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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: November 6, 2026
DOW Discloses $31B FY26 Topline for Military Intelligence Program
(ExecutiveGov) The Department of War has announced that the fiscal year 2026 appropriated topline budget for the Military Intelligence Program, or MIP, totaled $30.9 billion. DOW said Friday the topline figure aligns with the National Defense Strategy and that disclosing the amount does not put any classified MIP activities at risk. DOW disclosed only the MIP’s overall topline, keeping all other budget figures and program details classified for national security reasons. According to Breaking Defense, the $30.9 billion total falls $2.7 billion short of the department’s $33.6 billion request for FY 2026. Read More
Superfund: EPA Should Collect and Use Information on the Effectiveness of Its Recovery of Cleanup Costs
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) Superfund sites—areas that have been contaminated by hazardous substances—have been linked to many health and environmental problems. And their cleanup can be expensive and lengthy. EPA aims to have the parties responsible for contamination clean up sites themselves or reimburse EPA for doing so. However, we estimated that, from FYs 1996-2024, EPA recovered less than half of the $25.8 billion it spent on such cleanup. We found that EPA isn’t assessing the effectiveness of its efforts to recover costs. This would help the agency determine what kinds of efforts work best. We recommended that EPA do so. Read More
Space Systems Command Weighs 8 AI Projects for Fight Tonight Funding
(ExecutiveGov) Space Systems Command is considering eight artificial intelligence projects for funding through its annual Fight Tonight competition, with proposals covering data analysis, weapons planning, launch operations and satellite communications. SSC said Monday it will prioritize up to $12 million for multiple traditional and small-business projects. SpaceWERX may also support Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, projects submitted through the competition. The finalists presented their proposals Oct. 7 to senior Space Force leaders. Organized by SSC’s AtlasX innovation and business intelligence unit, the fifth annual competition focused on identifying near-term space capabilities using AI. Read More
Fixed-price is the new default. Do government contractors know what their contracts cost?
(Commentary)(Federal News Network) Federal acquisition is going through its most significant rewrite in decades, and the direction is unmistakable: Fixed-price is no longer just one contracting option among several. In April, executive order 14402 made it the government’s default and preferred choice. The White House has called the broader rulemaking effort the most significant transformation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) since its creation, more than four decades ago. Under the updated FAR Part 16, a contracting officer who wants to use anything other than fixed-price may have to explain why in writing. On larger contracts — $10 million at most agencies, up to $100 million at the Defense Department — the head of the agency has to sign off. Read More
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