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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: September 12, 2025
National Nuclear Security Administration: Additional Steps Needed to Improve Cost Estimates for Fixed Price Subcontracts
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) Based on GAO’s analysis, none of the policies established by the management and operating (M&O) contractors operating National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites met or substantially met all 12 steps for developing a reliable cost estimate for fixed-price construction subcontracts. GAO’s cost estimating guide established these 12 steps, which reflect commercial best practices to help agencies develop comprehensive, well documented, accurate, and credible cost estimates. Specifically, of the seven M&O contractors who operated NNSA sites during the period of our review, the policies of four M&O contractors met or substantially met most of the steps, but the policies of the remaining three contractors only met or substantially met a few steps. Read More
NASA’s Management of the Dragonfly Project
(NASA OIG Communications) Dragonfly, a rotorcraft lander that will fly like a large drone, is designed to gather samples from Saturn’s moon Titan, characterize Titan’s habitability, and look for precursors of the origin of life. However, the project has undergone multiple replans impacting cost and schedule, resulting in a life-cycle cost increase of nearly $1 billion and over 2 years of delays. Download the full report. Read More
AI requirements are racking up across government, GAO says
(FedScoop) Federal agencies are facing an onslaught of artificial intelligence requirements, a new government watchdog report detailed, with callouts coming from executive orders, federal laws, advisory guidance and other sources. As of July, there were nearly 100 different objectives related to the emerging technology that might be considered government-wide standards, according to the Government Accountability Office. “AI technologies can drive economic growth and support scientific advancements that improve the conditions of our world,” the GAO said in its correspondence to Congress. Read More
Draft bill from Ted Cruz would establish a federal AI sandbox in OSTP
(NextGov/FCW) Upcoming legislation from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, looks to establish a federal artificial intelligence sandbox program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AI technologies, with the effort being overseen by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In documents reviewed by Nextgov/FCW, the proposed regulatory sandbox program created within OSTP would allow participating AI companies to receive temporary exemption from external AI regulations. These temporary waivers would be available for “one or more covered provisions of an applicable agency in order to test, experiment, or temporarily provide to consumers… Read More
Pentagon sets start date for CMMC implementation
(Washington Technology) Circle Nov. 10 as when the Defense Department’s new cyber and supply chain security standard for the entire industrial base starts to be implemented, almost six years after Pentagon leadership began talking about it. The final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 standard went into effect in December 2024, while the next step to implement the program into contracts started Tuesday with a regulation released for public inspection. Also called the 48 CFR rule, its publication amends the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement that governs all Pentagon contracts. Industry now has two months’ notice before CMMC 2.0 begins to appear in DOD solicitations. Read More
GSA launches FAS Office of Centralized Acquisition Services
(NextGov/FCW) The General Services Administration has established a new office within its Federal Acquisition Service — the Office of Centralized Acquisition Services — that will serve as a central hub supporting a variety of federal agencies’ acquisition efforts for nearly $500 billion worth of goods and services each year. The office has been in the works for months since President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order on procurement consolidation and follows a series of major acquisition efforts undertaken by the agency, including a rewrite of Federal Acquisition Regulation. GSA Acting Administrator Michael J. Rigas has signed off on the office and longtime GSA senior executive Thomas Meiron will serve as the assistant commissioner for the new OCAS, according to sources familiar. Read More
FAA administrator calls out ‘obsolescence’ in air traffic control technology
(FedScoop) Bryan Bedford, the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, emphasized the need to modernize aging air traffic control technology in some of his first public remarks since his swearing in, saying the country’s current system is “failing every day.” In comments during a fireside chat before the Commercial Drone Alliance on Monday, Bedford said the failures include circuits breaking, lines getting cut up, copper wire spraying, and switches that no longer work and can’t be manufactured. Read More
ICEAA’s NewsBrief is a collection of articles relevant to the cost estimating and analysis community that is delivered weekly to current ICEAA members. To advertise in NewsBrief, contact iceaa@iceaaonline.org.