Gates Will Present President With Cost-cutting Options [Defense.gov News Article] - Assistant secretary of defense for public affairs Douglas B. Wilson said Defense Secretary Robert Gates will present President Obama with options and accompanying pros and cons for slashing another $400 billion from its budget by 2023. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell noted Gates’ assertion that reducing forces structure and military capabilities will be necessary to accomplish significant cuts. [Link via Defense Industry Daily]

Your program has breached Nunn-McCurdy? Yawn. [DoD Buzz] – DOD released a report on Friday detailing the cost and performance of major weapons programs, as well as details on Nunn-McCurdy breaches (when a program’s costs grow too much). Federal Times reveals the report showed a four percent increase ($64 billion) over the already projected program price tag for the 95 major programs.

Four companies get NASA funding for space vehicles [Washington Post] – NASA doled out $80 million to Sierra Nevada Corp. for space plane development and gave capsule funding to Boeing for $92.3 million, Blue Origin for $22 million and SpaceX for $75 million. Commercial Spaceflight Federation executive director John Gedmark says the money brings the United States closer to having flying capability to the International Space Station. 

Most Smithsonian funding intact under budget deal [WTOP/AP] – While the 2011 budget includes a $1.8 million cut for the Smithsonian Institution, $125 million is still set aside for construction and revitalization projects, including $20 million for planning and design of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Funding for a new museum devoted to black history is still pending in the 2012 budget.

FAPIIS First Impressions [Project on Government Oversight] – In Neil Gordon’s review of the new public Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), the POGO investigator concludes, “In summary, the public FAPIIS site is a good first step, but it has a long way to go before it can become a truly indispensable resource." His complaints include a clunky search engine, needing four characters for a name search and the lack of a site guide and frequently asked questions page.

Lockheed Martin developing ninja robots [Christian Science Monitor] – Lockheed Martin is developing a robot that can avoid human detection and avoids areas where escape would be difficult or that are well-lit. The robots would use satellite imagery to create a basic map of its surroundings, then fills in the blanks with a scanning laser. [Link via War Is Business]

DHS Seeks e-Records Vendor [NextGov] – The Department of Homeland Security has put out a request for information for an electronic health record system to manage health care for detained foreign nationals. Responses are due by April 25, with the installation planned for fiscal 2012 under a five-year contract, according to Government Health IT.

Q & A Session – Retaining Former GS Pay Grade if Rehired [Federal Times] – A formerly-terminated federal employee asks if he will retain his former GS grade and/or step when his contractor position is converted to a government position. Answer: No, he will be hired at the level set for the new position.

DOD Contract Announcements
Contract Announcements for April 18, 2011 [Defense.gov] - CBY Design Builders won a $674.9 million Army Corps of Engineers contract to construct gates and pumps to prevent flooding of canals surrounding New Orleans. L-3 Communications and Perot Systems each received a $75 million Navy contract modification to provide submarine work at the Norfolk Ship Support Activity. See the full announcement for more details and other awards.

Today’s GovCon Con
N.J. defense contractor pleads guilty to fraud [Newark Star-Ledger] - Staff Gasket Manufacturing Corporation and its president Eric Helf pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a case involving non-U.S.-made military replacement parts. The company was accused of costing DOD $751,091 by using cheaper parts from other nations, including China, and providing false information in bids and in response to government questioning.

GovCon Recon is the GovWin.com News Team's twice-daily posting highlighting federal government contracting news and analysis from around the GovCon world. Get delivered to your inbox, free! Have an item you'd like to suggest for an upcoming Recon? Send it to tips@govwin.com