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CMCoEContracting Memes Center of Excellence

Daily acquisition brief // September 11, 2026

CMCoE Meme Intel: September 11, 2026

Expeditionary laptops refresh back to DVD and VGA, flight-critical fuel tanks meet questionable data rights, and a public notice announces a private RFQ.

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Security configuration / brand-name hardware

The Navy's expeditionary laptop 'refresh' adds DVD and VGA while removing every wireless connection.

Twenty-five Panasonic Toughbook 56 laptops must include legacy-friendly expansion modules while wireless, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, biometric, camera, microphone, and touch functions are absent or disabled.

How Do You Do, Fellow Kids reaction frame with the setup Expeditionary laptop refresh and the payoff DVD in. Wireless out.
Expeditionary laptop refresh. DVD in. Wireless out.

What happened

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division posted N6134026Q1028 on September 9 for 25 Panasonic Toughbook 56 Series laptops supporting the Air Combat Training Systems expeditionary program. The Women-Owned Small Business set-aside uses lowest-price-technically-acceptable evaluation and requires delivery within 120 days.

The approved configuration includes a DVD drive, smart-card reader, and VGA/serial/USB-A expansion module. At the same time, wireless, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, biometric, camera, microphone, and touchscreen capabilities must be absent or disabled. The brand-name determination says prior Lenovo use created separate inventory and classified-image maintenance burdens, while multiple authorized Panasonic resellers can still compete for the specified product.

Why CMCoE cares

A technology refresh can optimize for control, compatibility, and sustainment rather than consumer-style novelty. The requirement narrows product competition but preserves reseller competition, trading broader hardware choice for one managed configuration across disconnected or classified training environments.

Regulatory fine print

The specification does not eliminate every modern interface: it retains Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2, USB-C, TPM 2.0, and a removable encrypted solid-state drive. The wireless restrictions are deliberate security and configuration controls, not an accidental omission.

Sources

  1. SAM.gov - N6134026Q1028 expeditionary laptop refresh (SAM.gov, )
  2. GovTribe - N6134026Q1028 notice and attachment summaries (GovTribe, )
Data rights / source approval

The Navy says it has the aircraft fuel-tank data—and questions whether it may use it.

For 37 tanks, the presolicitation limits outreach to previously approved sources and warns that a new source approval normally cannot finish before award.

Confused Mr. Krabs reaction image with the setup Government: we have the data and the payoff Also government: can we use it?
Government: we have the data. Also government: can we use it?

What happened

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support posted N0038326RSB83 on September 10 for 37 aircraft fuel tanks, NSN 1R-1560-01-167-7486-VH. The notice states that the government's right to use data already in its possession is questionable.

The item requires government source approval because it is flight critical and/or the available technical data has not been found adequate for full and open competition. Only previously approved sources were solicited. A new source may submit the required approval package with its proposal, but the notice says approval normally takes too long for the award to wait.

Why CMCoE cares

Possessing technical data is not the same as holding the rights and validated package needed to compete a safety-sensitive spare. When rights or adequacy are unresolved, the practical supplier pool can remain limited, while would-be entrants face a source-approval path that may not affect the immediate buy.

Regulatory fine print

The notice uses the combined phrase 'flight critical and/or' technically inadequate, so it does not separately identify which condition applies. It also permits responsible sources to submit capability information; the government retains discretion over whether to compete the action.

Sources

  1. SAM.gov - N0038326RSB83 aircraft fuel-tank presolicitation (SAM.gov, )
  2. SAM Directory - N0038326RSB83 notice text and history (SAM Directory, )
Limited competition / RFQ distribution

A public VA notice says the coming RFQ will not be publicly posted.

The contracting officer plans to solicit a limited group selected through market research, while other interested firms may contact the office directly.

Well Yes, But Actually No reaction image with the setup This notice is public and the payoff The RFQ won't be public.
This notice is public. The RFQ won't be public.

What happened

VA Network Contracting Office 17 posted presolicitation notice 36C25726Q0814 on September 8 for readjustment counseling in Victoria, Texas. The notice says the forthcoming request for quotations will go to a limited number of suppliers identified through targeted market research and will not be publicly posted on SAM.gov.

The agency plans a small-business IDIQ for licensed professionals providing individual, group, couple, or family counseling to veterans referred by the Corpus Christi Vet Center. Firms not directly solicited may express interest to the contracting officer, although the notice says the government is not required to expand distribution beyond applicable requirements.

Why CMCoE cares

A public presolicitation notice can provide transparency without creating a public quotation portal. Suppliers outside the targeted list must notice the early signal and contact the buyer directly, so market-research reach and vendor awareness can materially shape who gets a chance to quote.

Regulatory fine print

The joke is about the two-stage publication choice, not veteran care or the counseling profession. The notice does not say that outside firms are categorically barred; it gives them a path to express interest while reserving the government's distribution decision.

Sources

  1. SAM.gov - 36C25726Q0814 presolicitation notice (SAM.gov, )
  2. FedOps - 36C25726Q0814 notice text and official-source link (FedOps, )