Defense Tech CEOs Urge Congress to Act on Pentagon Buying Rules

By Kerry Burgott

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Leaders of 19 software technology startups and small businesses send letter to Congress calling for changes to Pentagon innovation policy to keep pace with adversaries.

  • Letter, sent July 13, calls for fix to Small Business Innovation Research program’s so-called Valley of Death between government funding for continuing R&D and validation of a technology’s ability to be commercialized
  • Company heads also ask for clarification on procurement funding mechanisms for new Defense Department tech, including software-as-a-service
  • Industry heads want policy changes to go farther than provisions included in Congress’s annual defense policy bill; the House is voting on its version (H.R. 7900) today, while the Senate Armed Services Committee version awaits a floor vote

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Kerry Burgott in Washington at kburgott@bloomberg.net

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Amanda Allen at aallen83@bloomberg.net










Sarah Babbage

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