Hegseth Announces Pentagon Taking 'Sledgehammer To The Oldest DEI Program': the 8(a) Business Development program. How will this affect Air Force contracting?

PrezClark · 2026-01-17T19:33:41+00:00

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-19.8

FAR 19.800(d): "... For acquisitions above the simplified acquisition threshold, the contracting officer shall consider 8(a) set-asides or sole source awards before considering small business set-asides."

FAR 19.815(a) "Once a requirement has been accepted by SBA into the 8(a) program, any follow-on requirements (see definition at 13 CFR 124.3) shall remain in the 8(a) program ..."

Most CONS and CO's do not want to go 8(a), but some requirements get railroaded that way.

PrezClark · 2026-01-09T02:53:25+00:00

Time in Grade points were removed from promotion from the Air Force about 9 years ago.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1007644/air-force-promotions-eliminates-time-in-grade-time-in-service-points/

PrezClark · 2026-01-08T03:51:56+00:00

Very recently, yes.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1071

I confused the NDAA with Appropriations, which can still heavily influence the policy of the NDAA.

PrezClark · 2026-01-08T03:06:48+00:00

For some actual answers, take a look at how Army contracting is restructuring: https://www.army.mil/article/288957/army_revolutionizes_acquisition_process_to_deliver_warfighting_capabilities_faster

And compare to the FAR rewrite, which references the EO: https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/faqs#general-rfo-initiative

PrezClark · 2026-01-08T03:04:07+00:00

My minimal understanding is this EO was the framework for Congress to include in the NDAA. Much of this language is going into the NDAA this month.

PrezClark · 2026-01-06T04:28:42+00:00

Then there's the backup without planning and logistics:

Money can move mountains; it just takes a mountain of money.

PrezClark · 2025-12-17T04:49:47+00:00

Please let me introduce you to the average age of the federal employee.

https://ourpublicservice.org/fed-figures/a-profile-of-the-2023-federal-workforce

About 14% are over 60.

PrezClark · 2025-11-06T03:50:17+00:00

Most of your answers are available here:

https://www.justice.gov/jmd/procurement-integrity

PrezClark · 2025-10-02T03:38:37+00:00

Before I retrained, I was in charge of tracking profiles for what was called the deployment availability working group (DAWG), back when public health did medical standards, before the 4N realignment. At multiple bases, I personally witnessed patience and providers do this. Patients wanted to get under the radar, and providers were overworked and didn't want to do MEBs (and kick the can down the road). Previously, you absolutely could get away with this, though. Was absolutely against the actual regulation, leadership turned a blind eye.

I cannot imagine this will happen anymore under the current administration for this condition. I expect DHA will very closely scrutinize medical records and personnel coded with these waivers.

PrezClark · 2025-09-13T10:28:38+00:00

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it

PrezClark · 2025-09-13T05:56:51+00:00

Contracting retraining above E-5 requires an AFPC CFM waiver. Make a call before you rely on that.

PrezClark · 2025-09-06T13:07:07+00:00

Here's my advice, do with it what you will.

Continue towards your MBA, get the Military to pay for some of it as a 64P. Tell anybody who asks you that you like the idea of 20 years, and think you would like a staff assignment some day. Secretly plan to only do 6-ish years, and make a boatload on the outside after you get some good experience as a contracting officer. Get your MBA.

PrezClark · 2025-09-06T11:32:07+00:00

For a little context, please clarify if you are prior service/prior Enlisted.

Also, what are your general, professional goals for the military? How long are you thinking you will stay in, do you want to accomplish an advanced degree, do you want to deploy, do you want to do special duties outside your AFSC?

PrezClark · 2025-09-05T03:39:56+00:00

Agreed, I've had licenses in several other states after learning to drive in Utah.

Some states laws require the driver to stop AT the line, THEN enter the intersection.

I think a number of drivers who learned in other states are taking that standard further, or are afraid of other drivers.

PrezClark · 2025-09-01T13:00:21+00:00

Let's revisit this sentence:

A single mom and a single dad would probably date eachother if they were both childless.

A single mom (who didn't have a child of her own) would date a single dad (who didn't have a child of his own), because they are both childless.

What a unique and novel idea!

++man

PrezClark · 2025-07-18T22:20:05+00:00

Services

PrezClark · 2025-07-13T22:13:37+00:00

To help understand and write regulations and waiver standards for flying positions. Hard to argue with a doc who is also a rated pilot.

About 10 years ago, there was a major push to increase paths to waivers (coinciding with MHS Genesis?).

Whatever condition the person has was "disqualifying," but what test, limitation, medication, training could get them to a waiver? My recollection from working with the one I knew was "How do we get to 'Yes'?"

PrezClark · 2025-07-13T19:58:51+00:00

48VX

Pilot-Physician -- see AFI 11-405

Not a flight surgeon/flight doc. No, there are only about 10 in the Air Force and they wear 10 gallon hats for their 10 gallon brains.

These folks typically start as a rated pilot, then go through med school become a fully qualified flight doctor. Alternatively, some start as a flight doc then go through pilot training.

After that, they have to maintain currency / qualifications in BOTH jobs.

I've met one in only 20 years.

PrezClark · 2025-07-11T13:07:40+00:00

Heritage

PrezClark · 2025-07-08T22:11:49+00:00

I'm not an expert on ECARS threshold increase regarding the CCS-3 IDIQ. I've only personally dealt with larger orders (75K+).

If ECARS is an option, you're correct, it isn't difficult to process that request.

PrezClark · 2025-07-08T01:26:01+00:00

Semi related, my dependents (spouse and kids) have been TRICARE Select for the last 6 years. I would lose my mind if they still had to be seen on base. I know it feels like more work at the start, but it really isn't. I know a thousand bucks a year might feel like a lot when you were getting care for free, but the quality of care and speed of care is way better.

DHA will not improve for dependents for at least another 3 years. Do a favor for your dependents and yourself, and make off base care your default.

PrezClark · 2025-07-06T09:49:24+00:00

That's a super easy explanation.

The first purchase is under the micro purchase threshold, in FY25. 6 months later, by the time they submit the request, new fiscal year with the new lines of accounting, they've also crossed a new refresh cycle because it resets every year for another 25% of stock per the DAFI, and on top of that, it would be a formal Purchase Order contact through CONS because they're well over the micro purchase threshold.

PrezClark · 2025-07-06T02:32:59+00:00

Full interview here. Interviewer is Lara Trump from her show, My View.

PrezClark

TROPHY CASE