Horizon cutting-room links: Monday, 24 November 2025

"2026 NDAA: DoD CPARS Changes Coming," SmallGovCon

The draft 2026 NDAAs in Congress propose nearly identical changes to DOD’s Contractor Performance Assessment Report System (CPARS) to create a more objective and fact-based assessment process, focusing on specific negative performance events.

• Both the House and Senate NDAAs aim to overhaul CPARS by eliminating positive performance assessments and focusing solely on specific negative events, using a standardized scoring mechanism.
• Mandatory reporting of negative performance events includes issues like defective products, delinquent deliveries, and significant cybersecurity breaches, which may lead to more stringent evaluations for contractors.
• The updated CPARS processes are expected to take effect 180 days after the NDAA is enacted, with a goal of increasing efficiency and reducing subjectivity in performance ratings, potentially complicating contractor interactions with Contracting Officers in the future.

“Defense Contractors Fight Back Against NDAA Repair Language,” Roll Call

US defense contractors are mounting a significant lobbying and public relations effort to challenge a provision in the Senate-passed NDAA that imposes new rules for Pentagon access to contractors’ intellectual property.

• The Senate’s right-to-repair provision would require contractors to provide the government with critical data necessary for maintaining and operating military equipment, a move that defense contractors argue could jeopardize innovation and proprietary rights.
• Supporters, including military leaders and some lawmakers, contend that ensuring access to maintenance data is essential for keeping military equipment operational and cost-effective, potentially saving billions in repair costs.
• Critics of the provision warn that forcing contractors to disclose intellectual property could deter investment in new technologies, likening the situation to a subscription model where control over critical data remains with the contractor rather than the military.

"OPM’s HR Modernization Strategy Sets Next Sight on USA Hire," Federal News Network

As OPM focuses on modernizing human resources across the federal government, it is also revamping the USA Hire platform to enhance the efficiency of candidate assessments.

• OPM has initiated an RFI to explore commercial technologies that can improve the USA Hire platform, which currently serves around 1 million applicants annually.
• The RFI emphasizes the need for advanced assessment capabilities, including secure online delivery, AI integration, and the ability to score both closed-end and open-ended responses automatically.
• Industry experts suggest that OPM's RFI aims to address long-standing integration issues with USA Staffing, which could encourage more agencies to adopt USA Hire for their hiring processes.

"The FAA Just Told Airlines to Avoid Flying Over Venezuela… Carriers Stopped Doing That Weeks Ago," Paddle Your Own Kanoo

The FAA has advised US airlines to steer clear of Venezuelan airspace due to increasing military tensions and the risk of civilian aircraft being mistakenly targeted by ground defense systems.

• The FAA issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to notify pilots of safety concerns related to military activity in Venezuela, which could pose risks to civilian flights.
• The warning specifically pertains to the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM), which covers an extensive area of over 1.2 million square kilometers.
• US carriers had already ceased flying over Venezuela weeks prior to the FAA's official warning, reflecting an industry trend toward prioritizing safety amid geopolitical tensions.