We return to work with a familiar start: six M&A deals

WT opens for business again to start 2021 and our first day back on the job already looks a lot like 2020 in that we have six announced or completed acquisitions to run through.

What you need to know about the Polaris draft solicitation

The much-anticipated Polaris IT services vehicle for small businesses now has a draft solicitation out for industry to read through and make comments on.

Judge halts enforcement of diversity training crackdown on contractors

A nationwide injunction blocks sections of the order that apply to contractors and grant recipients, including a hotline created for employees to report training materials.

Protest holds up pool awards for GSA human capital support vehicle

GSA is moving forward with awards across two pools of its $5.75 billion human capital and training vehicle, but all of the second pool is on hold while a protest in the federal courts is resolved.

Deadline extended for Federal 100 nominations!

FCW has extended the deadline for Federal 100 nominations until Friday, Jan. 15. Now is your opportunity to recognize your customers and even your employees, who have done something extraordinary in the past year.

The 'ifs' to ponder for 2021

Congratulations on getting to the end of 2020 however you got there. Now that we've closed the book on 2020, how about walking through and pondering some of the "if" scenarios and questions that hover over the 2021 government market?

Task order protests continue steady rise

The number of protests that involve task orders have grown steadily over the last 10 years, even as the overall number of protests have declined.

Podcasts

PROJECT 38: 2020's hot GovCon stories

In the final episode of Project 38 for 2020, Editor Nick Wakeman gathered reporters from Washington Technology, FCW and Defense Systems to review their top stories of the year on topics ranging from the pandemic to JEDI to CMMC to the presidential transition.

Elbit Systems' U.S. arm inks $380M deal for Sparton

Elbit Systems’ U.S. subsidiary agrees to pay $380 million for electronic system and sonobuoy maker Sparton Corp., which was acquired itself last year by a private equity firm.

Podcasts

PROJECT 38: How Amentum's DynCorp acquisition will transform the company

In this episode of Project 38, Amentum CEO John Vollmer describes to Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers how the company navigated its first year and why its recent acquisition of DynCorp will transform the company further.

Raytheon, Airbus get second shot at huge satellite deal

Raytheon and Airbus will get a second chance at a large satellite and space data program now that the Space Development Agency has agreed to re-evaluate proposals.

Contractors win extension of COVID workforce-relief provision

As the House and Senate approved a stimulus bill and an omnibus appropriation for all of government, they also included an extension of a mechanism that allows contractors to be reimbursed for workers who can't work because of COVID pandemic.

Software factories are the new target for cyber attacks, Air Force official says

Will Roper, the Air Force's acquisition chief, said the massive cybersecurity breach that's plagued several federal government agencies creates "a new kind of target for our adversaries" that must be protected.

Opinion

One must-do for small business contractors in 2021

Come Jan. 21, there will be a new administration and that means shifting missions and priorities, so now is the time to start beefing up those client relationships.

Northrop objects to getting kicked off incumbent IRS contract

Northrop Grumman, a 22-year incumbent, is among three protesters who argue that they were unfairly evaluated for a series of Internal Revenue Service blanket purchase agreements for technical services to support tax season.

3 new deals and a finished fundraising round show how GovCon is closing 2020 on a hot streak

The M&A and financing markets rush to complete deals in the GovCon market continued their strong pace with three new deals this week and a successful fundraising round.

Podcasts

PROJECT 38: Will the Biden administration drive more commercial tech into the market?

Megan Metzger of Dcode, the organization built to bring commercial technology firms into the federal market, and Editor Nick Wakeman talk about opportunities sparked by the incoming Biden administration. But many of those opportunities have more to do with a changing market than with politics.

Deals keep coming for Arlington Capital's BlueHalo

Just two months into its creation through a roll-up, Arlington Capital Partners-backed BlueHalo closes two more deals to build on its cyber and signal intelligence capabilities.

IBM, Microsoft to prototype new supply of semiconductors

IBM and Microsoft will both prototype new ways to develop, manufacture and secure the military's supply chain for microelectronics.

Behind Lockheed's drive to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4B

Acquisitions have been on the mind of Lockheed Martin's CEO Jim Taiclet since he started in June, plus by extension the board of directors, and that has led the world's largest defense company to add even more girth with Aerojet Rocketdyne.