McLean federal IT provider B&A has acquired Reston-based Intelligent Waves, adding cybersecurity and secure-communications capabilities to its defense portfolio.

B&A, also known as Bart & Associates, announced the deal's completion on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Financial terms were not disclosed, according to GovCon Wire. The acquisition brings Intelligent Waves' proprietary technologies, including platforms called GRAYPATH, Phantom and STRIKE, under B&A's umbrella.

Intelligent Waves, founded in 2006, serves the Department of Defense, Special Operations Forces and the intelligence community. The firm had 100 to 499 employees as of a 2023 industry award nomination. GRAYPATH uses spread-spectrum technology to randomize and distribute message packets across multiple encrypted channels for non-attributable military communications. STRIKE, a tactical sensor-data platform, supports air-domain operations for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and the F-35 Joint Program Office.

B&A President and CEO Jonathan Evans called the deal a way to expand the company's talent and technology base. "This acquisition strengthens our ability to deliver secure, innovative, and scalable solutions to federal customers," Evans said in a statement released by DFW Capital Partners.

Intelligent Waves founder Jared Shepard said joining B&A creates an opportunity to expand the firm's mission and provide greater capability to customers.

The deal marks B&A's third acquisition since private equity firm DFW Capital Partners bought the company from Battle Investment Group in August 2024. Battle had purchased B&A in 2022. Under DFW's ownership, B&A acquired Hexagon US Federal's intelligence and defense portfolio in July 2025 and Tampa-based Celestar Holdings Corporation in January 2026.

B&A has supplied IT services to the federal government for more than 30 years. Its client list includes the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Senate. The company's core service lines cover cloud migration, software delivery, data science and human capital management.

Defense and technology firms signed more than 93% of new office leases in Northern Virginia since early 2025, according to JLL research cited by FFXnow.

No integration timeline or post-acquisition hiring plans have been announced.