The Department of Defense budget is a blueprint for maximizing contract wins. This article explains how to use that blueprint to your advantage.
APEX & Vertx Partners strongly endorse the view that the DoD’s budget is a roadmap for prospective federal contractors. This is because, in the complex world of defense contracting, resource allocation shapes the trajectory of many military programs. At the heart of this process lies the Program Objective Memorandum (POM). The POM is a strategic recommendation for allocating resources to meet specific guidelines.
In this article, we’ll delve into the essence of POMs before exploring recent imperatives that chart the course for the U.S. Air Force in the coming fiscal years. Then, we’ll explain how these very imperatives lay the groundwork for future federal contract wins.
What are Program Objective Memorandums (POMs)?
A Program Objective Memorandum (POM) is a comprehensive plan presented by the services and defense agencies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). It outlines how resources, particularly funding, will be allocated over the next five years, aligning with the Defense Planning Guidance (DPG).
This meticulous planning occurs during the Programming Phase of the Program, Planning, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) process. From missions and objectives to alternative methods and resource allocation, a POM encapsulates the DoD’s strategic vision, offering a roadmap for its future.
With the significance of POMs made clear, let’s shift our focus to the recent developments in the U.S. Air Force. In 2022, the Secretary of the Air Force established seven Operational Imperatives (OIs) and three Cross-Cutting Operational Enablers (COEs). These imperatives and enablers are strategic objectives and integral components of Fiscal Year 2025 POM recommendations.
Operational Imperatives (OIs) & Cross-Cutting Operational Enablers (COEs)
These are the OIs the Air Force has decided to highlight:
- Resilient Space Order of Battle
- Advanced Battle Management System/Joint All-Domain Command & Control (AMBS/JADC2)
- Air, Ground & Sea Surface Moving Target Engagement
- Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems
- Resilient Forward Basing
- B-21 Family of Systems
- Readiness to Mobilize, Deploy, & Fight
These imperatives signify the Air Force’s concentrated efforts in specific operational domains. Three Cross-Cutting Operational Enablers (COEs) complement these imperatives: Electromagnetic Spectrum of Operations, Mobility, and Munitions. Together, they form the Air Force’s vision for the future.
Why POMs, OIs, and COEs matter to you
Why should small businesses and nontraditional federal contractors pay attention?
The OIs and COEs outlined by the Secretary of the Air Force are not mere directives. Couched in the jargon of the DoD, they are blueprints for the future. Contractors focusing on these areas will directly reap the rewards of aligning their technologies and operational concepts with the Air Force’s strategic priorities. That means contract wins for savvy entrepreneurs.
As the Air Force gears up for FY26 POM recommendations and beyond, contractors involved in Resilient Space Solutions, Advanced Battle Management Systems, Moving Target Engagement, Next Generation Air Dominance, Resilient Forward Basing, B-21 Systems, and Readiness technologies will find themselves at a special advantage for potential collaborations.
Additionally, those specializing in Electromagnetic Spectrum of Operations, Mobility, and Munitions may also enjoy an advantage.
Next Steps
If you’re aiming to craft a proposal, identifying which Operational Imperatives and Cross-Cutting Operational Enablers most closely align with your project is a good first step. Drafting your proposal with direct citations to the latest POM helps pique the interest of reviewers who can see you’re clued into the latest goings-on of the USAF.
Fusing the latest POM and the Air Force’s OIs and COEs presents a unique opportunity for contractors to understand the evolving defense landscape and actively shape it through innovative contributions aligned with the Air Force’s vision for the future. By embracing these imperatives, contractors can play a vital role in realizing strategic goals, ensuring a symbiotic relationship between national defense priorities and entrepreneurial innovation through generous contract wins.
Part of APEX and Vertx’s ongoing efforts is the rollout of proprietary software that can scan the Defense budget in mere seconds, aligning your business’s technological capabilities with the DoD’s goals. Working with Vertx Partners is a smart way to ensure you’re fully equipped to maximize your usage of the USAF’s stated POMs, OIs, and COEs.
Interested in discovering how your business aligns with the DoD and Air Force’s current goals? APEX and Vertx Partners have your back. Contact Vertx Partners today to receive a consultation on the best way forward for your business.