CMS Cyber/VA EHRM/FBI OCIO/CBP PPMS/Navy RPA/DHA GMAL-NG/IRS Analytics/150M USAID CO/USDA WIMPS/OASIS+ SB Prime acquisition Scoop

????The Peel: GovCon Hot Topics: What Contractors Need to Know Right Now – Shelley McGuire is joined by Eric Nusbaum, CEO of ENcompass Consulting Group for a rapid-fire breakdown of the biggest GovCon acquisition updates of late including Army MAPS, the AFRL MAC IDIQ, GSA MAS Refresh 31, the cancellation of CIO SP4, and the next phase of MDA SHIELD. Listen here.

????The Morning Buzz:

• CMS Opp Forecast is out – NPD, Medicaid Financial Oversight Analysis, MCADS, APPS and more…
• New Small Business Alliances Signal Competitive Positioning by 30+ IT and Consulting Leaders Across FedCiv, FedHealth, and DoD
• Monica Padron Harris: APFS records show a significant trend for USCIS acquisition…
• Nicole Tripputi: Many think a company must stay “small” to receive a Phase III. Not true…
• David Timm details DLA ERP protest fail – first where DOGE was specifically invoked.
• Trump’s nutrition website directs users to Grok | DOI to ‘scrub’ non-English content from websites
• Coast Guard focused Veteran-owned small businesses to know – Meet them here.
• Arctas: GovCons Moving the Needle: EnProVera, Flatter, IntelliDyne, Kentro, Axonius, FHAS, Chevo, Xemplify IT, TechSur Solutions, Peraton, RHO, Rios Partners 

????OS AI Insider: Incumbent pushes back on GSA move to award not competitive USMTM Comms and IT Services (CITS) contract Not Yet an Insider? Plans start at $295 annually

⚡Strategic Partnerships and M&A continue as companies position for 2026

• Sagewind Capital backed By Light Acquires OASIS+ Prime Dignitas Technologies, broadens modeling & simulation and virtual training capabilities
• Tharros to Scale Fed Cybersec Solutions with Venture Capital Investment from Blue Delta

???? Like M&A News? Track the latest here

⚡Ad Hoc: How government platforms make AI coding assistants more effective – The unique requirements of federal software delivery (compliance documentation, security controls, platform-specific conventions) have the potential to slow AI-assisted coding efforts to a crawl. Or, they can supercharge this approach. Read on here.

????Events and updates:

• Deep Water Point GovCon Edge – Fed AI Isn’t About Technology. It’s About Faster Decisions – This event brings together defense, civilian, & industry leaders to unpack how AI decisions are being made across FedGov and why having a clear, credible AI story is essential. Details here.
• Army PAE Agile Sustainment and Ammunition (PAE AS&A) and U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) to host Industry Day
• Department of the Navy (DON) SBIR Office Hours
• HIMSS NCA: Fed Health Focus: Patient Centered Health Outcomes with CMS, ARPA-H, PEO DHMS

Track More GovCon Events on OS AI Calendar (Sponsored by FHAS and Procurement Sciences)

????⚖ GAO and the Courts

• GSA Protest Dismissed: RFQ-1794425 | Minburn Technology Group
• ICE Protest Dismissed: 70CMSW25R00000002 | Procon Consulting
• DHA Protest Dismissed: Global Nurse Advice Line – Next Generation (GNAL-NG)

????OS AI Insiders can Track all the latest protest activity here.

Most Viewed Comment:

• Protest forces DISA to extend Hampton Roads Network and Asset Management (NetAM) Support contract – Do you have the protest ID? More here.

The Juice????: 2026 is here and these firms and agencies are gearing up:

• FBI CIO / Acting Assistant Director Office of the CIO takes new challenge
• VA recruits Aloha McBride from EY as Sr Advisor to the Dep Sec for the Office of EHRM
• IRS taps familiar face to drive AI & Analytics in IT Compliance
• Treasury Digital Services, Payments, Ops & Transformation SME Tonya Jones now retired
• LMI recruits former TSA portfolio lead Emily Mark
• Aptive recruits former CDC Data Readiness/ Response Chief Adi Gundlapalli to be CMO
• Constellis recruits Dan Gelston from C3 AI to serve as CEO
• Former OUSW R&A Portfolio Manager Charlotte Rhee joins Forterra
• StratasCorp Technologies appoints Tim Norell as CGO

and several growth-minded Execs take on new challenges: Chris Austin to drive Customer Success at Amivero | Flexera recruits Mike Miller as VP of Public Sector | Melissa Houghton to lead strategy with BTW & Co | Accenture taps Mike Beebe to lead strategy for Defense & Intel | Thales taps John Sarno as VP – Defense Programs | Battelle recruits Becky John to drive Environment & Infrastructure Growth | Lavar McDowell joins TekSynap to drive Army Strategy | Yessenia Castillo joins CALIBRE Systems to drive Fed/Civ | Bill Young to drive Defense BD with Sawdey Solution Services

Missed OS AI industry moves? ????Insiders can see the full report here. Did we miss highlighting your key hire? Message us at support@orangeslices.ai