GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (4/25–29)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers news out of the Space Force, NASA, NOAA, NASA, LOC, and NSA.

Space

BreakingDefense – Space Force team asks warfighters: What do you need from space ISR?

• "Space Force is in the midst of an effort to assess warfighter needs for, and capability gaps in, space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman said on Wednesday. The service has “kicked off an ISR integrated process team, IPT, to focus and drive this initiative. The IPT, in coordination with the other services and combat support agencies will pursue efforts to capture joint space-based ISR and sensing requirements and propose paths to satisfy them,” said Saltzman, deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber and nuclear."

Reuters – Amazon, SpaceX snag NASA space communications contracts

• "Amazon's satellite venture, SpaceX's Starlink network and other satellite firms on Wednesday won a combined $278.5 million in contracts from NASA to demonstrate communications in space as the U.S. space agency moves to replace its current satellite network in orbit with privately-built systems."

FedScoop – NOAA office with expanding space surveillance responsibilities names new chief

• "Space industry executive and former two-time White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Space and Aeronautics Director Richard DalBello is set to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce, or OSC."

SpaceNews – Space Force sees room for more competitors in national security launch

• "Two space launch companies – United Launch Alliance and SpaceX – currently are under contract to launch military and intelligence satellites for the U.S. Space Force. But when these contracts are up for recompete in 2024, the Space Force might consider working with more than two companies, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond told lawmakers April 27. "

GovConWire – NASA Awards $95M in SBIR Phase II Contracts to 110 Small Businesses

• "NASA has awarded approximately $95 million in contracts to 110 small businesses to continue to develop technologies as part of the second phase of a program meant to support space exploration, aerospace ecosystem and other missions."

Cloud

FCW – Library of Congress plans new cloud office

• "The Library of Congress is requesting increased funding in its fiscal 2023 budget in part to establish an agency-wide cloud management program that supports business needs and provides cloud solutions for its traditional IT infrastructure."

Engadget – Amazon re-awarded $10 billion NSA cloud contract after Microsoft dispute

• "Microsoft failed in its attempt to challenge Amazon's $10 billion NSA contract. Nextgov has learned the NSA re-awarded the "Wild and Stormy" cloud computing deal to Amazon Web Services after reviewing the decision. While the Government Accountability Office recommended a reevaluation in October following Microsoft's objections, it's clear the second look didn't substantially change the outcome."

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