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Now hear this: The FCEDA will kick off the next Procurement Academy series November 13 with a session that will highlight opportunities in government contracting for next-generation technology used by law-enforcement agencies, solutions for securing critical infrastructure, and cooperation between the United States and Israel on a range of technology-related projects. Click here to register.

Making their mark: Fairfax County companies make up 34 of Washington Business Journal’s 2019 “Fast 75” list of the region’s fastest-growing companies. Herndon-based B3 Group holds the top spot, with AbleVets of Chantilly, Freealliance.com of Tysons, Merrifield-based Axiologic Solutions, and Tysons-based Peridot Solutions and Ridgeline International also cracking the top 10. Check out the list for more on the companies represented as well as other interesting findings.

Valuable feedback: Tysons-based Binary Fountain raised more than $20 million to expand its customer-feedback software platform. According to the Washington Business Journal, the company is eyeing new markets and industries, including retail and hotels.

The force is with them: Microsoft, which has ops in Reston, got a big win Friday when the Defense Department picked the Redmond, Wash.-based firm for the heavily contested Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract. The award has a $10 billion (yes, with a b) ceiling and spans 10 years if all options are exercised, notes Adam Mazmanian of Federal Computer Week.

Hit the books: ManTech International announced that it is offering employees an all-tuition paid opportunity to pursue a bachelor of science degree in analytics offered through its partnership with Purdue University Global. According to the Washington Business Journal, executives hope the new program can help develop a data-science workforce from within its ranks.

Good business climate: Tysons-based LMI Ventures is partnering with The Climate Service (TCS) to help its clients assess their climate risks and create risk-mitigation strategies. Technical.ly DC reports that as part of the partnership, LMI will offer TCS’ analytics software called “Climanomics” to its federal clients.

Catch some rays: Reston-based SunBlock Systems, which focuses on digital forensics, eDiscovery and cyber-intelligence, merged with business advisory firm blumshapiro. A release picked up by citybizlist notes that the merger resulted in a new division of blumshapiro that focuses on global security and intelligence.

Newton’s laws of motion: A joint venture between Reston’s The Peter Lawrence Companies and MRP Realty to redevelop a portion of the Isaac Newton Square office park in Reston into a mixed-use development (mostly residential) received preliminary zoning approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Washington Business Journal reports that developers will now begin sketching out plans for the development.

The next big thing: Reston-based Science Applications International Corp. aims to integrate cloud technology into the prototype it is submitting in a competition to build an Infantry Squad Vehicle for the Army. The Washington Business Journal has more on the vehicle, which was created in partnership with Polaris, and the design competition.

All systems go: Herndon-Based SyApps, an IT provider, has been acquired by American CyberSystems, a global IT and consulting business. According to the release picked up by Potomac Tech Wire, this acquisition is part of a larger plan to grow ACS Group’s capabilities in technology.

Eyes wide open: Tysons-based Alarm.com acquired a majority stake in OpenEye, a cloud-managed commercial video surveillance company. Citybizlist published a release that shares more about what this expansion means for the two companies.

Soft target: Reston-based Comscore entered into an agreement with Premion to become the measurement provider for Premion’s advertising platforms. Citybizlist reports that the agreement will provide a more precise way for advertisers to reach their audience. 

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County:

• General Dynamics Information Technology will provide priority telecommunications services to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency of the Department of Homeland Security under a contract worth up to $325 million. Virginia Business
• Leidos won a $47 million follow-on contract to provide support services for the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Potomac Tech Wire carried the release.
• NCI Information Systems won a prime contract worth up to $269.9 million to provide IT support to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Joint Service Provider. Business Wire
• OBXtek won a follow-on contract to provide technical and staff support services to the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Training and Exercise Division. Potomac Tech Wire carried the release.

Featured business events

• November 5 — Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County. Presented by the FCEDA with its partners the Community Business Partnership, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, and the Fairfax County government. Click here.
• November 7 — Autonomous Technology Summit. The event will showcase Virginia’s leadership in autonomous systems technology and highlight best practices, new business models and technology transfer. Presented by the Northern Virginia Technology Council in partnership with the Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at the Center for Innovative Technology. Click here.
• November 13 — Procurement Academy: U.S.-Israel Innovation in Cyber, Homeland Security, Government.  An FCEDA Procurement Academy workshop that will highlight opportunities in government contracting for next-generation technology used by law-enforcement agencies, solutions for securing critical infrastructure, and cooperation between the United States and Israel on a range of technology-related projects. Event partners are BIRD, a bi-national industrial research and development foundation, and 22nd Century Technologies. Click here.
• November 14 — BL Small Business Expo. Visit with about 70 different exhibitors presenting a wide range of products and services that could help you enhance your business and/or life. Keynote speaker will be Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.
• November 14 — Opportunity Richmond Highway. Learn about new financial incentives for new development on Richmond Highway such as Opportunity Zones and the Economic Growth Improvement Program. Presented by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation and the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce. Speakers include Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.