# Latest **URL:** https://community.iquasar.com/latest.md [Latest](https://community.iquasar.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://community.iquasar.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://community.iquasar.com/tags.md) --- ## [Proposal Writers vs. Recruiters: Why They Should Be the Same Person in an SMB](https://community.iquasar.com/t/proposal-writers-vs-recruiters-why-they-should-be-the-same-person-in-an-smb/702)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 8:12am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/proposal-writers-vs-recruiters-why-they-should-be-the-same-person-in-an-smb/702 "2026-09-23T08:12:57Z")
In small and mid-sized GovCon firms, separating proposal writing from recruiting is a costly mistake. When these roles sit on opposite sides of a wall, the writer describes a workforce the recruiter can’t actually del… --- ## [Is SBA's Proposed Size Standard Overhaul Helping Small Businesses... or Hurting Them?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/is-sbas-proposed-size-standard-overhaul-helping-small-businesses-or-hurting-them/698)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/is-sbas-proposed-size-standard-overhaul-helping-small-businesses-or-hurting-them/698 "2026-09-22T12:07:49Z")
The SBA’s proposed expansion of small business size standards is generating significant backlash across the GovCon community. While supporters argue it will help growing firms compete beyond the “mid-tier gap,” many … --- ## [FAR Overhaul: A New Era for Federal Procurement](https://community.iquasar.com/t/far-overhaul-a-new-era-for-federal-procurement/697)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/far-overhaul-a-new-era-for-federal-procurement/697 "2026-09-22T12:04:32Z")
One of the most significant shifts in federal acquisition may be unfolding through the latest Revolutionary FAR Overhaul proposals. The focus is clear: simplify procurement, encourage commercial buying, and improve co… --- ## [New Affirmative Action Rules for Federal Contractors Take Effect Today - Debate This](https://community.iquasar.com/t/new-affirmative-action-rules-for-federal-contractors-take-effect-today-debate-this/696)
**Author:** [@Shawn](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Shawn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/new-affirmative-action-rules-for-federal-contractors-take-effect-today-debate-this/696 "2026-09-22T11:26:33Z")
Two OFCCP final rules take effect today, and a third follows next month. Together they are the biggest change to federal contractor affirmative action obligations in sixty years. Effective today, Section 503. The 7% … --- ## [GovCon Debate: Was Canceling CIO-SP4 the Right Move?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/govcon-debate-was-canceling-cio-sp4-the-right-move/691)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/govcon-debate-was-canceling-cio-sp4-the-right-move/691 "2026-09-18T17:15:37Z")
After reading the recent CIO-SP4 post-mortem, I’m genuinely torn. On one hand, the review found that more than 90% of the contractors and services available through CIO-SP4 already existed on other vehicles managed … --- ## [DoD Wants to Replace CAS with GAAP. Good Move or Bad Idea?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/dod-wants-to-replace-cas-with-gaap-good-move-or-bad-idea/690)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/dod-wants-to-replace-cas-with-gaap-good-move-or-bad-idea/690 "2026-09-17T15:16:29Z")
Interesting move by DoD. They’re looking to move away from the government-specific Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) model and lean more toward GAAP, which is what most commercial companies already use. On one hand, t… --- ## [Federal IT & AI Policy Shift: Innovation Speed vs. Security Control](https://community.iquasar.com/t/federal-it-ai-policy-shift-innovation-speed-vs-security-control/689)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/federal-it-ai-policy-shift-innovation-speed-vs-security-control/689 "2026-09-16T15:03:32Z")
The federal technology landscape is undergoing a massive shift. Across cybersecurity operations, law enforcement, cloud infrastructure, and AI governance, agency leaders and policymakers are recalibrating how governme… --- ## [The takeaway from the Billington Cybersecurity Summit: AI didn't create new cyber problems; it exposed old ones](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-takeaway-from-the-billington-cybersecurity-summit-ai-didnt-create-new-cyber-problems-it-exposed-old-ones/688)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-takeaway-from-the-billington-cybersecurity-summit-ai-didnt-create-new-cyber-problems-it-exposed-old-ones/688 "2026-09-16T14:41:06Z")
National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross put it bluntly: “You don’t necessarily need the newest tool. You need to clean up the basics in a lot of these enterprises.” The pattern across every speaker, DOE’s Andrew McCl… --- ## [SBA just fast-tracked 8(a) defense applicants. But the bigger story is who's now eligible to apply](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-just-fast-tracked-8-a-defense-applicants-but-the-bigger-story-is-whos-now-eligible-to-apply/685)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-just-fast-tracked-8-a-defense-applicants-but-the-bigger-story-is-whos-now-eligible-to-apply/685 "2026-09-16T14:38:19Z")
Only 1.2% of active 8(a) firms sit in the 10 NAICS codes SBA just prioritized (ammo, guided missiles, shipbuilding, machine shops, etc.). Three of those codes have zero 8(a) companies today. So SBA is fast-tracking re… --- ## [New GAO Report: DHS's $10.5B in Contract Savings Was Really $92M](https://community.iquasar.com/t/new-gao-report-dhss-10-5b-in-contract-savings-was-really-92m/686)
**Author:** [@Shawn](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Shawn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/new-gao-report-dhss-10-5b-in-contract-savings-was-really-92m/686 "2026-09-16T14:36:17Z")
GAO released a report on September 3 checking the math on DHS contract terminations from 2025. DHS publicly reported that cancelling those contracts could let it avoid more than $10.5 billion in costs. GAO looked at … --- ## [DIU just tried to fix the Valley of Death's chicken-and-egg problem. Did it just move the bottleneck?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/diu-just-tried-to-fix-the-valley-of-deaths-chicken-and-egg-problem-did-it-just-move-the-bottleneck/682)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/diu-just-tried-to-fix-the-valley-of-deaths-chicken-and-egg-problem-did-it-just-move-the-bottleneck/682 "2026-09-16T14:35:17Z")
DIU is about to test something that’s been a structural blocker for nontraditional defense tech for years: you can’t get a Facility Clearance without a contract, and you can’t compete for classified work without a cle… --- ## [Advanced Notice for MAS Refresh 33 and Upcoming Mass Modification](https://community.iquasar.com/t/advanced-notice-for-mas-refresh-33-and-upcoming-mass-modification/620)
**Author:** [@Atif.Altaf](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Atif.Altaf)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/advanced-notice-for-mas-refresh-33-and-upcoming-mass-modification/620 "2026-09-11T13:03:44Z")
The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is planning to issue GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 – Refresh #33 in September 2026. Outlined below are the upc… --- ## [AI Safety vs AI Supremacy. What Does This Mean for GovCon Talent?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/ai-safety-vs-ai-supremacy-what-does-this-mean-for-govcon-talent/678)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 8:35am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/ai-safety-vs-ai-supremacy-what-does-this-mean-for-govcon-talent/678 "2026-09-11T08:35:53Z")
A former Anthropic researcher recently resigned, warning that some of the very people building advanced AI believe it could pose a serious existential risk if development outpaces safety measures. At the same time, ot… --- ## [SBA Size Standards Are Changing: What Should Federal Contractors Do Now?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-size-standards-are-changing-what-should-federal-contractors-do-now/676)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-size-standards-are-changing-what-should-federal-contractors-do-now/676 "2026-09-10T17:35:56Z")
We’ve already discussed who might win or lose from SBA’s proposed size-standards overhaul. But the more practical question for GovCons now is: what should contractors actually be doing? With changes that could affect… --- ## [AI Is Now Hunting Cyber Vulnerabilities. Game Changer or New Risk?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/ai-is-now-hunting-cyber-vulnerabilities-game-changer-or-new-risk/675)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/ai-is-now-hunting-cyber-vulnerabilities-game-changer-or-new-risk/675 "2026-09-10T17:27:36Z")
Microsoft has brought its AI-powered security scanner, MDASH, to Azure Government, giving select U.S. government agencies access to a system that uses over 100 AI agents to identify, validate, and prioritize software … --- ## [Who Owns the Candidate in a GovCon Joint Venture? Officially, Nobody](https://community.iquasar.com/t/who-owns-the-candidate-in-a-govcon-joint-venture-officially-nobody/679)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/who-owns-the-candidate-in-a-govcon-joint-venture-officially-nobody/679 "2026-09-10T12:18:52Z")
The SBA’s joint venture template has a structural problem buried in plain sight. It says the JV will operate with a “blended pool” of labor from both partners, but it doesn’t say whose W-2 the hire lands on, who spon… --- ## [Three moves, one direction: DoD is trying to lower the barriers to entry](https://community.iquasar.com/t/three-moves-one-direction-dod-is-trying-to-lower-the-barriers-to-entry/673)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2026, 8:03am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/three-moves-one-direction-dod-is-trying-to-lower-the-barriers-to-entry/673 "2026-09-09T08:03:42Z")
Three things moving in GovCon this week that cleared contractors and staffing firms should be watching. 𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗙 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁: DoD’s new “Secure Space Network” will deploy about 50 mobile SCIFs across milit… --- ## [Debate Post: Should Federal Agencies Have to Pay for USAi?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/debate-post-should-federal-agencies-have-to-pay-for-usai/672)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/debate-post-should-federal-agencies-have-to-pay-for-usai/672 "2026-09-08T18:07:08Z")
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has officially moved USAi, its government AI testing and deployment platform, from a free pilot to a paid service model. Agencies will now pay a platform fee based on ag… --- ## [Microsoft Fabric integration platform launches for select federal customers](https://community.iquasar.com/t/microsoft-fabric-integration-platform-launches-for-select-federal-customers/671)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/microsoft-fabric-integration-platform-launches-for-select-federal-customers/671 "2026-09-03T14:49:04Z")
Microsoft just took a significant step toward accelerating AI adoption across the federal sector. Microsoft Fabric, the company’s unified data and analytics platform, is now available in Government Community Cloud (G… --- ## [GSA Clearance Cuts: Security Victory or Strategic Risk?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/gsa-clearance-cuts-security-victory-or-strategic-risk/670)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/gsa-clearance-cuts-security-victory-or-strategic-risk/670 "2026-09-03T13:44:30Z")
Hundreds of GSA security clearances were recently terminated following an internal audit designed to ensure that access to classified information is limited to employees with a demonstrated operational need. GSA says … --- ## [Shutdown averted. Uncertainty delayed. Planning still matters](https://community.iquasar.com/t/shutdown-averted-uncertainty-delayed-planning-still-matters/669)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/shutdown-averted-uncertainty-delayed-planning-still-matters/669 "2026-09-03T13:43:51Z")
The House has passed a stopgap spending bill that keeps the federal government funded through 11 December, avoiding an immediate shutdown and giving Congress more time to finalize FY2027 appropriations. The measure pa… --- ## [The Army, OpenAI, and 1.7M Users Walk Into GenAI.mil](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-army-openai-and-1-7m-users-walk-into-genai-mil/668)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-army-openai-and-1-7m-users-walk-into-genai-mil/668 "2026-09-03T13:43:04Z")
DoD’s AI stack just got a lot more crowded, and a lot more real. Three things happened in the same 48-hour window that tell you where federal AI adoption is actually headed: 𝟭. 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻… --- ## [Congress Is Back Today. 30 Days to Avoid a Shutdown. #DebateThis](https://community.iquasar.com/t/congress-is-back-today-30-days-to-avoid-a-shutdown-debatethis/666)
**Author:** [@Shawn](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Shawn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/congress-is-back-today-30-days-to-avoid-a-shutdown-debatethis/666 "2026-09-01T13:10:01Z")
The Context Congress comes back today with 30 days until the money runs out. Here is the strange part: both chambers have already passed a stopgap funding bill. And a shutdown is still possible. The House passed H.R… --- ## [Should the Federal Government Exempt Hiring AI from Strict Risk Management?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/should-the-federal-government-exempt-hiring-ai-from-strict-risk-management/665)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/should-the-federal-government-exempt-hiring-ai-from-strict-risk-management/665 "2026-08-31T12:46:49Z")
A new guidance memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has sparked a major policy debate across government tech, civil rights, and public administration sectors. OPM’s directive advises federal agencies th… --- ## [\#DebateThis: NSA wants access to every frontier model. Is "voluntary" the right word?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/debatethis-nsa-wants-access-to-every-frontier-model-is-voluntary-the-right-word/662)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/debatethis-nsa-wants-access-to-every-frontier-model-is-voluntary-the-right-word/662 "2026-08-31T12:12:57Z")
NSA’s deputy director, Tim Kosiba, said it plainly at an INSA panel in Bethesda on Thursday: “We want access to all the models.” He confirmed active talks with the frontier labs. He would not name them, would not say … --- ## [OMB Wants Login.gov to Become the Default Digital Front Door for Government Services](https://community.iquasar.com/t/omb-wants-login-gov-to-become-the-default-digital-front-door-for-government-services/652)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/omb-wants-login-gov-to-become-the-default-digital-front-door-for-government-services/652 "2026-08-27T13:33:18Z")
The Office of Management and Budget is reportedly proposing a policy that would require most public-facing federal websites that need authentication to use Login.gov. The goal is simple: one account, one identity, and… --- ## [Game-changer for cleared workforce mobility, or an administrative band-aid for deeper hiring issues?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/game-changer-for-cleared-workforce-mobility-or-an-administrative-band-aid-for-deeper-hiring-issues/625)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/game-changer-for-cleared-workforce-mobility-or-an-administrative-band-aid-for-deeper-hiring-issues/625 "2026-08-27T13:09:32Z")
The Intelligence Community just launched ICJobs, a new classified jobs portal designed to streamline career transitions and recruitment across the 18 IC agencies. On paper, modernizing classified hiring infrastructur… --- ## [The "GitHub for Cleared Developers": Finding technical talent where they actually hang out](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-github-for-cleared-developers-finding-technical-talent-where-they-actually-hang-out/650)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/the-github-for-cleared-developers-finding-technical-talent-where-they-actually-hang-out/650 "2026-08-27T12:14:49Z")
Looking for a cleared developer’s GitHub? You’re probably looking in the wrong place. The best cleared engineers often have little or no public portfolio, not because they lack skills, but because the work that prov… --- ## [GSA just claimed $13B in "suspected" procurement fraud. That word is doing a lot of work](https://community.iquasar.com/t/gsa-just-claimed-13b-in-suspected-procurement-fraud-that-word-is-doing-a-lot-of-work/649)
**Author:** [@farrukhshah](https://community.iquasar.com/u/farrukhshah)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/gsa-just-claimed-13b-in-suspected-procurement-fraud-that-word-is-doing-a-lot-of-work/649 "2026-08-27T08:58:12Z")
GSA announced it uncovered $13 billion in suspected procurement fraud since March 2026, calling it the largest fraud bust in agency history. The number showed up on fraud.gov, the White House’s fraud ledger, tied to V… --- ## [TEIS IV Positions Contractors for Army IT Modernization, Cybersecurity, and Global Systems Engineering Support](https://community.iquasar.com/t/teis-iv-positions-contractors-for-army-it-modernization-cybersecurity-and-global-systems-engineering-support/645)
**Author:** [@Younis](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Younis)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/teis-iv-positions-contractors-for-army-it-modernization-cybersecurity-and-global-systems-engineering-support/645 "2026-08-25T17:19:28Z")
The U.S. Army is advancing the Total Engineering and Integration Services IV (TEIS IV) acquisition, a major multiple-award contract vehicle that will support the mission of the United States Army Information Systems E… [Next page](https://community.iquasar.com/latest.md?page=1)