Resources
Below you will find a collection of useful resources for companies that are interested in doing business with the federal government. Included are blog posts, news items, links to external resources and more. Use the filters and search to find exactly what you are looking for.
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office provides a useful and overdue assessment of where the federal government actually stands on quantum.
The conclusion is not that the United States lacks strategy or commitment. In fact, the opposite is true. Federal investment, policy direction, and research activity around quantum technologies have been sustained and deliberate.
The issue, as the report makes clear, is that this strategy has not yet been translated into a consistent, government-wide execution model.
Most discussions around post-quantum cryptography (PQC) still frame it as a long-term concern something to monitor, plan for, and revisit in a few years.
That framing is now outdated.
We recently conducted a webinar with Carahsoft where we analyzed the federal market for artificial intelligence. The discussion wasn’t based on general market narratives or high-level strategy it was grounded in something much more practical: the AI use cases that federal agencies are required to publish.
These inventories, driven by policies such as Executive Order 13960 and the Advancing American AI Act, provide a directional view into where AI is actually being deployed across government.
AI adoption across the U.S. Federal Government is accelerating, bringing new priorities, funding opportunities and buying pathways. Stay competitive by understanding where agencies are investing in AI, how they plan to buy it and what vendors need to know to align with current government requirements.
Webinar recording from March 24, 2026
The U.S. government’s push to rapidly expand drone capabilities is creating one of the most significant emerging technology markets in defense and national security. But the opportunity goes far beyond building drones.
It includes AI, software, autonomy, communications, sensors, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure and for many technology companies, those layers represent the real entry point into the market.
The federal government is shifting from AI experimentation to AI procurement, and that shift requires something very different: rules governing how AI systems interact with government data, infrastructure, and decision-making processes.
A recently released draft clause from the General Services Administration titled “Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems” provides one of the clearest signals yet of what those rules will look like.
The Department of War’s (DoW) newly released Acquisition Transformation Strategy marks the most consequential shift in defense buying in decades and it is being designed explicitly to unlock commercial technology at speed. While headlines focus on weapons and platforms, the real transformation is in how DoW intends to acquire software, data, AI, cyber, autonomy, digital infrastructure and mission applications across the enterprise.
Webinar recording from February 25, 2026
Federal agencies are now required under OMB Memorandum M-23-02 and National Security Memorandum-10 to inventory cryptographic assets, identify quantum-vulnerable algorithms and report progress toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness. Yet many agencies are unsure what these mandates actually require in practice, how discovery and inventory tools fit into compliance or how to determine whether their current environments provide sufficient cryptographic visibility.
Webinar recording from February 19, 2026
For years, selling software into the federal government often meant pursuing a large program opportunity, negotiating a broad deployment, and structuring a multi-year agreement from the outset. Even when pilots were used, they were often treated as stepping stones toward immediate enterprise adoption.
Quantum sensing is post feasibility but pre-scale. The market is moving from RDT&E into transition activity, characterized by operationally relevant testing, platform integration pilots, and limited early procurements rather than broad programs of record. Progress toward production is gated less by performance claims than by repeatability in operational environments, SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) and environmental qualification, integration burden (hardware and software), and a credible sustainment path. As a result, the near-term market is defined by funded validation and transition efforts that precede wider production adoption. Platform manufacturers including UAV and UUV OEMs typically engage as downstream adopters once government-funded programs have materially reduced integration and performance risk.
This post is Part Two of a Marion Square blog series examining the Department of War’s shift to the Warfighting Acquisition System and what it means for commercial technology vendors.
The new acquisition strategy responds to this reality by introducing something DoW did not previously have in a formal, empowered way: portfolio level ownership of digital and software capabilities.
That is where the new Portfolio Manager role comes in.
One thing is clear these days: the federal tech landscape is not standing still. Agencies are under more pressure to justify spend, defend outcomes, and align investments directly to mission objectives. Whether you are sharpening your federal messaging or entering the space for the first time, the rules of engagement are shifting.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Strategy outlining how AI will be governed, deployed, and scaled across healthcare delivery, public health, and research.
While the FY 2026 HHS Budget does not create a single “AI program,” it does fund the strategy in practice through investments in technology modernization, data infrastructure, public health analytics, digital health, and research systems.
Last week’s release of Transforming the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfighting Acquisition System is likely the most consequential change in defense acquisition policy in decades and it sends a very clear message to the industrial base, startups, and commercial vendors:
Speed, modularity, and mission impact now outrank process, compliance, and tradition.
For companies building AI, cybersecurity, PQC, quantum, edge compute, cloud, analytics, sensors, or advanced manufacturing technologies, this is not just a policy update.
It’s an open door.
The headlines are all about gridlock: the Senate racing to pass a three-bill “minibus,” the House waiting for the green light, and another short-term continuing resolution (CR) keeping the lights on only through January 30. It’s tempting to read this as a signal for technology companies to pause their government efforts.
That would be a mistake.
While Washington wrestles over process, the underlying mission priorities driving government IT, cybersecurity, and AI investments haven’t changed. Agencies are still under binding mandates from Zero Trust and post-quantum encryption to AI governance and data modernization that require continued action regardless of the budget dance on Capitol Hill.
At Marion Square, we see this as one of the best times to be positioning for growth.
When Congress fails to pass funding legislation, the federal government officially shuts down. For federal contractors, a shutdown introduces a period of significant uncertainty, affecting ongoing projects, payment schedules, and future business opportunities.
The federal government’s FY26 budget cycle begins October 1st, and agencies are already shaping acquisition plans. Billions are being directed toward AI, cybersecurity, post-quantum readiness, infrastructure, and defense making this one of the largest opportunities yet for technology companies
Whether you’re already working with federal agencies or just starting to explore the market, the message is clear: the time to act is now.
Many organizations make the mistake of treating quantum readiness and the deployment of a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) as distinct initiatives. In this webinar, ISARA and Marion Square discuss the connections between these two undertakings and explain why having a strong cryptographic posture management program is indispensable to adopting a Quantum-Ready ZTA.
Webinar recording from August 12, 2025
On August 6, 2025, Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced bipartisan legislation that could significantly accelerate the nation’s migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The bill, known informally as the National Quantum Cybersecurity Strategy Act, underscores a growing federal urgency: quantum computing is no longer just a research milestone it’s a looming cybersecurity disruptor.
For technology providers, government contractors, and agencies alike, this legislation represents both a challenge and a market defining opportunity.
As federal agencies accelerate their timelines for post-quantum encryption (PQE) readiness under NSM-10, OMB M-23-02, and forthcoming FIPS 140-3 mandates, a foundational requirement is completing a comprehensive cryptographic inventory and discovery process. However, how agencies get there and what tools or partners they use can vary widely. In this timely webinar, co-hosted by Marion Square and Square Peg Technologies, we broke down the evolving landscape of PQE inventory requirements and provided a practical guide to the approaches agencies are taking to meet them.
Webinar recording from July 24, 2025
If you're in AI, cybersecurity, infrastructure, or defense tech and still sitting on the sidelines of the federal market, now is the time to move. A recent Financial Times article called attention to the surge of interest and investment in defense tech start-ups. But the trend goes far beyond drones and weapons systems. It’s a signal that the U.S. government is actively buying, planning, and modernizing and the window for engaging in FY 26 is already open.
As of July 21, 2025, the federal Fiscal Year 2026 budget has not been fully passed. While both chambers of Congress have made substantial progress on individual appropriations bills, the complete budget package awaits final approval. FY2026 officially began on October 1, 2025, creating pressure for lawmakers to finalize funding or resort to temporary measures.
GSA's OneGov initiative is reshaping how the federal government buys IT software and while the spotlight is currently on major vendors like Google, Adobe, and Salesforce, the implications extend far beyond the big players.
Federal IT spending continues to grow, but how agencies choose technology partners is changing fast. GSA’s OneGov initiative and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) mandate are redefining what it means to be a competitive vendor in today’s procurement landscape.
The federal buying landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With the rise of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), agency decision-makers are now laser-focused on one thing: results. Features and functionality alone no longer win contracts — vendors must clearly demonstrate how their solutions drive measurable business outcomes aligned to mission priorities.
One of the most important developments in recent years arrives this week: the Department of Defense's formal launch of SWIFT the Software-Initiated Fast Track.
Backed by the Office of the DoD CIO and spearheaded by Katie Arrington, SWIFT is designed to radically accelerate the acquisition and deployment of commercial software across the Department. More than a program, SWIFT represents a shift in philosophy – one that software companies must understand and adapt to if they want to stay competitive in defense.
Since 2018, federal quantum funding has grown steadily year-over-year from just over $400 million in FY19 to nearly $1 billion in FY23. This surge is anchored by the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA), which authorized over $1.2 billion in its first phase to support national labs, academia, and private-sector collaboration.
On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR) into law for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, a move that significantly impacts various sectors, including technology companies. This legislation funds the government at FY24 enacted levels through September 30, 2025, accompanied by notable increases in defense spending and reductions in non-defense allocations. For technology companies working with or adjacent to government programs, this CR brings both opportunities and challenges.
Budget reconciliation is an internal tool that Congress uses to adjust revenue and spending but does not directly fund government operations. The real impact for vendors comes from the appropriations process, which determines actual agency budgets and purchasing power. Understanding where we are in the process helps you better time your federal sales efforts and align with government priorities.
With 1,700 AI use cases identified in U.S. Government agencies, FY25 will be an important year for both established and emerging tech companies focused on AI and machine learning. Gain critical insights into the rapidly evolving government AI landscape and learn how to align your strategies with federal priorities.
Webinar Recording from February 19, 2025