MARAD Launches Cargo Preference Classes, Planning for Tariffs & Trade Wars and more news
You’re Invited: Category Management Event
Wednesday, October 9
Please join us for the next government-wide category management virtual event!
What: A learning and information session for industry, hosted by the Office of Management and Budget and the Government-wide Category Management Program Management Office.
Did you know that many of the data tools and dashboards used for government-wide category management—previously available only to government users—now are available to the public on the Category Management D2D Analytics platform?
These are the same tools and dashboards the federal acquisition workforce uses to perform market research and track progress toward category management goals.
Join us to learn about these dashboards that cover a wide range of category management stakeholders’ needs—including information that agencies use to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), increase their small-business utilization, and access the first-ever government-wide contract inventory with Spend Under Management tier information. There also are robust tools on the Acquisition Gateway to help agencies forecast upcoming contracting opportunities, learn about awarded labor rates and more.
MARAD Launches Cargo Preference Training Classes
(The Maritime Executive) The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has launched newly-accredited, web-based training courses on cargo preference laws and regulations. The courses were developed in collaboration with Defense Acquisition University and are intended to enhance comprehension of and compliance with cargo preference laws by other federal agencies, supporting contractors and loan and grant recipients. READ MORE
US Military Triggers ‘Turbo Activation’ of Wartime Sealift Ships
(Defense News) USTRANSCOM has triggered one the largest surges of its aging sealift ships in decades, a critical test of the country’s ability to move heavy equipment overseas in the event of a major conflict. The so-called turbo activation encompasses 28 ships from a fleet of logistics ships spread across Military Sealift Command, the Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration. READ MORE
Negotiators Kick Off Defense Bill Talks Amid Border Wall, Iran Debates
(The Hill) House and Senate negotiators have officially kicked off talks to reconcile their versions of the annual defense policy bill with several thorny debates looming over them. READ MORE
Trump’s National Security Aides Refining Possible Iran Options
(The New York Times) Senior national security officials from across the government met on Thursday to refine a list of potential targets to strike in Iran, should President Trump order a military retaliation for missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil fields last weekend, officials said. READ MORE
Are Meetings with Industry Actually Accelerating Military Acquisitions?
(C4ISRNet) Military leaders say they are determined to find faster ways to buy cutting-edge technologies. To that end, the Department of Defense has increased the number of engagements with industry, launched alternative contracting vehicles, and taken other steps to streamline innovation more effectively. READ MORE
Industry News
Why Supply Chains Need the Right Kind of Planning to Deal with Tariffs and Trade Wars
(Harvard Business Review) Another month, another tariff or trade announcement, another supply chain disruption. Companies today compete in a volatile, fast-moving environment—but their supply chains don’t always match the speed of business. READ MORE
California Governor Signs Law That Threatens Independent Contractor Status
(Heavy Duty Trucking) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 18 signed Assembly Bill 5 into law, a measure that trucking interests in the state say will wipe out the ability to use owner-operators. READ MORE
Will Saudi Oil Strikes Hamper Supply Chains?
(CFO) The impact will likely be mostly in the short term, but only if there isn’t another production-depleting incident. READ MORE
The Hospitality Industry Has More Than 1 Million Unfilled Jobs Across the US, and It’s Taking a Toll on Some of the Basic Hotel Amenities that Guests Expect
(Business Insider) More people are traveling than ever. That means business is thriving for hotels across the country—but it’s getting to the point where they can’t keep up with staffing needs. READ MORE
IMO 2020 Could Shift Freight Patterns, Increase Costs
(Transport Topics) A panel representing the shipping industry spoke about the looming International Maritime Organization mandate that will require cargo vessels to burn low-sulfur diesel, and shippers and carriers said the requirements could lead to price increases or the rerouting of freight. READ MORE
Member Highlights
The US Navy’s New Autonomous Refueling Drone Takes Historic First Flight
(Defense News) The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone, destined to be the first carrier-launched autonomous unmanned aircraft to be integrated into the service’s power strike arm, took its first test flight from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Boeing announced Thursday. READ MORE
Drone Deliveries Coming Soon, as Wing Unveils Plans for First-of-Its-Kind Trial with FedEx and Walgreens
(FedEx) Pilot program to launch in Virginia next month; Wing drones to transport select FedEx and Walgreens deliveries directly to homes through the air. READ MORE
ARC to Hold Naming Ceremony to Celebrate the Newest Additions to the US-Flag Fleet: M/V ARC Resolve, M/V ARC Integrity, M/V ARC Independence
(American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier) In a ceremony to be held Friday in the Port of Baltimore, American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) will christen the ARC Resolve, ARC Integrity and the ARC Independence, welcoming three of the most versatile and militarily-useful ships to the US-flag commercial fleet. ARC’s three, new vessels will be enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program, and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). READ MORE
NLR Renewed Power Delivers Reliability and Efficiency
(Anacostia Rail Holdings) Two upgraded GP15 locomotives that were put into service this year will provide Northern Lines Railway (NLR) customers with reliable service for years to come. READ MORE
CLEANCOR Announces Broad Push to Supply LNG in the Midwest
(SEACOR) CLEANCOR Energy Solutions (“CLEANCOR”), a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) (“SEACOR”), announced today a joint initiative to increase the use and supply of liquefied (“LNG”) and compressed (“CNG”) natural gas to a range of customers in the U.S. leveraging the footprint of its sister company, SCF Marine Inc. (“SCF”) throughout the Mississippi River system. READ MORE
Regulatory Calendar Updates
(Transportation Institute) Stay up-to-date on important government developments with Transportation Institute’s regulatory calendar. READ MORE
NDTA News & Events
NDTA 75th Anniversary
There’s still time to make a donation to NDTA’s 75th Anniversary Fund, for more information and to donate please visit: www.ndtahq.com/ndta-75th-anniversary-funds-campaign/.
Find NDTA chapter events on the NDTA CALENDAR.
The NDTAGram is produced weekly by NDTA, a non-profit, non-political educational association, for informational purposes only. We want to hear from you! For questions or comments please email sharon@ndtahq.com. To change your subscription, email leah@ndtahq.com.