SAIC CEO Calls for a New National Security Innovation Ecosystem

In a world where threats are evolving faster than acquisition cycles, even our language might need an upgrade.Speaking at the Atlantic Council this week, Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), did more than give a standard keynote. She challenged the very foundation of how we think about defense-industry collaboration, starting with the language we use.

“In many ways, our country is part of an emerging national security innovation ecosystem,” she said. “What was defense is now national security. We’ve moved beyond physical perimeter security of our own borders.”

Let that sink in.The term “Defense Industrial Base” (or DIB for short) has been around since the Cold War. It conjures up images of massive contractors churning out tanks, ships, and missiles, a hardware-first world where the biggest players held all the cards.But Townes-Whitley says those days are over, or at least, they should be. And she’s not alone in that thinking.

The security landscape has shifted from traditional warfighting to something far more complex: cyber intrusions, satellite warfare, infrastructure sabotage, information ops, and yes, even software-driven supply chain manipulation.As Townes-Whitley put it, today’s national security ecosystem includes much more than the Pentagon. It’s made up of:

Critical infrastructure providers, Cybersecurity firms, Space tech innovators, Software developers and cloud hyperscalers, Startups and academia, Venture capital firms and yes, integrators like SAIC.

One of the more powerful parts of Townes-Whitley’s talk came when she shifted from the technical to the philosophical. She wasn’t just advocating for open systems in the traditional tech sense though she did emphasize the importance of open architecture for agility and innovation. She was pushing for something deeper: an open industry mindset.The tension here is familiar to many in the GovCon world. On one side, you have established defense contractors with decades of experience, cleared personnel, and massive infrastructure. On the other, you have tech disruptors with cutting-edge capabilities and a deep bench of talent—but little experience navigating the FAR or DFARS.

Townes-Whitley’s remarks aren’t just about semantics—they’re about strategy. The language we use shapes how we think, who we invite in, and what kinds of ideas we elevate.Maybe it’s time to retire the term “Defense Industrial Base” and embrace something more fitting: “National Security Innovation Ecosystem.”

📜 COMPLIANCE AND REGULATION UPDATES

The GSA is making waves again with its latest innovation – GO.Gov, a centralized travel platform set to transform how federal employees book and manage work trips. This GSA-led initiative will replace outdated systems across 124 civilian agencies, delivering an estimated $131 million in annual savings through the power of bulk purchasing under the OneGov program. As the GSA prepares for the November 2025 rollout, the agency highlights how GO.Gov exemplifies its mission to streamline government operations. The platform’s modern features – including mobile access, integrated charge cards, and real-time reporting – showcase the GSA’s commitment to improving both efficiency and user experience.With a 15-year, $930 million contract awarded to IBM, the GSA demonstrates its leadership in implementing shared services that reduce redundancy across federal agencies. This strategic move by the GSA is projected to save taxpayers nearly $2 billion over the contract period while standardizing travel processes government-wide.

GO.Gov represents another success story for the GSA, proving how centralized solutions can deliver both cost savings and operational improvements for the federal workforce

Small business contractors, rejoice! Delphinus Engineering just scored a major win in a federal procurement protest, proving that persistence pays off in the government contracting world. The Navy initially awarded an AIT services contract to Prism Maritime, but Delphinus challenged the decision, arguing the evaluation was flawed. The GAO agreed, ruling the Navy’s best-value tradeoff was irrational—both firms had similar strengths, yet only Prism got credit. Classic federal procurement misstep!

This case is a goldmine for small business contractors navigating government contracting pitfalls. Delphinus’s protest costs will be reimbursed, a rare but deserved outcome. The takeaway? Always scrutinize federal procurement evaluations, errors happen, and protests work! For small business contractors, this ruling reinforces the power of holding agencies accountable in government contracting.

Why Some RFPs Are Traps!

If you’ve ever responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP), you know the drill. You get excited. You see a big opportunity. You gather your team. You start writing. You stay up late. You hit “submit.” And then… nothing.

No reply. No feedback. Just silence.

Weeks later, you hear through the grapevine that someone else got the job. And not just anyone, the same vendor who always gets it. You start wondering: was this RFP even real? Or were you just there to make it look fair?

Welcome to the world of RFP traps.

What Is an RFP Trap?

An RFP trap is a proposal that looks open and competitive but is actually wired for someone else. It’s like being invited to a race where the winner was picked before the starting gun.

These RFPs waste your time, energy, and hope. They’re written in a way that favors one vendor, usually the incumbent or someone who helped write the RFP in the first place.

And yes, it happens more often than you think.

Why Do These Traps Exist?

Let’s be real. Not every buyer plays fair. Sometimes they’re required to issue an RFP, even if they already know who they want. So they write one that checks the box but quietly points to their favorite.

Other times, a vendor helps the buyer write the RFP. They shape the requirements to match their own product or service. It’s like writing a job description that only fits your best friend.

And sometimes, it’s just bad planning. The buyer doesn’t know what they want, so they copy-paste from old RFPs or use vague language. That leads to confusion, wasted effort, and poor results.

Red Flags to Watch For

Here are some signs that an RFP might be a trap:

1. Oddly Specific Requirements

If the RFP asks for features that only one vendor offers, that’s a clue. Like “must integrate with XYZ system using ABC protocol” — and you know only one company does that.

2. Short Deadlines

If the RFP drops on a Friday and is due Monday, it’s probably not meant for you. Someone else already had a head start.

3. Vague Scope

If the RFP is full of buzzwords but light on details, it might be a placeholder. The buyer may not know what they want — or they already picked someone and don’t care.

4. No Q&A or Contact

If you can’t ask questions or get clarity, that’s a problem. Good RFPs welcome dialogue. Bad ones shut it down.

5. History of Repeat Winners

If the same vendor wins every time, even when others submit strong proposals, something’s off.

6. Too Many Requirements for a Small Budget

If the RFP asks for the moon but offers peanuts, it’s either unrealistic or already tailored to someone who can cut corners.

What You Can Do About It

You don’t have to fall into the trap. Here’s how to protect your time and sanity:

1. Qualify Hard

Before you respond, ask yourself: is this a good fit? Do we meet the core requirements? Do we have a real shot?

If not, walk away. It’s okay to say no.

2. Ask Questions

Reach out to the contact person. Ask how the RFP was developed. Ask if there’s an incumbent. Ask what the must-haves are.

If they dodge your questions or give vague answers, that’s a sign.

3. Look for Shaping

Read the RFP closely. Does the language match a specific vendor’s website or product? That’s shaping. Be cautious.

4. Talk to the Buyer

If you have a relationship with the buyer, use it. Ask them directly: “Is this a real opportunity for us?” You’d be surprised how honest people can be when asked nicely.

5. Decline Politely

If you suspect the RFP is wired, you can bow out with grace. Say something like, “We appreciate the opportunity, but we don’t believe this aligns with our strengths at this time.”

When to Take the Risk Anyway

Sometimes, even a wired RFP is worth responding to. Maybe you want to get your name in front of the buyer. Maybe you want to practice your proposal skills. Maybe you want to build a content library.

How to Spot a Good RFP

Not all RFPs are traps. Some are fair, clear, and worth your time. Here’s what a good one looks like:

• Clear scope and goals
• Reasonable timeline
• Open Q&A process
• Transparent evaluation criteria
• Budget that matches the work
• No weird requirements

When you see one of these, go for it. 

Trust Builds Over Time, Not One Proposal

Buyers remember people who ask smart questions. Who decline professionally. Who don’t rush into every shiny opportunity. That builds trust. And when they do have a fair RFP, they might think of you first.

So don’t treat every RFP like a make-or-break moment. It’s just one step in a longer dance.

Stay sharp. Stay kind. Keep building.

University of Oklahoma Wins $8.8M Air Force Contract to Revolutionize Additive Manufacturing for Sustainment

The University of Oklahoma (OU) has just secured a major win in the defense innovation space, earning an $8.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to lead research and development in the rapidly evolving field of additive manufacturing (AM). The award, issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, supports Phase Two of a broader initiative to modernize the Air Force’s logistics and maintenance operations. With the potential to reshape how the military repairs and sustains aircraft, this contract puts OU at the center of a mission that blends advanced engineering with real-world defense readiness.

Under the contract, OU will develop a cross-platform AM repair framework with built-in quality assurance protocols. In addition, the university is tasked with creating a performance-based qualification framework that will allow additive-manufactured parts to be validated for use in aircraft systems, including highly sensitive avionics. This means the work isn’t just theoretical , it’s directly tied to operational performance and safety in mission-critical environments. OU’s research will also explore advanced manufacturing techniques that can support sustainment strategies, ensuring the Air Force is prepared with scalable, flexible maintenance solutions for the future.What makes this contract even more notable is OU’s leadership role. While many would expect such work to go to a large defense prime or federally funded research center, the University of Oklahoma continues to prove itself as a heavyweight in aerospace and advanced manufacturing research. This award affirms the growing role of universities in delivering breakthrough defense technologies and solutions, particularly when it comes to early-stage research and applied innovation. OU’s combination of academic depth and hands-on expertise makes it uniquely qualified to take on this challenge.

This contract is funded with Fiscal Year 2024 research and development dollars, and work will be conducted at OU’s facilities in Norman, Oklahoma. The period of performance extends through October 15, 2028, giving the university nearly four years to develop, refine, and test its frameworks and technologies. Notably, while this was a competitive contract, only one proposal was ultimately received as an indication of how specialized this work is and how few institutions are equipped to handle it.OU’s success is also a reminder of the power of collaboration between academia and government. By leveraging the intellectual resources of the university, the Air Force gains access to cutting-edge research while helping to shape the next generation of scientists and engineers. For OU, the contract reinforces its growing reputation as a national leader in defense-related research and gives its faculty and students a direct line into some of the most pressing technological challenges facing the military today.

This award is a win for OU; it’s a win for the future of sustainment innovation. By developing scalable, certifiable frameworks for additive manufacturing, the university is helping transform a promising technology into a reliable, mission-ready solution. In doing so, OU is supporting not just the Air Force, but the entire defense ecosystem, ensuring aircraft remain mission-capable no matter where or when the need arises.