Defense Business Alert

As the Pentagon conducts high-level conversations with key U.S. allies on strengthening defense industrial base cooperation, a new proposal has emerged that could become legislation used to lower barriers for technology transfer between the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Defense industry advocates say they are waiting for the Pentagon to implement more than 150 acquisition reform measures passed into law several years ago, and they hope new legislation being drafted by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) will do something to break up the bureaucratic logjam.

A Defense Department investigation has found no conflicts of interest tainted the integrity of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure acquisition, and DOD has identified proposals from Amazon and Microsoft as the only two bids in the "competitive range" eligible to win the award, worth up to $10 billion.

The National Defense Industrial Association is opposing a recommendation in the Section 809 panel's report to end mandatory small-business set-asides.

FLIR Systems is refocusing its attention on its government and defense business, making significant acquisitions to bolster its unmanned work and opening a new headquarters in Arlington, VA, to be closer to the Pentagon.

LMI Ventures, the new venture capital fund created by LMI, will focus on key technology areas that could benefit the company's customers and seek to make small bets in early-stage companies, according to LMI's chief executive.

Leading industry lawyers on data privacy and security requirements say an upcoming federal acquisition rule will affect industries beyond contractors by extending strict controls currently used by the Defense Department to all federal agencies.

Science Applications International Corp.'s "Innovation Factory," established last year, marks the first step in the company's effort to adapt to a faster pace for defense technology development, the contractor's chief technology officer said this week.

BWX Technologies' chief executive said today the company's missile tube rework efforts are on track, noting the majority of the repairs are scheduled to be complete by mid-year.