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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: July 10, 2026
FEMA begins decommissioning defunct data system
(FedScoop) The Federal Emergency Management Agency is moving forward with remediation efforts to properly sunset a data system after it was abruptly shut down following a series of delays last year, according to procurement documents posted Monday. FEMA awarded a $405,000 sole source contract to Ardent Management Consulting, which was the last vendor to operate the Field Assessment Collection Tools system. Ardent is responsible for getting the FACT system restored to an operational state before the decommissioning process can begin in order to meet federal law. Read More
Weapon Systems Annual Assessment: Requiring Mature Technologies Could Enable Shift to Rapid Delivery
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) DOD is again working to reform its acquisition processes to help deliver innovative weapons rapidly. But in this year’s annual report, we found DOD struggled to fully enact existing reforms to achieve speed. Key decisions are delayed for some of the costliest weapon programs—raising questions about how realistic their schedules are: Consistently following leading practices for product development could speed it up; Some programs began on a rapid acquisition pathway with tech that requires more time to develop—slowing on-time delivery of needed weapons. Our recommendation addresses this. DOD’s weapon systems acquisition is on our High Risk List. Read More
Senate lawmaker presses DoD, tech firms to disclose AI contract terms
(Federal News Network) A Senate lawmaker is demanding that the Defense Department and seven technology companies deploying their artificial intelligence capabilities on the department’s classified networks disclose the terms of their agreements in order to better understand what guardrails DoD is putting in place around AI use in the military. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said the department “appears to have forged ahead in expanding AI use throughout the military, while releasing no meaningful information about contractual guardrails to prevent the misuse of these tools or communicating to Congress and the public how these tools are used at all.” Read More
NGA Seeks Industry Partners for Mathematical Gravity Modeling Advancement
(ExecutiveGov) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is seeking industry partners for Mathematical Gravity Modeling Advancement, or MaGMA: specialized research and software development services to improve advanced gravimetric and planetary modeling capabilities. … What Are the Core Areas for Mathematical Gravity Modeling Advancement? Mathematical Gravity Modeling Advancements has four core areas of which prospective contractors will need to provide services and supplies, according to a July 2 request for procurement posted on SAM.gov: Read More
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