Category Archives: Press Release

New York, NY | March 20, 2026 – Ariel Partners announced today that it has been awarded a position on the General Services Administration’s POLARIS Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) through its joint venture, Ariel-BCT Partners, LLC, with Ariel Partners serving as the managing member.  

POLARIS is one of the federal government’s most significant next-generation contract vehicles, designed to provide agencies with streamlined access to advanced information technology and professional services. The contract is structured as a multiple-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity vehicle with a ceiling value of up to $1 trillion and a ten-year performance period extending through 2036, making it one of the largest IT services procurement vehicles in the federal marketplace.

The award was made within the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) pool, a highly competitive category that received hundreds of proposals and resulted in a limited number of selected vendors across the country.  Ariel-BCT Partners JV is one of only 47 WOSB awardees and 102 total awardees across the WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and small business pools

Through this award, Ariel-BCT Partners is now eligible to compete for task orders across the federal government, enabling agencies to rapidly procure services in areas such as:

• Digital transformation and cloud solutions
• Artificial intelligence and data analytics
• Cybersecurity and zero-trust architectures
• Systems engineering and software development
• Program management and enterprise IT modernization

The Ariel–BCP Partners Joint Venture brings together BCT Partners and Ariel Partners, formalized on July 26, 2022, to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning IT solutions, grants management, social services, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). BCT Partners contributes deep expertise in grants management, housing and social services, records management, and DEI training, while Ariel Partners offers strengths in legacy modernization, cloud migration, software development, agile governance, coaching, training and government transformation.  Together, Ariel–BCP Partners represents a highly capable and experienced supplier within the POLARIS ecosystem, well-positioned to support complex, mission-critical initiatives across both DOD and civilian agencies.

“POLARIS represents a critical gateway for delivering next-generation technology solutions across the federal government,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “This award reflects the strength of our joint venture and our ability to compete and deliver at the highest levels of federal contracting.”

The POLARIS GWAC is designed to simplify procurement and expand access to emerging technologies, allowing agencies to issue task orders quickly without launching new full and open competitions. This enables faster delivery of capabilities in support of evolving federal priorities, including modernization, cybersecurity, and data-driven decision-making.

For Ariel Partners, this award significantly expands its federal contracting footprint and reinforces its position as a trusted partner for delivering high-impact technology solutions at scale.

New York, NY | January 27, 2026 – Ariel Partners is proud to announce that we have been officially certified as a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

PANYNJ is the bi-state operator responsible for some of the most complex, high-risk, and high-visibility infrastructure in the United States. It runs the region’s major international airports, including JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia. It operates the PATH rail system beneath the Hudson River. It owns and manages the busiest bridge in the world, the George Washington Bridge, along with the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels that move hundreds of thousands of people into and out of Manhattan every day. It oversees one of the largest ports in North America and even manages major commercial real estate and sports infrastructure.

The Authority is currently undertaking several major construction initiatives, including the multi-billiondollar redevelopment of the region’s three primary airports: JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia. The $10 billion Midtown Bus Terminal replacement project began construction in late 2025 and is intended to replace the aging Port Authority terminal with a modern facility by 2032. In addition, while the $16 billion Gateway Hudson Tunnel project is temporarily on hold due to federal funding discussions, it remains a critical safety priority, as the existing 116-year-old tunnel tubes were severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy and will ultimately require replacement.

Adding this certification to Ariel Partners’ existing M/WBE certifications at both the city and state levels expands the firm’s eligibility to bid on a broad range of contracts with New York City, New York State, and the Port Authority. Many of these opportunities are set aside, either fully or partially, for minority- and women-owned businesses. In addition, authority granted under the NYC M/WBE program enables city agencies to directly award contracts of up to $1.5 million without formal competition, providing agencies with an expedited path to engage qualified partners.

“This certification reflects our continued commitment to operational excellence, transparency, and long-term partnership with public-sector organizations,” said Shilpa Strong, CEO of Ariel Partners. “We are pleased to have received the PANYNJ M/WBE certification, which further expands our qualifications and enhances our ability to pursue new business opportunities. We are proud to be recognized by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and look forward to supporting its mission through high-quality delivery and trusted collaboration.”

New York, NY | January 27, 2026 – Ariel Partners is proud to announce that we have been officially certified as a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

PANYNJ is the bi-state operator responsible for some of the most complex, high-risk, and high-visibility infrastructure in the United States. It runs the region’s major international airports, including JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia. It operates the PATH rail system beneath the Hudson River. It owns and manages the busiest bridge in the world, the George Washington Bridge, along with the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels that move hundreds of thousands of people into and out of Manhattan every day. It oversees one of the largest ports in North America and even manages major commercial real estate and sports infrastructure.

The Authority is currently undertaking several major construction initiatives, including the multi-billiondollar redevelopment of the region’s three primary airports: JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia. The $10 billion Midtown Bus Terminal replacement project began construction in late 2025 and is intended to replace the aging Port Authority terminal with a modern facility by 2032. In addition, while the $16 billion Gateway Hudson Tunnel project is temporarily on hold due to federal funding discussions, it remains a critical safety priority, as the existing 116-year-old tunnel tubes were severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy and will ultimately require replacement.

Adding this certification to Ariel Partners’ existing M/WBE certifications at both the city and state levels expands the firm’s eligibility to bid on a broad range of contracts with New York City, New York State, and the Port Authority. Many of these opportunities are set aside, either fully or partially, for minority- and women-owned businesses. In addition, authority granted under the NYC M/WBE program enables city agencies to directly award contracts of up to $1.5 million without formal competition, providing agencies with an expedited path to engage qualified partners.

“This certification reflects our continued commitment to operational excellence, transparency, and long-term partnership with public-sector organizations,” said Shilpa Strong, CEO of Ariel Partners. “We are pleased to have received the PANYNJ M/WBE certification, which further expands our qualifications and enhances our ability to pursue new business opportunities. We are proud to be recognized by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and look forward to supporting its mission through high-quality delivery and trusted collaboration.”

New York, NY | December 26, 2025 – Ariel Partners has become an authorized Resale Partner of ServiceNow, expanding our ability to support public-sector and enterprise customers that rely on the ServiceNow platform to manage mission-critical operations.

This designation enables Ariel Partners to directly support organizations that have already standardized on ServiceNow by streamlining access to licenses and aligning platform investments with operational and mission needs. The partnership reflects Ariel Partners’ commitment to working within its customers’ existing technology ecosystems while helping them maximize value from platforms they already trust.

ServiceNow is widely used across government agencies to support IT service management, enterprise workflows, and operational coordination. Many New York City agencies, in particular, depend on the platform as a foundational system of record. As a resale partner, Ariel Partners is better positioned to support these customers by reducing procurement friction and ensuring continuity across implementation, optimization, and long-term platform strategy.

“Many of our customers already rely on ServiceNow to deliver essential services,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “Becoming a resale partner allows us to better align with their environments, simplify access to the platform, and ensure their ServiceNow investments continue to support mission outcomes.”

The Resale Partner designation strengthens Ariel Partners’ ability to serve government and missiondriven organizations by combining platform access with deep delivery expertise, helping customers move faster while maintaining compliance, security, and operational rigor.

New York, NY | December 11, 2025 – Ariel Partners is proud to announce that we have been awarded a position on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (MA-IDIQ) contract. The SHIELD vehicle—valued at up to $151 billion over ten years—serves as a primary contracting backbone for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense architecture, enabling rapid acquisition and deployment of innovative capabilities to protect the U.S. homeland and allies from ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats.

As an SHIELD awardee, Ariel Partners is now eligible to compete for task orders supporting key elements of the Golden Dome for America system, a multi-layer, space- and ground-based missile defense network modeled conceptually on Israel’s Iron Dome but operating at a far larger, global scale.

“Golden Dome is one of the most consequential national security programs of our time,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “Being selected onto SHIELD positions Ariel Partners to bring our strengths in agile delivery, digital engineering, and AI-enabled decision support to a mission that literally safeguards millions of lives. We’re honored to contribute to this historic effort.”

The SHIELD IDIQ is explicitly designed to deliver innovative capabilities with speed and agility, leveraging digital engineering, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), open systems architectures, artificial intelligence, and machine learning where appropriate.

Under the SHIELD contract, Ariel Partners plans to focus on several of the 19 technical work areas identified by MDA, including:

• Research & Development and Prototyping: Rapid experimentation, proof-of-concept builds, and prototype integration to de-risk emerging technologies for Golden Dome deployment.
• Systems Engineering & Integration: Model-based systems engineering, interface definition, and integration of complex, multi-domain systems spanning space, air, land, sea, and cyber.
• Software, Data, and Analytics: DevSecOps pipelines, microservices, data fusion, and AI/ML analytics to enhance sensor-to-shooter timelines and decision advantage.
• Cybersecurity & Zero-Trust Architectures: Designing and hardening systems to operate securely in contested and cyber-degraded environments.
• Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis: Scenario modeling, wargaming, and performance analysis to validate Golden Dome architectures against advanced threat profiles.

New York, NY | November 10, 2025 – Ariel Partners is announcing today that it has completed its NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment, formally self-certifying compliance with the foundational cybersecurity requirements that underpin the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework.

This milestone aligns with the U.S. Department of Defense’s implementation of CMMC 2.0, which became effective on November 10, 2025, and marks the beginning of a phased rollout that will make cybersecurity compliance mandatory across the Defense Industrial Base by November 10, 2028. As part of Phase 1, contractors handling Federal Contract Information are required to complete annual selfassessments and submit results to the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System.

By completing its NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment, Ariel Partners has demonstrated compliance with the security controls required to protect Federal Contract Information and has established the baseline necessary for CMMC Level 1 alignment. This effort included defining system scope, evaluating security practices against the NIST assessment methodology, documenting controls, and submitting the required assessment information through official DoD channels.

“Protecting sensitive government information is a responsibility we take seriously,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “Completing our NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment ensures we are aligned with the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity expectations and prepared to support customers as CMMC requirements are phased into future contracts.”

NIST SP 800-171 serves as the technical foundation for CMMC Level 2, which applies to organizations that handle Controlled Unclassified Information. Ariel Partners has already initiated the next phase of its cybersecurity maturity journey and is actively working with a certified CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) to pursue official third-party certification at Level 2. Ariel Partners anticipates completing this assessment within the next four months.

This proactive approach reflects Ariel Partners’ commitment to operational discipline, risk management, and long-term compliance with evolving federal cybersecurity mandates. By aligning early with CMMC requirements, Ariel Partners is positioning itself to continue supporting Department of Defense and government customers as cybersecurity becomes a formal condition of contract award.

New York, NY | October 2, 2024 – Ariel Partners proudly announces its dual awards under the GSA OASIS+ contract vehicle. The company has been selected as an awardee on the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) track and an apparent awardee on the Small Business (SB) track. Ariel Partners will be working on the GS OASIS+ Contract as the managing member of the ICES-AP Joint Venture with Intelligence Consulting Enterprise Solutions Inc. (ICES). Ariel Partners has been awarded the Management and Advisory Domain as well as the Technical and Engineering Domain, which will enable us to provide a full range of management and consulting services as well as specific engineering, geoscience, or other technical professional services.

The GSA OASIS+ (One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services) contract is a Best-In-Class (BIC) contract vehicle designed to help federal agencies meet their procurement requirements for servicesbased solutions. OASIS+ is a suite of six multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a five-year base period and a five-year option term. Encompassing several domains such as program management, engineering, IT, and scientific services, OASIS+ provides agencies with efficient access to innovative expertise tailored to their unique needs.

With a 10-year performance period and a multi-billion-dollar ceiling, the OASIS+ contract enables federal agencies to procure comprehensive solutions while reducing administrative burden and procurement timelines. This aligns seamlessly with Ariel Partners’ commitment to delivering high-value, scalable services that address the complexities of federal operations.

“This award through our joint venture is a tremendous opportunity for Ariel Partners to expand our role in supporting federal agencies with transformative solutions,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “As the managing member of the ICES-AP Joint Venture, we are proud to bring our expertise in Agile transformation, digital modernization, and enterprise consulting to help federal clients achieve mission success.”

New York, NY | August 1, 2022 – Ariel Partners is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the Class 1 Systems Integration (SI) contract by the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as DOITT). This award underscores Ariel Partners’ commitment to delivering innovative technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of New York City. The award is for a potential duration of six (6) years, commencing on January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2029, an initial three (3) year term with one (1), three (3) year extension at the discretion of the City.

The NYC Office of Technology and Innovation aims to transform the city’s digital infrastructure, ensuring improved service delivery to all residents and businesses. The contract covers system design, implementation, and ongoing support to keep New York City’s digital infrastructure at the forefront of technological advancements. For New Yorkers, this means enhanced efficiency, reliability, and transparency in public services.

“Ariel Partners is deeply honored to receive this award. Our team’s dedication to robust and scalable technology solutions aligns perfectly with the city’s vision of a smarter, more connected urban environment,” said Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “This contract will enable us to implement systems integration solutions that will significantly improve the city’s technology landscape, benefiting millions of New Yorkers.”

The Systems Integration Services are available to all New York City agencies, departments, and offices.

Since 2016, Ariel Partners has a proven track record working with NYC Agencies, and this SI contract will leverage their extensive experience to support the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation’s strategic goals.

Moreover, Ariel Partners’ commitment to continuous improvement and innovation ensures that the technology solutions provided will evolve with the city’s needs. By fostering a collaborative environment, Ariel Partners will work closely with city officials and stakeholders to deliver exceptional outcomes and drive sustainable growth for the city’s technology ecosystem.

“Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers through innovative technology solutions,” added Craeg Strong. “Our customer-centric approach ensures that we understand and meet the unique needs of the communities we serve.”

Ariel is a certified minority and woman owned business headquartered in Times Square, NYC. Ariel provides digital services, coaching, training, and management consulting to government and commercial clients. Ariel holds a Top-Secret Facility clearance and is appraised at maturity level three by CMMI for both Development and Services. Ariel is certified ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 20000:2018, and ISO/IEC 27001-2013 compliant. Ariel has recently achieved 100% compliance with NIST 800-171 standards for exceptional cyber security, including all 110 controls required for the US Government DOD Cyber Maturity model (CMMC) level two compliance.

New York, NY | June 16, 2024 – Ariel Partners, a trailblazer in IT consulting and enterprise transformation, is proud to announce that we have become a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Gold Partner with Scaled Agile, Inc. This advancement reaffirms Ariel Partners’ unwavering commitment to empowering businesses with transformative agility. SAFe applies Lean-Agile practices and values and is currently the most well-known framework for applying Agile methods at large scales.

For our valued clientele, this progression signifies a pivotal enhancement in their journey towards agility and innovation. Through this achievement, our customers gain access to an elevated level of expertise and support, tailored to accelerate their digital evolution and drive tangible business outcomes. Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners explained: “We understand that SAFe is not for everyone. Nevertheless, the contributions SAFe has made to applying the benefits of Agility both within and beyond the confines of software teams are undeniable. SAFe offers a wealth of valuable information, training, and customizable framework configurations that every organization can explore.”

SAFe Gold Partner status confirms Ariel Partners’ position at the forefront of Agile thought leadership, reinforced by a proven track record of delivering impactful transformations across diverse industries. Through our collaborative partnership approach, we empower organizations to embrace agility at scale, foster innovation, and respond adeptly to market disruptions.

“Our transition to SAFe Gold Partner status signifies a significant milestone in our journey to empower organizations with the transformative power of agility,” affirms Craeg Strong, CTO of Ariel Partners. “We are poised to leverage this distinction to drive even greater value and success for our clients, propelling them towards sustained growth and competitiveness.”

Ariel Partners’ elevation to SAFe Gold Partner status provides our clients with assurance that we will continue to leverage the latest industry standards to help achieve agility at scale and increase business velocity. With this prestigious recognition, we stand ready to lead our clients towards a future defined by resilience, adaptability, and sustainable success.