CMS HEAT/CBP MSC/VA OCIO/1B IRS IdM/NIH Web/5B DOW Salesforce/FAA SWB/EPA ED BPA/150M VA CMOP/ATF STO/115M USAF EITSM Scoop; NOAA NMITS Prime acquired

????The Peel: Human-First AI in the Federal Space – Shelley McGuire is joined by Alicia Sanchez, Chief AI Officer at MPF Federal, to unpack what “AI readiness” looks like, why workforce willingness matters, and how fear, resistance, and uncertainty show up when AI enters the workplace. Listen here.

????The Morning Buzz:

• Treasury cancels Booz Allen contracts after tax records breach
• No off-ramp in sight for DHS-fueled shutdown | David Berteau on what might happen next
• Department of War details recent $5.64B contract with Salesforce subsidiary
• HHS’ Jennifer Johnson: Procurement Alignment and Collaboration Taskforce has launched
• DOJ ATF bypasses 8(a) program in competition for Sc&T Office support contract
• Tris Carpenter: GSA 2GIT II (eBuy ID RFI1793068) RFI to shape government-wide IT Products BPA
• Army retires Standard Procurement System, launches modern contracting platform
• Venable: DOJ Expanding Definition of “Illegal DEI”—What Fed Contractors Need to Know
• Emily Murphy: Audit could reshape 8(a) program: contractors brace for what’s next
• Procurement Sciences AI: 5 DOD Contract Vehicles to Watch in 2026. Which matters most?
• Defense Health Agency focused small businesses to know – Meet them here.
• ????OS AI Insider: DHS and the Snafu: revisiting of GTSS 3.0 task award delayed | Fight goes next level on $150M VA CMOP Staffing Services IDIQ Not Yet an Insider? Plans start at $295 annually

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

• Axle acquires GAMA-1; bolsters Cloud/Data/Automation capabilities, adds significant NOAA footprint

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

???? Key Events and updates:

• ❄️The Army MAPS Industry Day will now be a VIRTUAL-ONLY event due to inclement weather❄️
• VA Transition Assistance Program (TAP) In-Person Industry Day DATE CHANGE
• Registration for DOW Mentor-Protégé Program Summit now open! Lock in early-bird rate

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

The Juice????: 2026 is here and these firms and a

• White House Office of the National Cyber Director Critical Infrastructure lead Casey Dolen departs
• HHS taps Quentin McCoy to be Executive Director, Office of Mission Acquisition Solutions
• Laura Prietula returns to the VA OIT as a Senior Advisor to the CIO
• Agile Six recruits longtime VA/GSA i8F contracts lead Stacy Dion
• Red Duke Strategies recruits former VA Chief of Staff Meg Kabat
• Former VA Senior Exec Ajit B Pai Joins Gritter Francona to Accelerate Veteran Health Innovation Under IHT 2.0
• SAIC recruits former DHS S&T Innovation & Collaboration leader Benjamin Henry
• Maximus recruits former TSA CIO Mission Management Division leader Brian Gough
• Former FBI Technology Innovation leader Matthew Fine launches consultancy
• EPA Deputy CISO Mark Bacharach exits, launches consultancy
• D&G Solutions recruits Ryan Bakazan, Former Air Force Leader, to Strengthen Logistics and Supply Chain Capabilities
• Former Army Joint Modernization Command Commander Toby Magsig now President and Interim CEO at Shift5

and several growth-minded Execs take on new challenges to kickstart 2026: ISA taps Scott Siker for new Marketing role | Jylinda Johnson tapped to be Sr VP at GDIT | Mario Gonzales recruited as Senior VP, Deloitte | Jessica Price now VP of Customer Success at NuAxis Innovations | Megan Mattingly to drive Strategy and Growth at K3 Solutions | TransUnion recruits Wayne Ebenfeld | The Eyak Corporation recruits Ken Siegel | DDC recruits Capture SME Dawn Dalton | AMC Health recruits Fed Health Strategist Misty Spratlan |Robert Thomas now VP and Sector Manager, Warfighter Support at Quantum Research International | Matthew Wilber now Chief Growth Officer at JCTM | Cyril Handal joins Vanta to support Fed Civilian practice | Carlton Graves joins Empower AI | Thunderyard recruits Maddie Bartman | Robyn Bollhorst to drive Fed Health success at Databricks

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

????⚖ GAO and the Courts

• CMS Fresh Protest: $79M HQR Enhancement and Advancement Technologies (HEAT) task
• GSA Protest Filed: Federal Acquisition Service | B-424226.1 | Abacus Technology Corp
• DOL Protest Denied: RFQ 1758361 | Technology Information Systems
• DOL Protest Denied: RFQ 1758314 | Technology Information Systems
• Capitol Police Protest Dismissed: OISQ202500004 | MSM Technology
• Air Force Protest Denied: Space Electronic Warfare II Advisory and Assistance Services
• Army Fresh Protest Filed: MCE, Logistics, Cybersecurity, and Administrative Support

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