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Partnership opportunities: On February 3 the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board will present “Israel-Virginia Technology Innovation and Collaboration,” a conference that will focus on trends in the U.S. and Israel in defense, aerospace, homeland security, border and infrastructure protection, and marine and land tactical surveillance. A delegation of 17 Israeli manufacturing companies will attend the event and there will be an opportunity to explore partnerships with these companies. Click here.

Look, no hands!: MITRE revealed its new Mobile Autonomous Systems Experimentation (MASE) Laboratory, an innovation facility located on its Tysons campus, that was established to improve research methodology on advanced autonomous technology, including drones, commercial aircraft, tanks and self-driving vehicles. Executive Mosaic covered the story.

X marks the spot: Reston-based X-Mode, a global provider of location data, acquired the location data assets of U.K.-based Location Sciences. As a result of the sale, X-Mode is now the largest location provider in Britain and a top provider in the European Union, according to WENY News.

Corporate caring: Reston-based Leidos is actively engaged in workplace initiatives to help fight the opioid epidemic. The company hosts town-hall meetings focused on opioid addiction and launched an internal public-awareness initiative. CEO Roger Krone distributed a CEO pledge to end opioid addiction that 60 corporate leaders around the country have signed so far. Find out more in Workforce.com.

In the works: Bisnow had an update on three developments in Tysons: The View at Tysons, The Mile and Tysons Central.  Plans for The View at Tysons include the 600-foot “Iconic Tower,” the tallest building between Philadelphia and Charlotte; The Mile is a 3 million square foot mixed-use development replacing 38 acres of office buildings; and Tysons Central is a “spec” 25-story office tower, a big vote of confidence in the area economy.

Iridium to the rescue: Tysons-based Iridium Communications was selected by The International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency, to provide Global Maritime Distress and Safety System satellite services for the agency’s maritime emergency operations. The satellite networks process distress information from mariners at sea and transmit navigational data to vessels, Executive Biz reported.

Decisive deal: Reston-based Whitney, Bradley & Brown, which provides professional services to the government, acquired Arlington-based engineering company Decisive Analytics Corp. in a deal to add greater engineering service offerings for defense agencies. Washington Technology decided to post a story.

Next stop, Fairfax County: Visit Fairfax, the non-profit organization that works to encourage tourism to Fairfax County, plans to promote a series of new initiatives to boost visitation in 2020, according to president and CEO Barry Biggar. Upcoming plans will capitalize on student and international markets and expand capabilities to host large conferences in Tysons, Biggar told Tysons Reporter.

Assessment connection: Reston-based QOMPLX, an intelligent-decision platform provider, and Dun & Bradstreet formed a partnership to provide more than 100,000 defense contractors and subcontractors with cybersecurity assessment and certification, according to Military Embedded Systems.

How’s it going?: The Washington Business Journal, in a story for subscribers, caught up with Bob Kipps, managing director and co-founder of Tysons-based investment bank KippsDeSanto & Co., five months after his firm was bought by Capital One Financial. Kipps said he is “already feeling the benefits of being part of a major business enterprise.”

Name that tune: Tysons-based Hilton launched “Tempo by Hilton,” a new lifestyle brand, that’s marketed toward “modern achievers.” The company plans up to 60 of these properties, including in Washington, D.C. The brand formed partnerships, including with Arianna Huffington’s New York-based behavior-change platform Thrive Global and culinary firm Blau + Associates. Forbes covered the story.

New designs: Fairfax engineering company BC Consultants has been acquired by Charlotte, N.C.-based LandDesign. The company will retain all 14 of its employees, will be renamed LandDesign and become LandDesign’s sixth office. The Washington Business Journal landed this story.

Talent bait: Monument Realty will add 300 apartments to a 13-acre Fairfax County office project at the Liberty View development near the Franconia-Springfield Metro station. Previously planned as entirely for office buildings, the development is now moving toward mixed-use, a growing trend in Fairfax County and other suburban jurisdictions as companies look to lease office space in amenity-rich, urban areas that will attract young talent, writes Jon Bannister in Bisnow.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County

CenturyLink inked a deal worth up to $1.6 billion to provide secure network services for the Department of Interior. Washington Business Journal

Liberty IT won a $380 million to help the Department of Veterans Affairs develop and manage an application programming interface platform. GovConWire

Leidos secured a potential seven-year, $110 million contract to refresh hardware and software for common driver trainer systems previously fielded by the Army. GovConWire

ManTech International Corporation won a $67 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command to provide scientific and technical information support to the command’s Systems Engineering Directorate. SIGNAL Magazine

Research Innovations won a multiple-award contract worth up to $48 million from the Army Geospatial Center (AGC). Under the deal, the company will help the AGC perform R&D activities related to rapid development, limited fielding and geospatial technology services. PotomacTechWire

Attain won a $30 million contract to acquire and retain contractor employees with technical experience. Homeland Security Today

Modern Technology Solutions secured a $11.1 million contract to mature the technologies developed in two previous contracts related to the acquisition and fusion of data for space situational assessments. SIGNAL Magazine

Booz Allen Hamilton won a $9 million contract to provide technical security team support services in support of the Pakistan F-16 program. Homeland Security Today

Featured business events

January 22 — The Silver Line and Your Bottom Line: Leveraging Growth with Metro Expansion. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.

February 3 — Israel-Virginia Technology Innovation and Collaboration. Hosted by FCEDA and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, a conference focused on trends in the U.S. and Israel in defense, aerospace, homeland security, border and infrastructure protection, and marine and land tactical surveillance. A delegation of 17 Israeli manufacturing companies will attend the event and there will be an opportunity for one-on-one meetings to explore partnerships with these companies. Click here.

February 4 — Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County. The FCEDA presents monthly workshops with our partners: the Fairfax County Government, Fairfax County-based Community Business Partnership, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Click here.