????Fireworks You Missed: Huge Wins; Big GWAC (OASIS/SEWP/POLARIS) Scoop; Top Fed IT Chief Moves; Get your 4th of July FSD Holiday Week Recap here????

???? But first, OS AI sat down with the July Fresh Squeezed Daily Sponsor: Krystn Macomber, Founder + CEO of Summit Strategy to discuss Moving Past “We’ve Always…” to Build What’s Next. With so much change in motion across the federal landscape, Krystn shares how companies can navigate today’s GovCon landscape with clarity, purpose, and a plan. Read on here.

????The Morning Buzz – A One Week Look Back (a review of fireworks you may have missed if you were on Holiday break last week):

• #DOGE – Contract termination notices/cuts at VA, IRS, ICE, DHS S&T, DOE, USDA, USPTO and CDC
• GWAC Protests: Tentative Timeline for $10B Polaris SB GWAC Protest Resolution Outlined | Protests are Piling up on (OASIS+) 8(a) SB | PGSA says protests will delay issuance of Notices to Proceed for recent awards | The last Open GAO Protest for $60B NASA SEWP VI GWAC was dismissed
• ICYMI: After bidders spent Big $ on FirstSource III & PACTS III, DHS canceled them | Brian Friel: PACTS III reqs will flow to OASIS+ and MAS. Expect more of the same from other agencies.
• Speaking of DHS, the lone Protest of Investigative Case Management (ICM) sole source is Dismissed while Coast Guard receives historic $25B investment and renames geographic operational districts
• ???? Commerce Dept. laid out Application and Digital Delivery Services recompete timeline and USAF Research Lab detailed Security Assistance & Management Support timeline
• PEO DHMS reminder: The Enterprise Intelligence & Data Solutions (Chris Nichols) PMO is on the hunt for commercial solutions to modernize health care
• Shelley McGuire: A few folks asked me about the OrangeSlices AI Engage and Elev8 award nominations (due Jul 15) so, I figured I’d break it down here!
• Steven Koprince shares ‘beach reading’: the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul of FAR Part 6 | Tris Carpenter’s take: while statutory authorities remain unchanged, the implementation introduces new dynamics
• DOS IT Leader Katherine Lugo: “The AI playground for DOD acquisitions is impressive!” : asks Have you created better contract outcomes (with any of these tools)?
• Navy’s Christie Colaianni: Are you frustrated with the Dynamic Small Business Search? If so, now is the time to test the SBA’s new Small Business Search
• USSOCOM SB Leader Ashley Farrier: Deepen your understanding of Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) with this entry in DAU’s ACQuipedia
• US Army ACC-APG posts Competitive Opportunities Forecast: Division C
• Tris Carpenter breaks down: Army FY26 budget request push toward rapid modernization, readiness, & tech superiority and VA’s $441B FY26 request gets a +10% increase!
• #DOGE – GSA Presses 6 ‘Traditional’ Consulting Firms for Better Pricing | DHS plans to shed most of its intel office workforce
• Yikes: Medicare data breach may have compromised personal information of 100,000 Americans | CMS launches new AI and ML WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) Model

???? New Juicy Teaming Request:

• Venture-backed MIT-founded health-tech company seeking Partner for CMS WISeR Prior-Authorization Technology Pilot
• Leading provider of advanced analytics and data processing platforms seeking Partners for Advana Recompete and DoD Enterprise Data Programs
• Robert Hamlett: Seeking a Prime Contractor Partner for Treasury AI Tools Opportunity (Notice ID: 2032H325Q00063)

Seeking Early Adopters: ICYMI: Arctas and OrangeSlices AI to launch one-of-a-kind marketplace for Public Sector IT & Consulting teaming opportunities

The Juice????: These firms and agencies are gearing up to make a big impact in 2026 and beyond:

• Trump nominates former DOT CIO Ryan Cote to lead IT at VA; Treasury Principal Deputy CIO Jeffrey King exits, launches Black Jasper; VA recruits former DHA User Integration SME and Digital Health Office SME Shane McNamee MD to exit
• CMS names DMEPOS lead and new Lead Information Technology Specialist, while CMS Financial Management Systems Group leader Bernice Pendley exits
• CDC Chief Data Officer, Alan Sim, departs
• IT Chiefs on the move: DHA names Chief, Division Integration & Optimization Operations | EPA names new CIO | DHS ICE names Acting Deputy CIO | US Air Force USTRANSCOM names a new CISO | FBI taps leader to drive strategic Cyber Ops | State Department taps Deputy CIO for the Bureau of Consular Affairs | NASA taps longtime State IT lead as Chief of Platforms Services
• Casie Antalis takes new challenge at CISA while Natasha Eastman ends time at CISA, takes role with CoreWeave
• VA CO cofounds veteran-operated procurement firm to deliver compliant, fast-turnaround Federal sourcing solutions
• DHS ICE Component Acquisition Executive (SES) Chris Moman retires
• DOJ taps familiar face to drive Cybersecurity Shared Services Program, Brett Leatherman named Assistant Director of FBI Cyber Division and FBI taps OCIO Chief of Staff
• DOL CTO and AI Officer adds role as Executive Director Mission Systems
• DoD names new Office of Innovation leader
• GDIT recruits former TSA Deputy Administrator Holly Canevari to serve as Homeland Security VP and General Manager
• Former VA COO Alfred Montoya takes new role as COO at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
• Google adds USAF Deputy Director for Cyberspace Operations (Deputy CISO), PEO C3BM
• DMI Appoints former SEC CIO and CTO Chuck Riddle as Strategic Advisor for Federal IT Services
• Emagine IT Appoints Cedric Sims as Chief Executive Officer while founder Aamir Saleem adds role of Chief Innovation Architect
• Inserso recruits Chip Seeger as Senior VP driving BD and Capture
• and several Growth-Minded Execs take on new challenges: Liz Tribelli takes role of Chief Strategy Officer at Bart & Associates | Andy McEnroe has joined GRVTY as senior VP | Michael Lee joins Metric5 | Andrew DelFavero takes role at Cherokee Federal | Scott Brzezinski to interos.ai | Athenix Solutions Group recruits Brian Rist to be Chief Growth Officer | Alec Longarzo driving NatSec Growth with Synergy | VetsEZ promotes William Turner to EVP | RELI Group Appoints Jason Balser to drive AI & Data Strategy | Jonah Czerwinski to drive Growth & Strategy at Infosys | BCG taps Alex Russo to drive Public Sector Healthcare practice | Matthew Smith to drive USAF Growth and Strategy at Clarity | Google Public Sector recruits Inna Berthe | LMI taps Tim Spadafore to drive Defense Market | ITC Federal Welcomes Krista McKendree as VP driving DoD Growth

and more … Missed some key industry moves? ????OS AI Premium sponsors can see the full report here.

????Two Nominations to get in on NOW before they close for good: Nominations Close July 15th.????

• OS AI Engage FedGov:  Recognizing those leaders reshaping how government and industry collaborate – not for recognition, but because they believe in what’s possible when we work together with purpose.  More here.
• Nominations have been extended for the 2026 Elev8 GovCon awards recognizing government contracting companies that excel in solutions, culture, and #DoingItTheRightWay. More here.

????⚖ GAO and the Courts –Check out the latest:

• NIH Fresh Protest Filed: NIEHS | Solicitation Number C-118925-SB | Tantus Technologies
• SBA Fresh Protest Filed: $85M Enterprise Cybersecurity Services Contract
• NOAA Protest Dismissed: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 1305M425Q0005 | OCT Consulting
• DOI Protest Filed: Bureau of Indian Affairs | Heartland Consulting
• SSA Protest Dismissed: 28321325Q00000106 | Trilogy Secured Services
• GSA Protest Dismissed: $20M Governmentwide Acquisition Services Program and Data Support contract
• NASA Protest Withdrawn: 80MSFC25Q0006 | Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc.
• DHA Protest Dismissed: Global Nurse Advice Line – Next Generation (GNAL-NG) | HT0011-25-R-0044
• Defense Intelligence Agency Protest Filed: Palantir USG
• Navy Protest Filed: Military Sealift Command Financial Management Support | N3220525R4034
• Army Protest Filed: Test Engineering and Analysis Services (TEAS)
• Army Protest Filed: RS3-24-0060 | JANUS Research Group
• Army Protest Withdrawn: PANMCC-25-P-0000-023464 | DA Defense Logistics HQ
• USAF Protest Dismissed: Contracting Support – Davis-Monthan AFB
• USAF Protest Dismissed: FA701425R0006 | ESC

Been heads down working on a proposal? ????OS AI Premium sponsors can Track all the latest protest activity here.

????ICYMI: Recent M&A / Partnership News:

• B&A Acquires Hexagon US Federal’s Strategic Services and Solutions Intelligence and Defense Portfolio
• LevelBlue to Acquire Trustwave, Becoming Largest Pure-Play Managed Security Services Provider

and Three strategic Partnerships struck:

• IT Operational Strategies and Maveris form mentor-protege
• Palantir and Accenture Federal Services Join Forces to Help Federal Government Agencies Reinvent Operations with AI
• Lindahl Reed and TechSource Establish SBA Approved Mentor-Protégé Partnership to Expand High-Impact Federal Services

???? Have you checked out OS AI’s GovCon M&A Page? Track all of the latest M&A activity here.