GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (2/17–21)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers SDA's re-bid on satellite contract, clarity on space agencies, commentary on federal acquisition, overhauling FAA's air traffic control system, and Saronic's plans for autonomous shipyard.

Space

DefenseNews – Space Development Agency to re-bid contentious prototype contract

• "The Space Development Agency will recompete a contract awarded last year to Tyvak, a small satellite manufacturer, following a lawsuit claiming the agency violated procurement rules. Last August, SDA awarded contracts to Tyvak and York Space Systems to develop prototype satellites to demonstrate advanced tactical satellite communication capabilities that could inform future technology development within the agency. Tyvak received $254 million and York $170 million to build and operate 10 satellites each."

SpaceNews – Defense executives demand clarity on space agencies’ missions

• "A lack of clearly defined roles and overlapping missions between the U.S. Space Force, Space Command, and intelligence agencies is sowing confusion among lawmakers, contractors, and the public, raising concerns about the service’s ability to secure resources and execute its mission effectively, industry executives said Feb. 19."

Contracting

FedNewsNet – An acquisition reset: Deregulating to deliver best value mission support for the American people

• "Unfortunately, the last 30 years have seen the determined, inexorable re-regulation of commercial item contracting. As highlighted in previous blogs, the number and scope of unique federal clauses that now apply to commercial item contracts render the term “commercial item contracting” a contradiction in terms."

FAA

TheVerge – A team from SpaceX is being brought in to overhaul the FAA’s air traffic control system

• "A team from Elon Musk’s SpaceX is visiting the Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia Monday to help overhaul the system in the wake of last month’s deadly air disaster in Washington, DC, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced. The news comes after CNN reported that the Federal Aviation Administration fired hundreds of probationary employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure."

Defense

DefenseNews – Saronic unveils plans for autonomous shipyard

• Texas-based Saronic Technologies announced Tuesday it raised $600 million in private funding to build an autonomous shipyard it’s calling Port Alpha. The company plans to use the facility to grow its fleet of medium- and large-class autonomous surface vessels amid demand from the Pentagon for more drones of all kinds, including ships.

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