GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (11/29–12/3)
This week's Weekly Debrief covers the 10-week stopgap to avert a government shutdown, acquisition speed and electronic warfare, DoD spectrum policy directors, contractor vaccine mandate halted in 3 states, and President Biden's push to increase small disadvantaged business contracting opportunities.
Congress
"The House and Senate on Thursday approved a stopgap spending bill, sending to President Biden’s desk a measure to delay a government shutdown until at least mid-February. The 10-week continuing resolution passed over significant Republican opposition in both chambers and a last-minute push by some conservative senators to block funding for President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates."
Defense
"There could be a downside to the Defense Department’s voracious appetite for buying technology faster: skipping key requirements that protect against electronic vulnerabilities."
"The Department of Defense‘s IT shop plans to hire new deputy directors to improve electromagnetic spectrum management as Pentagon leaders dedicate more resources to the issue."
Vaccine Mandate
"On November 30, 2021, Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued a preliminary injunction in Commonwealth of Kentucky et al. v. Biden et al. (Case No. 21-cv-00055) that prohibits the federal government "from enforcing the vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors in all covered contracts in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee."
Small Business
"The Biden administration is looking to make good on a commitment to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) over the next five years. A Dec. 3 memorandum from Jason Miller, deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget, spells out some benchmarks and details to help agencies hit the target of expanding the share of contracts awarded to SDBs to 15% by 2025, up from about 10% currently."
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