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Compliance & Risk Articles

Regulatory guidance, compliance frameworks, and risk mitigation.

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Compliance & Risk

GSA reveals first round of awards for Alliant 3 contract

GSA has announced the first 43 awardees for Alliant 3, the unrestricted enterprise-level GWAC replacing Alliant 2, with 33 additional awards coming in subsequent phases for a total of 76 contract holders. This no-ceiling IT services vehicle covers cybersecurity, cloud services, data solutions, systems engineering, and digital transformation—representing the primary procurement pathway for complex federal IT initiatives across all civilian and defense agencies. After a year-long delay due to bid protests, Alliant 3 is now operational for task order competitions, fundamentally reshaping the competitive landscape for IT services contractors. Non-awardees must immediately pivot to teaming strategies, while awardees must activate capture operations across all federal agencies authorized to use this vehicle.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How commercial drones make the Pentagon’s ‘Blue UAS Select’ list

The Defense Department has launched its Drone Dominance Program with testing at Fort Benning, Georgia, evaluating 25 commercial drone vendors. The Defense Contract Management Agency established the Blue List UAS website cataloging 54 approved drone models (29 with 'select' status for operational deployment), creating a streamlined procurement pathway for military units to acquire compliant commercial drones. This program builds on the 2020 Blue UAS initiative and NDAA requirements prohibiting drones with foreign components from security-risk countries, significantly impacting contractors in the commercial drone market seeking DOD contracts.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How commercial drones make the Pentagon’s ‘Blue UAS Select’ list

The Defense Department has launched its Drone Dominance Program with testing at Fort Benning, Georgia, evaluating 25 commercial drone vendors. The Defense Contract Management Agency established the Blue List UAS website cataloging 54 approved drone models (29 with 'select' status for operational deployment), creating a streamlined procurement pathway for military units to acquire compliant commercial drones. This program builds on the 2020 Blue UAS initiative and NDAA requirements prohibiting drones with foreign components from security-risk countries, significantly impacting contractors in the commercial drone market seeking DOD contracts.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How commercial drones make the Pentagon’s ‘Blue UAS Select’ list

The Defense Department has operationalized its Drone Dominance Program with the launch of the Blue List UAS website, cataloging 54 approved commercial drone models (29 with 'select' operational status) that meet NDAA Section 848 supply chain security requirements. The Defense Contract Management Agency now provides a streamlined procurement pathway for military units to acquire compliant drones without lengthy waiver processes, building on 2020's Blue UAS initiative and eliminating drones with components from security-risk countries. This policy shift creates immediate market access for approved vendors while closing the door on non-compliant competitors, fundamentally restructuring the $2B+ DOD commercial drone acquisition landscape.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How to make Tech Force work

The Office of Personnel Management announced the U.S. Tech Force program, which will place 1,000 technology fellows annually into federal agencies starting September for one- or two-year terms, supervised by private sector managers. This represents a significant government hiring initiative that could create new opportunities for technology contractors and consulting firms to support federal digital transformation efforts. The program's success will depend on implementation decisions being made currently, and could impact how agencies approach technology modernization and talent acquisition going forward.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How to make Tech Force work

The Office of Personnel Management announced the U.S. Tech Force program, which will place 1,000 technology fellows annually into federal agencies starting September for one- or two-year terms, supervised by private sector managers. This represents a significant government hiring initiative that could create new opportunities for technology contractors and consulting firms to support federal digital transformation efforts. The program's success will depend on implementation decisions being made currently, and could impact how agencies approach technology modernization and talent acquisition going forward.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

How to make Tech Force work

OPM has launched the U.S. Tech Force program to place 1,000 technology fellows annually into federal agencies starting September 2025 for one- or two-year terms, supervised by private sector managers. This initiative creates immediate opportunities for technology contractors to support federal digital transformation, particularly in workforce augmentation, technical program management, and modernization consulting. Contractors with active positions on OASIS+, CIO-SP4, and GSA Schedule 70 should prepare capture strategies now, as agencies will require implementation support, integration services, and technical oversight frameworks to operationalize this program successfully.

Cabrillo Club·February 20, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia tapped for two leadership roles at GSA

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia has been appointed as acting director of GSA's Technology Transformation Services (TTS) and senior advisor to the GSA administrator, replacing Thomas Shedd who moves to a fraud prevention role. TTS oversees critical government digital services including Login.gov and SAM.gov that contractors use for registration and authentication. This leadership change at GSA, following multiple DOGE-related departures, may signal shifts in how the agency approaches technology modernization and digital service delivery that could affect contractor engagement with these platforms.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia tapped for two leadership roles at GSA

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia has been appointed as acting director of GSA's Technology Transformation Services (TTS) and senior advisor to the GSA administrator, replacing Thomas Shedd who moves to a fraud prevention role. TTS oversees critical government digital services including Login.gov and SAM.gov that contractors use for registration and authentication. This leadership change at GSA, following multiple DOGE-related departures, may signal shifts in how the agency approaches technology modernization and digital service delivery that could affect contractor engagement with these platforms.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia tapped for two leadership roles at GSA

Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia has been appointed as acting director of GSA's Technology Transformation Services (TTS) while maintaining his White House OMB role, replacing Thomas Shedd who transitions to fraud prevention. This dual-hat leadership consolidates federal IT policy and GSA's digital service delivery under one executive, potentially accelerating technology modernization initiatives and altering contractor engagement models for critical platforms like Login.gov, SAM.gov, and cloud.gov. Contractors in IT services, digital transformation, and identity management should monitor for policy shifts in FedRAMP authorization timelines, digital service standards, and GSA Schedule modernization efforts.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid US Golden Dome push

A December 2025 White House executive order mandates a missile shield prototype by 2028 as part of the Golden Dome initiative, with lunar return timelines set for 2028 and permanent moon presence elements by 2030. This directive is driving major commercial space companies SpaceX and Blue Origin to rapidly shift priorities toward lunar development, with Defense officials emphasizing commercial partnerships as essential to achieving these goals. The policy shift represents significant new contracting opportunities in space defense and lunar infrastructure for aerospace contractors.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid US Golden Dome push

A December 2025 White House executive order mandates a missile shield prototype by 2028 as part of the Golden Dome initiative, with lunar return timelines set for 2028 and permanent moon presence elements by 2030. This directive is driving major commercial space companies SpaceX and Blue Origin to rapidly shift priorities toward lunar development, with Defense officials emphasizing commercial partnerships as essential to achieving these goals. The policy shift represents significant new contracting opportunities in space defense and lunar infrastructure for aerospace contractors.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid US Golden Dome push

A December 2025 White House executive order mandates a missile shield prototype by 2028 under the Golden Dome initiative, with lunar return by 2028 and permanent moon presence elements by 2030. This directive is forcing SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the broader aerospace industrial base to rapidly pivot toward lunar development and space defense systems, creating immediate contracting opportunities across DOD, Space Force, NASA, and the Missile Defense Agency. Contractors in aerospace manufacturing, launch services, missile defense, and systems engineering must immediately assess their ITAR/CMMC posture and position for upcoming solicitations across NASA SEWP, Space Enterprise Consortium, and R2C2 vehicles. This represents the most significant space policy shift since the establishment of Space Force, with billions in contract value at stake through 2030.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Airbus open to two-fighter option for FCAS to keep program alive

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program between France, Germany, and Spain faces potential restructuring, with Airbus proposing a 'two-fighter solution' to break the development deadlock. The sixth-generation fighter program has stalled due to disputes over work share, leadership, and technology transfer, with Germany's Chancellor indicating his country may not need the same aircraft as France. This represents a significant shift in European defense cooperation that could impact U.S. defense contractors working with European partners and affect transatlantic defense industrial relationships.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Airbus open to two-fighter option for FCAS to keep program alive

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program between France, Germany, and Spain faces potential restructuring, with Airbus proposing a 'two-fighter solution' to break the development deadlock. The sixth-generation fighter program has stalled due to disputes over work share, leadership, and technology transfer, with Germany's Chancellor indicating his country may not need the same aircraft as France. This represents a significant shift in European defense cooperation that could impact U.S. defense contractors working with European partners and affect transatlantic defense industrial relationships.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Airbus open to two-fighter option for FCAS to keep program alive

Airbus has publicly endorsed a 'two-fighter solution' for the stalled Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Europe's sixth-generation fighter program jointly developed by France, Germany, and Spain. The proposal would split the program into two separate aircraft designs to resolve disputes over work share, technology transfer, and program leadership that have paralyzed development. This fracture in Europe's flagship defense collaboration signals potential realignment of transatlantic defense partnerships, creates new market entry points for U.S. contractors with complementary technologies, and may accelerate Foreign Military Sales opportunities as European nations reassess their air superiority roadmaps.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

BAE says its Eurofighter pipeline is filled until first GCAP assembly

BAE Systems announced that Eurofighter Typhoon production is secured through the mid-2030s with recent orders from Spain, Italy, Germany, and new customer Turkey, filling the pipeline until GCAP sixth-generation fighter assembly begins. The consortium plans to increase production from 14 to 20 aircraft annually by mid-2028, with potential to reach 30 per year. This represents significant international defense contracting activity with implications for U.S. defense industrial base competition and allied interoperability, particularly as the UK-Italy-Japan GCAP program targets 2035 entry into service.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

BAE says its Eurofighter pipeline is filled until first GCAP assembly

BAE Systems announced that Eurofighter Typhoon production is secured through the mid-2030s with recent orders from Spain, Italy, Germany, and new customer Turkey, filling the pipeline until GCAP sixth-generation fighter assembly begins. The consortium plans to increase production from 14 to 20 aircraft annually by mid-2028, with potential to reach 30 per year. This represents significant international defense contracting activity with implications for U.S. defense industrial base competition and allied interoperability, particularly as the UK-Italy-Japan GCAP program targets 2035 entry into service.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

BAE says its Eurofighter pipeline is filled until first GCAP assembly

BAE Systems has secured Eurofighter Typhoon production through the mid-2030s with orders from Spain, Italy, Germany, and Turkey, planning to scale from 14 to 20 aircraft annually by mid-2028 with potential for 30/year. This production bridge extends until the UK-Italy-Japan GCAP sixth-generation fighter begins assembly targeting 2035 entry into service. U.S. defense contractors face intensified competition in international fighter markets and allied interoperability requirements, particularly as European defense industrial capacity expands and ITAR/EAR compliance surfaces become critical for firms pursuing Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales opportunities in advanced air systems.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

HHS’s reported AI uses soar, including pilots to address staff ‘shortage’

HHS reported a 65% increase in AI use cases in 2025, including pilots specifically designed to address staffing shortages following significant workforce reductions. The agency is deploying AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot for legal investigations and public correspondence, indicating a strategic shift toward automation amid reduced personnel. This trend suggests potential changes in how HHS contracts for services and may create opportunities for AI-enabled solutions while reducing traditional staffing-based contracts.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

HHS’s reported AI uses soar, including pilots to address staff ‘shortage’

HHS reported a 65% increase in AI use cases in 2025, including pilots specifically designed to address staffing shortages following significant workforce reductions. The agency is deploying AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot for legal investigations and public correspondence, indicating a strategic shift toward automation amid reduced personnel. This trend suggests potential changes in how HHS contracts for services and may create opportunities for AI-enabled solutions while reducing traditional staffing-based contracts.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

HHS’s reported AI uses soar, including pilots to address staff ‘shortage’

HHS reported a 65% increase in AI use cases in 2025, deploying tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to address critical staffing shortages following significant workforce reductions. This strategic pivot toward automation fundamentally alters HHS's procurement posture—traditional labor-hour contracts face compression while AI-enabled service delivery models gain traction. Contractors in IT services, BPO, administrative support, and legal services must immediately reassess pipeline positioning and technical capabilities, as HHS's $2M AI caregiving initiative signals broader adoption across all operating divisions including FDA, CDC, CMS, and NIH.

Cabrillo Club·February 19, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Interior Department finding momentum with modernization

The Department of Interior is modernizing its contracting and procurement processes by implementing robotic process automation (RPA) tools and exploring emerging technologies like generative AI and blockchain. The agency is also working to centralize IT infrastructure and improve compliance following an IG audit that found $40 million in misclassified IT purchases during FY2022-2024. These modernization efforts and process changes may impact how contractors engage with DOI procurement systems and requirements.

Cabrillo Club·February 18, 2026
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Compliance & Risk

Interior Department finding momentum with modernization

The Department of Interior is modernizing its contracting and procurement processes by implementing robotic process automation (RPA) tools and exploring emerging technologies like generative AI and blockchain. The agency is also working to centralize IT infrastructure and improve compliance following an IG audit that found $40 million in misclassified IT purchases during FY2022-2024. These modernization efforts and process changes may impact how contractors engage with DOI procurement systems and requirements.

Cabrillo Club·February 18, 2026