GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (8/2–9)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers weaknesses in GSA's RPA program, DOD and portfolio-based acquisition, DIU's manufacturing program, and smallsats.

GSA

FedScoop – GSA risks exposing systems and data due to weaknesses with RPA program, IG says

• "The General Services Administration’s robotic process automation (RPA) program is at risk of exposing agency systems and data to bots, and stronger security measures need to be put into place for the program, according to the agency’s inspector general."

Defense

FedNewsNet – Lawmakers, DoD to explore portfolio-based acquisition

• "When it comes to acquisition, the Defense Department is mostly focused on individual products as they’re defined in the DoD budget. Lawmakers are now asking the DoD to explore portfolio-based management, which could allow the department to invest and field modern technologies a lot faster."

BreakingDefense – DIU launches Blue Manufacturing program to vet advanced manufacturing companies

• "In an effort to quickly produce new systems while still being wary of adversarial parts, the Defense Innovation Unit has announced a new program to approve companies that produce advanced manufacturing technologies."

Space

SpaceNews –Heavier smallsats weigh down market forecasts

• "The number of smallsats forecasted to launch in the next decade is declining as some satellites get heavier. In a presentation at a side meeting during the Small Satellite Conference Aug. 7, Gabriel Deville, senior consultant at Novaspace, said his company was forecasting 14,500 smallsats would launch in the next decade. Novaspace, formed earlier this year from the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners, defines smallsats as those weighing no more than 500 kilograms."

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