SerenaB

I position businesses to enter the federal government contracting market. Co-founder @Serellium w/ @LillyBertz.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@GoalsBDunn Yes, super interesting and such a range

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Today the Army dropped its latest call for small business innovation, and the topics are fascinating. Goal is to commercialize cutting-edge tech in 16 Army IP sets that will advance national security. Here's the list:

1. Fibers Loaded With a Zirconium (IV) Hydroxide to Capture/Degrade Toxic Chemicals

To develop and deploy a reactive filtration material integrated into fibers and textiles that can neutralize and degrade chemical warfare agents and other toxic industrial chemicals upon contact.

2. MXene Catalyst for Chemical Detox

To utilize the unique catalytic properties of MXene materials to create a highly efficient, rapidly deployable solution for the large-scale decontamination of sensitive equipment and personnel exposed to hazardous chemicals.

3. Hazardous Chemical Detoxification Using MOF beads

To engineer Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) materials into a bead format for practical application in capturing and breaking down a wide spectrum of airborne and waterborne chemical threats.

4. Advanced Sealing Interface Surveillance Technology

To provide real-time monitoring and diagnostics of seal integrity in critical mechanical and hydraulic systems, enabling predictive maintenance and preventing catastrophic failures.

5. Spatial Calibration for Accurate Long-Distance Measurement Using Infrared Cameras

To significantly enhance the accuracy of long-range targeting and surveillance by developing a novel calibration method that corrects for environmental and hardware-induced distortions in infrared imaging systems.

6. Precise Wide Area Ionosphere Correction Solution for Multi-Spectrum Alternative Sources of Space-Based PNT Signals

To ensure accurate and reliable PNT data in GPS-denied or degraded environments by developing a system that corrects for ionospheric distortions affecting alternative PNT signals.

7. Pleated Filtration Apparatus Having a Filter Membrane

To increase the efficiency and service life of filtration systems by designing an advanced pleated filter apparatus that maximizes surface area and optimizes flow dynamics.

8. Non-Contact Power Meter Independent of Placement of Field Sensors Around the Cable

To develop a robust and user-friendly power meter that can accurately measure electrical power without requiring precise sensor placement or direct contact, simplifying diagnostics and power management.

9. Production of High Energy-Dense Liquid Hydrocarbon From Low Energy-Dense Aqueous Solutions of Oxygen Containing Organic Compound(s)

To create a novel process for synthesizing energy-dense liquid fuels from readily available, low-energy organic compounds, enabling on-demand fuel production in austere environments.

10. Deformable Array of Semiconductor Devices

To create flexible and conformable electronic systems by developing arrays of semiconductor devices that can bend and stretch without breaking, enabling electronics to be integrated into unconventional form factors.

11. Dual Coil Inductive Energy Generator

To improve the efficiency and power output of inductive energy harvesting systems through an innovative dual-coil design, enabling more effective scavenging of ambient energy.

12. Voltage Step-Up Converter Circuits for Low Input Voltages

To design highly efficient power converter circuits that can operate with very low input voltages, enabling the effective use of low-power energy sources like solar cells, thermoelectric generators, or energy harvesting devices.

13. Autonomous UV and Brush Apparatus for Well Fouling Prevention (Wellbot)

To automate the cleaning and rehabilitation of water wells through a robotic system that uses UV light and brushes to remove and prevent biological and chemical fouling, maximizing well efficiency and consistency.

14. Photocatalytic Water Treatment

To develop and transition a solar-driven photocatalytic material into a functional water treatment system that degrades trace organic contaminants remaining after conventional treatment,
enabling low-cost, energy-efficient remediation for military and civilian use by integrating the composition-of-matter material into a prototype device.

15. High-Performance Cold Mix Asphalt System

To create a high-performance cold mix asphalt utilizing a reactive binder formulation that allows for the creation of durable pavement repairs and construction at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for energy-intensive hot-mixing equipment.

16. Rapidly Deployable Over Decking Systems

To engineer a lightweight, modular, configurable, and rapidly deployable decking system that can be quickly installed without the use of heavy machinery over damaged or uneven surfaces to create stable pathways for heavy vehicles and personnel.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Founders building in these areas can submit a 5-page white paper by June 30.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

The federal government spent over $11 billion on janitorial and facilities cleaning contracts in the last 3 fiscal years. Every military base. Every VA hospital. Every federal courthouse and office building under federal operation. Cleaned, regularly, under contract. Most of these contracts are multi-year with renewal options. Govt size standard for janitorial services allows companies up to $22 million in annual revenue to compete as a small business.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@DeckplateReal 4 decades!

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Shipbuilding requirements are bigger than ever right now. Today, the Navy dropped an RFI for the Next Generation Hospital Ship. The T-AH(X) will replace the only 2 and aging vessels currently serving as the Navy's hospital ships (Mercy & Comfort), which were converted 1970s-era tankers.

Some of the notional requirements for the T-AH(X):
- 6 operating rooms
- 250 hospital beds
- 149,372 square feet available for everything from Level II trauma center, to medical logistics management, a full-service lab, pharmacy, blood bank, radiology
- accommodations for 1k+ personnel

Govt seeking feedback by July 15.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

The Navy recently released its FY27 Shipbuilding Plan to build the Golden Fleet. Some wild stats:

The shipbuilding budget had doubled over the past 20 yrs, but the U.S. has no more ships now than in 2003.

President's budget request for FY27 includes a $65.8B "generational investment" in U.S. Navy shipbuilding.

Navy plans to add ~55 vessels in just 4 years, from 395 in FY27 to 450+ vessels by FY31.

Today 10% of shipbuilding work happens at distributed sites. Govt wants to get that to 50%.

One of the largest investment areas is $124.9B planned for submarine construction over the next 5 yrs.

Aggressive investments toward Medium Landing Ships, unmanned maritime systems, shipyard modernization, and distributed expeditionary logistics.

The plan depends on major workforce development including focusing on tech to upskill the workforce -- e.g. virtual reality trainers, computer-controlled machinery, and advanced manufacturing techniques.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@dantasman Amazing. Congrats!!

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

The VA recently announced $4.8 billion for facility maintenance and upgrades in FY2026, the largest NRM investment in the department's history.

$2.8 billion for infrastructure systems.

$1 billion for the electronic health record.

$500 million for boiler plants, elevators, and electrical.

$500 million for medical center modernization.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@GoalsBDunn Still time

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Govt obligates 30-40% of its entire annual contract spends between July-Sept, with Sept accounting for 12-15% of the entire year. Sole-source set-aside actions run roughly 3x the monthly average in Sept. For SDVOSBs, it gets even more concentrated with sole-source set-aside actions 3x higher in Sept.

I predict this year will be even more aggressive.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@najihkelley Worth exploring as they are calling for new tech, new processes, new ways to make dining services more efficient and better

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Food services for the military is a massive market. T2COM averages 55M+ meals per year across 70 dining facilities at 13 installations.

There's a pretty massive market behind all of that.

Earlier this year, Army issued a Commercial Solutions Opening to replace the legacy model entirely.

DINEX, the Army Dining Excellence Initiative, opened for nontraditional defense contractors specializing in commercial food service to bring campus-style dining to Army training bases.

New tech, expanded menus, efficient scheduling, and entirely new operational models that are just better.

And they're using OTAs for prototype projects.

This is how they framed it:

"Army is adopting a 'whiteboard' approach, inviting our commercial partners to propose their ideal, end-to-end dining solutions, unconstrained by the legacy processes that have historically hindered innovation."

Massive opportunity unfolding for innovative businesses in this space.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@GoalsBDunn I need to know

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Baller dual-use companies in robotics, UAS, nuclear, UUVs, satellites, etc out there but the best I came across this week? Goat grazing company that's done nearly $1M in federal contracts for Dept of Interior & USDA.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@wsenti Noted

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@ryanscottborman There is a major need for this.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

The Navy recently released its FY27 Shipbuilding Plan to build the Golden Fleet. Some wild stats:

The shipbuilding budget had doubled over the past 20 yrs, but the U.S. has no more ships now than in 2003.

President's budget request for FY27 includes a $65.8B "generational investment" in U.S. Navy shipbuilding.

Navy plans to add ~55 vessels in just 4 years, from 395 in FY27 to 450+ vessels by FY31.

Today 10% of shipbuilding work happens at distributed sites. Govt wants to get that to 50%.

One of the largest investment areas is $124.9B planned for submarine construction over the next 5 yrs.

Aggressive investments toward Medium Landing Ships, unmanned maritime systems, shipyard modernization, and distributed expeditionary logistics.

The plan depends on major workforce development including focusing on tech to upskill the workforce -- e.g. virtual reality trainers, computer-controlled machinery, and advanced manufacturing techniques.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

A VA company was awarded a $30M max-value IDIQ today to provide the Navy portable lube oil filtering equipment over the next 5 yrs.

Govt received 2 proposals.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

We are 39 days away from a huge nuclear milestone. July 4, 2026 is DOE's target date for achieving criticality in at least 3 advanced reactors under its pilot program. Incredible companies have been building in this space.

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

@MrBDelany Guess it depends who you ask

[SerenaB @RetVet99]

Autonomous underwater vehicles are cool. But way cooler are maintenance of dredging facilities ($2.4B spent in federal contracts over past 3 yrs).

Or maintenance and repair of ships, small craft, and floating docks ($1.38B).

Or repair of ship construction and repair facilities ($938M).