Happy Friday! March Madness is upon us! For you college basketball fans, it’s a great time of year. The upsets keep things exciting, even if they do bust everyone’s brackets. I guess that’s what makes March Madness so maddening and exciting–one can never predict the outcome. Listening to the news out of the federal government can sometimes feel like March Madness.

So, before you start your weekend of studying those basketball stats, here are some things that happened in federal government contracting this week. These include updates on government spending bills, AI, and use of apprentices. Have a wonderful weekend.

• With FOIA backlogs on the rise, do agencies need direct-hire authority?
• SBA Administrator Guzman Announces 2024 National Small Business Week Award Winners
• VA Seeks Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to Provide Software Tool, Information Submission Support
• The New JADC2—Explaining CJADC2 & How Companies Are Meeting DOD’s Needs
• If you’re a budget numbers nerd, this is the week to watch
• FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order: Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums
• How the Federal Government Is Continuing AI Progress Post-Executive Order
• Committee on Small Business Holds Hearing Examining GAO Recommendations to Reduce Mismanagement at the SBA
• Additional Contractors Indicted for Rigging Bids and Defrauding the U.S. Military in South Korea
• Air Force Employee Indicted for Unlawful Disclosure of Classified National Defense Information
• House passes $460 billion package of spending bills. Senate expected to act before shutdown deadline
• White House presses agencies to use apprenticeships for skills-based hiring
• 5 Women-Owned Defense Contracting Companies That Are Crushing It

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