One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS): PESTLE Analysis [Nov-2025 Updated]

You're invested in One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS), so you need to know where the real leverage is right now. The company is sitting on a defense and AI boom, but that growth is caged by political and economic headwinds. We're looking at a 2025 landscape where increased US defense spending is the main engine, but high interest rates-currently above 5.0%-and mandatory, complex compliance like International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are the immediate costs. This isn't just about faster GPUs; it's about navigating Washington's budget cycles and the defintely real talent war for specialized high-performance computing (HPC) engineers.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Political factors

The political landscape for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) in 2025 is a double-edged sword: massive, targeted US defense spending is a huge tailwind, but the government's use of export controls on AI hardware introduces real, complex risks to your international revenue. Honestly, the biggest political factor is the US Department of Defense (DoD) budget, which is driving the shift to high-performance edge computing (HPeC) systems like yours.

Increased US defense spending drives demand for ruggedized edge computing.

The US government's focus on maintaining a technological edge, especially in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, directly fuels demand for OSS's ruggedized solutions. This isn't abstract spending; it's highly targeted. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the DoD requested $17.2 billion for Science and Technology (S&T) projects, and a significant chunk-about $4.9 billion-is specifically directed toward 'trusted AI and autonomy.' That's a clear signal. This investment underpins the need for your products to process sensor data and run AI models in harsh environments, like on aircraft, drones, and ships. Your Q3 2025 results showed the OSS segment revenue surged by 43.4%, defintely benefiting from increased production for defense clients.

The shift is from large, centralized data centers to distributed, real-time computing at the 'edge' of the battlefield. That's your sweet spot, and the government is paying for it. Your contract wins prove this: a record $6.5 million contract in Q1 2025 for high-performance servers for a U.S. Department of Defense program, plus a $5 million contract for the Navy's P-8A Poseidon Reconnaissance Aircraft. It's a massive opportunity, but it also creates revenue concentration risk.

Stricter export controls on AI hardware impact international sales and supply chain.

The US government is tightening the screws on technology transfer to strategic rivals, and that's a headwind for your international business, particularly your Bressner segment, which operates in Europe. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) introduced the 'AI Diffusion Framework' in January 2025, which restricts the export of advanced AI chips and related computing technologies to certain countries. While a plan to replace this framework was announced in May 2025, the underlying policy-preventing adversaries like China and Russia from acquiring military-enhancing AI tech-remains firm.

This means your supply chain and international sales team face new licensing hurdles and due diligence requirements. You have to be incredibly careful about the end-user (who ultimately uses the product) and end-use (what they use it for). You've had wins like a $340,000 order from an Asian defense contractor in Q3 2025, but future international sales of high-performance AI systems will require more legal and compliance overhead, potentially slowing down sales cycles.

Government contract volatility creates unpredictable revenue cycles.

The nature of government work means revenue is often 'lumpy,' not smooth. You saw this in 2025 with the temporary hurdle from a government shutdown, which can delay contract awards and funding. This unpredictability is a constant challenge for a company of your size. While your overall 2025 consolidated revenue guidance was raised to $63 million to $65 million, this figure is built on the timely execution of large, discrete government contracts.

Here's the quick math on the risk: If the delivery of the $6.5 million Q1 contract systems had been delayed from Q3 to Q4 due to a funding stop-gap, it would have materially impacted your Q3 consolidated revenue of $18.8 million. The strong book-to-bill ratio of 1.4 in Q3 2025 is encouraging, showing strong demand, but it doesn't eliminate the risk of payment and delivery delays inherent in working with the US government's budgeting process.

Geopolitical tensions accelerate military technology modernization programs.

Global instability, particularly tensions with China and Russia, is the primary accelerator for military modernization, which is a direct driver of your business. The US military is rapidly moving towards 'Joint All-Domain Command and Control' (JADC2), which requires the exact type of rugged, networked AI computing OSS provides. Your Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), announced in May 2025, to develop High Performance edge Computer (HPeC) solutions for maritime environments is a direct result of this geopolitical pressure.

This is a long-term opportunity because these are multi-year platform programs designed to establish OSS as an incumbent supplier. The goal is predictable, multi-year revenue, moving away from one-off sales. The focus on microelectronics onshoring, as seen in late 2025, also benefits domestic suppliers like OSS by securing the supply chain for critical military components.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Economic factors

High interest rates (e.g., above 5.0%) increase borrowing costs for CapEx.

The cost of capital remains a headwind, even with the Federal Reserve easing slightly. The benchmark Federal Funds Rate was recently lowered to a target range of 3.75%-4.00% in October 2025, down from earlier highs. While not above the 5.0% mark you mentioned, this is still a high rate environment compared to the near-zero rates of the past decade. This means any new capital expenditure (CapEx) or expansion plans for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS), which totaled around $1.4 million in the first nine months of 2025, will be more expensive to finance with debt. Honestly, every basis point matters when you are trying to reach full-year EBITDA break-even, which OSS is guiding for in 2025.

Here's the quick math: higher rates push up the discount rate in any discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation, which can pressure the stock price. Plus, it makes it harder for smaller companies like OSS to justify large, debt-funded investments in new manufacturing or R&D facilities. They have to rely more on their existing cash of $6.5 million (as of September 30, 2025, before the October offering) and the $12.5 million in gross proceeds raised in October 2025.

Inflationary pressures continue to raise component and labor costs.

Inflation is still sticky, forcing OSS to manage rising costs for components and specialized engineering talent. The US annual headline inflation rate (Consumer Price Index or CPI) was 3.0% in September 2025, with core inflation matching it at 3.0%. Forecasters expect the rate to hold around 3.10% by the end of the quarter. This persistent inflation directly impacts the cost of goods sold (COGS) for a hardware-heavy business like OSS, which relies on high-performance compute components.

The good news is that OSS has demonstrated pricing power and better product mix, pushing their consolidated gross margin up to 35.7% in the third quarter of 2025. But, the underlying pressure is real, especially in labor costs. The cost for specialized IT hardware and services, for example, has seen a -2.0% drop year-over-year, which is a defintely a tailwind, but other critical components and logistics costs keep rising.

Strong US dollar makes international sales less competitive on price.

The strength of the US Dollar (USD) is a clear hurdle for international sales, which are handled primarily through the Bressner segment. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar against a basket of six major currencies, has been strong, trading around 100.1455 as of November 25, 2025, and holding above the 100 level.

A strong dollar means that OSS products, priced in USD, become more expensive for international customers paying in Euros or other local currencies. This can dampen demand and pressure the margins of the Bressner segment, which saw a gross margin of 23.1% in Q1 2025, lower than the previous year. The company is forecasting full-year 2025 consolidated revenue of $63 million to $65 million, but currency effects could easily shave a point or two off that top line.

The currency headwind is a factor in international competition:

• Makes US-made products pricier abroad.
• Reduces the USD value of foreign-denominated sales.
• Increases the price competitiveness of European rivals.

Federal budget allocations for AI and defense remain a key revenue driver.

The most important economic tailwind for OSS is the massive and sustained US federal spending on defense and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The company's core OSS segment focuses on rugged compute for AI, machine learning, and sensor processing at the edge, directly aligning with federal priorities. The Department of Defense (DoD) budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 is substantial, totaling $849.8 billion.

More specifically, the DoD's request for Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) is $143.2 billion, which is where much of OSS's platform development work is funded. The direct AI budget is also significant: the DoD requested $1.8 billion for AI in FY 2025, and the broader federal budget request for agencies to integrate transformative AI applications is over $3 billion. This focus is why the OSS segment is projected to generate approximately $30 million to $32 million in revenue for the full year 2025, representing strong growth.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

Growing shortage of specialized AI and HPC engineering talent

The talent crunch for specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) engineers is a critical social factor, directly impacting One Stop Systems, Inc.'s (OSS) ability to scale its rugged edge computing solutions. The demand far outstrips the supply, creating a hyper-competitive hiring environment. This is a red alert situation for any high-tech hardware provider.

The White House's 2025 AI Talent Report highlights a critical shortage of AI professionals in the U.S. exceeding 4 million. Globally, the talent gap is stark: an estimated 4.2 million AI positions remain unfilled, with only 320,000 qualified developers available, according to 2025 data. This scarcity forces companies like OSS to compete not just on salary, but on mission and project complexity.

The financial and operational impact is clear. Companies struggling to hire AI talent stand at 87%, and the average time to fill these specialized roles is now 142 days. This delay can cost an average company $2.8 million annually in delayed AI initiatives. To attract the few available experts, AI developer salaries are rising at an alarming rate of 32% year-over-year. Honestly, you're paying a premium for every new hire, and the pool isn't getting deeper fast enough.

Increased public and governmental scrutiny on defense technology ethics

As OSS focuses heavily on defense and military applications for its high-performance edge computing solutions, the social debate around the ethics of defense technology is a growing risk. This scrutiny primarily centers on the use of Artificial Intelligence in autonomous systems, particularly the principle of 'meaningful human control' (MHC).

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has responded to this societal pressure by implementing its Responsible AI Strategy and Implementation Pathway, which specifically promotes a model of human-machine teaming over fully autonomous systems. This is a clear signal that the end-user (the government) is prioritizing accountability and avoiding bias in algorithmic decision-making.

The public concern is amplified by the closer integration of Silicon Valley with the military. For instance, the US Army established Detachment 201 in June 2025, an Executive Innovation Corps that integrated executives from companies like Palantir and OpenAI. This move, while intended to boost technological adoption, fuels ethical questions about conflicts of interest and the potential militarization of civilian technology. For OSS, this means every new defense product must be designed with ethics-by-design principles, ensuring transparency and traceability in algorithmic decisions.

Shift to remote and hybrid work models influences engineering team collaboration

The permanent shift to remote and hybrid work models is reshaping how specialized engineering teams, crucial for OSS's product development, collaborate and innovate. By the end of 2025, it's projected that 80% of software engineers will be working remotely, with 50% embracing hybrid models. This is the new normal, and it has both benefits and drawbacks for a hardware-focused company.

On the positive side, remote work provides access to a global talent pool, which is essential given the AI talent shortage. For engineering teams, adopting more flexible, decentralized organizational models is showing real performance gains. Companies using decentralized decision-making report 31% faster feature delivery.

Still, the nature of hardware development-which often requires physical access to prototypes and labs-makes full remote work difficult, and this is where the risk lies. About 19.3% of engineers agree that working-from-home reduces the creativity of project teams. For a company focused on cutting-edge, rugged hardware, balancing the need for hands-on, in-office collaboration with the employee preference for flexibility is defintely a challenge. You need to invest heavily in collaboration tools and virtual reality (VR) simulations to bridge the physical gap.

• 80% of software engineers are expected to be remote by end of 2025.
• Decentralized decision-making boosts feature delivery speed by 31%.
• 19.3% of engineers report reduced team creativity from remote work.

Demand for faster, more reliable data processing in public safety applications

The social demand for real-time, data-driven public safety is a significant market opportunity for OSS's high-speed, rugged edge computing platforms. Public safety agencies are rapidly integrating advanced technology to improve response times and situational awareness, which requires the kind of ultra-low-latency data processing OSS provides.

The overall Public Safety and Security market is a massive opportunity, valued at approximately $581.9 billion in 2025, and projected to grow at an 11.9% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). More specifically, the Public Safety Analytics market is valued at $14.60 billion in 2025 and is expanding at a 17.81% CAGR.

This growth is driven by the need to process massive data streams from sources like body cameras, mobile surveillance units, and environmental sensors. By 2025, a striking 90% of law enforcement agencies have adopted AI for real-time decision-making. This shift is moving data processing from centralized data centers to the 'edge'-in vehicles, on drones, and in portable command centers-which is OSS's core competency. The entire ecosystem is pivoting to ultra-fast communication enabled by 5G and edge computing.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

Rapid adoption of next-generation GPUs and AI accelerators requires constant product redesign.

You need to know that the relentless pace of AI hardware innovation is both a huge opportunity and a constant engineering challenge for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS). The shift to massive, power-hungry accelerators like NVIDIA's latest H100 and Grace CPU requires immediate product adaptation. OSS has responded by launching platforms that manage this extreme power and thermal load, a necessity for staying relevant in the high-performance computing (HPC) market.

The company's Ponto PCIe Gen 5 expansion platform, announced in 2025, is a perfect example. It supports up to 16 full-size GPUs in a 6U rack space, delivering over 16 kW of power. This dense architecture is critical for AI training and inference workloads, especially as the composable infrastructure market it targets is projected to surge from $5.87 billion in 2024 to an estimated $28.44 billion by 2031. Staying ahead means already moving to the next standard, which is why OSS is showcasing its new PCIe Gen 6 product line in late 2025.

Miniaturization and power efficiency are critical for edge computing systems.

The core of OSS's business is taking data center-class performance and making it work in harsh, size-constrained environments-the 'edge.' This means miniaturization and power-efficiency (SWAP-C: Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) are not optional; they are the product. The challenge is integrating accelerators pushing beyond 600 watts of power into a package the size of 'two shoe boxes put end to end.'

OSS's success here is tied to its deep involvement in defense programs, which demand strict adherence to open-architecture standards. Here's a quick look at the 2025 context:

• Defense Compliance: New rugged server portfolios are fully compliant with MOSA (Modular Open Systems Approach) and SOSA (Sensor Open Systems Architecture).
• Product Focus: The company is developing a hybrid product combining high-performance commercial accelerators with military-standard VPX cards to meet both performance and form-factor requirements.
• Financial Signal: The OSS segment's gross margin reached 45.6% in Q3 2025, up from 43.2% (excluding a charge) in the prior year, suggesting a profitable mix of these high-value, custom-engineered edge solutions.

You can't sell a supercomputer to a tank crew if it won't fit or overheats. That's the simple truth.

5G and satellite connectivity enable new deployment scenarios for ruggedized servers.

The proliferation of high-bandwidth, low-latency communication technologies like 5G and next-generation satellite links is fundamentally changing where high-performance compute can be deployed. For OSS, this means their ruggedized servers can be placed further out, closer to the data source, on platforms that were previously too remote or bandwidth-limited.

This is defintely a key driver in the defense sector, where OSS is seeing significant traction. Their systems are deployed on platforms like the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft and U.S. Army ground vehicles (Stryker, Bradley, Abrams). The ability of their hybrid systems to support VPX cards with integrated satellite communications is a direct enabler for these new deployment scenarios, allowing real-time data processing and transmission from anywhere.

This focus is translating directly into revenue visibility. The OSS segment secured record bookings of $25.4 million in the first half of 2025, a strong indicator of sustained demand for these connected, rugged platforms.

Cybersecurity threats demand continuous, defintely more robust hardware-level security.

As compute moves to the edge, the attack surface expands dramatically. For a company heavily involved in defense, like OSS, hardware-level security is not a feature but a mandate. While the search results don't detail a specific 2025 security product, their enterprise-class systems integrate proprietary hardware management to address this risk at the foundational level.

The central component is the OSS Unified Baseboard Management Controller (U-BMC). This proprietary software and hardware layer provides secure, low-level control and monitoring of the system, which is crucial for maintaining integrity in deployed environments. The U-BMC handles:

• Real-time system monitoring.
• Dynamic fan controls and GPU power throttling.
• Unified system management across multiple devices.

This foundational control is the first line of defense against hardware tampering and unauthorized access, especially important for military contracts where security is paramount. The company's full-year 2025 consolidated revenue guidance of $63 million to $65 million suggests that customers, particularly in defense, trust their integrated, rugged solutions.

Finance: Track the OSS segment's gross margin on the new PCIe Gen 6 products to confirm profitability is maintained under the higher-power demands.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

Compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is mandatory for defense work.

You cannot operate in the defense sector, which is a core growth area for One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS), without strict adherence to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This is non-negotiable. The regulations control the export of defense articles, services, and technical data, and since OSS provides rugged Enterprise Class compute solutions for mission-critical defense applications, their products are often classified as defense articles.

The financial burden of compliance is increasing. Effective January 2025, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) finalized increases to its registration fees. Given OSS's growing number of defense contracts-including a $6.5 million contract for a U.S. Department of Defense program and a $5 million U.S. Navy contract in 2025-they likely fall into the highest bracket, Tier 3, which is for registrants with more than five favorable determinations (licenses/authorizations) in the prior 12 months.

Here's the quick math on the fee structure alone, which is only a fraction of the total compliance cost:

• Tier 1 Base Annual Fee: $3,000 (a 33.1% increase).
• Tier 3 Calculated Annual Fee: $4,000 plus $1,100 times the number of favorable determinations over five.

Non-compliance is not just a paperwork issue; it carries severe penalties. Civil fines can reach up to $500,000 per violation or twice the transaction amount, and criminal fines can be up to $1 million per violation. That's a huge risk for a company with a full-year 2025 consolidated revenue guidance of $63 million - $65 million.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliance adds complexity to bidding and reporting.

Working with the U.S. government means navigating the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its supplements, which govern the entire federal procurement process. This adds significant complexity to the bidding, accounting, and reporting processes. Every contract, like the $6.5 million server contract OSS secured in 2025, is subject to these rules, which dictate everything from cost allowability to subcontracting plans.

To be fair, the regulatory environment is in flux with the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) launched in August 2025, which aims to eliminate one-third of non-statutory requirements. This could defintely reduce some administrative overhead long-term. Still, near-term, compliance teams must monitor and adapt to continuous changes.

One concrete example of a recent change is the threshold for the Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan, which was raised to $700,000 as of October 1, 2025. This means OSS must ensure its internal policies and supply chain audits meet this standard for any new contract or modification above that new threshold.

Data privacy and security laws (e.g., CMMC for defense) increase compliance costs.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 is the most critical new legal requirement impacting OSS's defense business, which accounted for 24% of its Q1 2025 revenue. Since OSS handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for the Department of Defense (DoD), achieving CMMC Level 2 certification is mandatory for new contracts starting in fiscal year 2025.

The compliance cost is substantial and must be factored into contract pricing.

This isn't just a cost; it's a barrier to entry for competitors. OSS's proactive investment in CMMC compliance gives them a competitive edge in bidding on new DoD programs, like the one that led to the $6.5 million contract.

Patent litigation risks in the competitive high-performance computing market.

The high-performance computing (HPC) and ruggedized server market is highly competitive and patent-dense, making patent litigation a persistent and expensive risk. OSS's core technology-PCIe/Switch Fabric technology and rugged system design-is in a domain frequently targeted by Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs), also known as patent trolls.

Litigation risk is high because the technology involves complex system claims. For example, in a highly relevant 2024 case, CloudofChange, LLC v. NCR Corporation, the Federal Circuit vacated a $13.2 million infringement award, clarifying the test for infringement of system claims when multiple entities (like a vendor and a customer) use different parts of the system. This ruling, while a win for the defendant, highlights the legal uncertainty and high-dollar exposure in the server and system claim space where OSS operates.

The core risk is twofold:

• Defense Costs: Defending a single patent infringement lawsuit can cost millions, even if you win.
• Injunction Risk: A successful injunction could halt production and sales of key product lines, jeopardizing revenue from major contracts like the $5 million U.S. Navy deal.

The action here is clear: Finance needs to ensure the legal budget for 2026 accounts for a potential $500,000 to $1.5 million in annual IP defense and maintenance costs, even without active litigation. You need a war chest for IP.

One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

E-waste regulations require sustainable disposal and recycling of old hardware.

You're a hardware company, so the global tightening of e-waste regulations hits your business model directly. Effective January 1, 2025, the Basel Convention amendments significantly changed the rules for international shipments of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). This is a big deal because it now subjects even non-hazardous e-waste and scrap to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, meaning you need written consent from importing and transit countries before shipping.

This new PIC requirement adds administrative cost and complexity to your global logistics, especially for the end-of-life management of your rugged systems sold internationally. Plus, the sheer volume is rising: global e-waste generation is projected to increase to 82 billion kilograms by 2030, up from 62 billion kilograms in 2022. You defintely need a robust, certified recycling partner to manage this risk and maintain compliance with key trading partners like the European Union, which has its own strict Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives.

Supply chain mandates push for conflict-free minerals and reduced carbon footprint.

Your defense and government clients demand a clean supply chain, and the regulatory environment in 2025 makes this non-negotiable. The Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation require rigorous due diligence on the sourcing of 3TG minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold). Honestly, enhanced verification requirements impose substantial administrative costs, requiring independent third-party verification of mineral origins and comprehensive supplier audits.

Beyond minerals, the focus is shifting to carbon footprint. The EU's new Battery Regulation mandates that manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries disclose their carbon footprint by February 18, 2025, which is a leading indicator for all electronics components. Your challenge is integrating carbon footprint tracking into your component sourcing, especially for the high-density computing boards and power supplies that drive your High-Performance Computing (HPC) solutions.

Here's the quick math on your supply chain risk exposure:

• Compliance Cost: Increased audit and documentation costs for 3TG minerals.
• Geopolitical Risk: Exposure to supply disruptions due to intensified conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Product Risk: Potential exclusion from new EU markets if carbon footprint data is not available for battery-embedded products.

Energy consumption of HPC solutions is a growing concern for data center clients.

The core value proposition of One Stop Systems, Inc. is bringing data center performance to the rugged 'edge'-but that performance comes with a massive power draw. Globally, data centers are projected to account for approximately 3-4% of total global electricity consumption by 2025. Your clients, especially those running AI workloads, are hyper-focused on efficiency.

AI training clusters consume 3-5 times more power than traditional workloads, so your hardware must address this. The industry average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), a measure of data center efficiency, sits around 1.57, but market leaders are now targeting PUE values of <1.2. This is where your product design becomes an environmental and financial opportunity. For your rugged edge systems, which often operate in smaller, non-traditional data centers, the focus is on Edge PUE optimization.

The adoption of liquid cooling is a key trend here, as it can deliver a PUE improvement of up to 45% compared with traditional air cooling. If your rugged systems can integrate efficient liquid cooling solutions, you gain a significant competitive edge, especially with defense customers who need maximum compute density in a small, power-constrained footprint.

Pressure from investors for transparent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.

Even as a smaller, publicly-traded company (projected 2025 revenue: $59 to $61 million), you cannot ignore the ESG reporting wave. Investors, including institutional giants, are increasingly using ESG metrics to screen investments. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which mandates extensive ESG reporting for large companies starting in 2025, sets the global standard that will trickle down to your supply chain partners and even your own reporting.

You need to start measuring your environmental impact now. Over 10,000 companies have already committed to Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated climate targets as of 2025, which signals that setting formal, verifiable reduction goals is fast becoming best practice. Your investors will soon ask for Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions data, even if you are not yet subject to the EU's mandates.

Here is a summary of the key 2025 environmental compliance and efficiency metrics impacting your business:

Next Step: Finance: Draft a 13-week cash view by Friday, specifically modeling the impact of a 15% delay in two major government contract payments to stress-test liquidity.