Rapid Fire Feb. 22, 2013: Sequester Threatens Bookings more than Backlog

• US defense acquisition undersecretary Frank Kendall encouraged his staff to start briefing their industry contacts about the effects of sequestration in a memo seen by Reuters. Comptroller Hale anticipates that new contracts are more likely to be delayed or cancelled than existing ones.

• But contracting officers do not necessarily know how the big picture affects them. In a Q&A posted by the USAF after an industry day dedicated to Depot On-Site Contract Augmentee Teams 3 (DOCAT3):

“Q [industry]: Will the hiring freeze impact/help this contract?

A [Air Force]: It is not known how the hiring freeze will impact the program. It may or may not increase the need for DOCATs.”

• Defense News reports that the Pentagon is going to delay payments to prime contractors to make sure the department does not run out of cash.