. For those interested, the unclassified NDIS-IP document is available here: NDIS-IP FY2025. https://lnkd.in/dUmSt7yd I’m inspired by the opportunity to help lead this strategic vision forward, ensuring our nation’s industrial base remains robust and capable. #NationalSecurity #IndustrialBase #DefenseStrategy #Innovation #DoD

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With renewed calls by some for a nation-wide system of missile defense, it's worth reviewing why Ronald Reagan thought such a system was feasible 40 years ago - and why despite the expenditure of $415 billion and the efforts of America's top military contractors such a defense has proved impossible. I review a new book on the subject in the current issue of Arms Control Today. I conclude that despite decades of technical failures, missile defense proponents are very likely to push bothersome scientific facts aside. They would much prefer to let abstract policy assertions decide budgets and programs. https://lnkd.in/eShqC6s4

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This week’s edition of the Big Five is now available, covering the war in #Ukraine, confrontation in the Pacific and five great new reads on military and national security affairs. https://lnkd.in/gghPTAG5

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You can surge all kinds of capabilities and expanded capacities like forces in crisis but trust takes time and commitment and meetings like the Nuclear Consultative Group does that (builds trust and confidence) and makes extended deterrence much more than just words. #boozallen #cwmd #cbrne #cbrndefense

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