Our Blog
To help clients avoid risks and perform successfully in the hyper-competitive environment of government contracting, The Federal Government Contracts & Procurement Blog addresses current and future issues affecting federal contractors and procurement professionals in both the Washington, D.C., area and throughout the United States. It provides insight on the complex web of rules and regulations that govern the procurement process.
Recent Blog Posts
SBIR/STTR Program Reauthorized Through 2031: What Small Business Contractors Need to Know
On April 13th, 2026, President Trump signed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which amends the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 14A). The Act reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) and Small Business Technology Transfer (“STTR”) programs through September 30, 2031, while also creating new funding opportunities and enhancing applicant screening... Continue Reading…More
First DEI Settlement Under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Targets Conduct Pre-Dating the Current Administration
On April 10, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced a $17 million civil False Claims Act (“FCA”) settlement with IBM Corporation. This is the first FCA settlement reached under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which was created in May of 2025 and tasked with using the FCA as a tool to prosecute federal contractors... Continue Reading…More
FCA 101: Materiality
This is the fourth blog in a series on the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 USC §§ 3729, et seq., which targets any person that knowingly submits false claims for payment or false statements material to false claims to the US government. You can check out our previous posts here: part 1, part 2, and part... Continue Reading…More
Protecting Protest Rights When a Procurement Scandal Is Unfolding
New revelations are emerging almost daily regarding procurement irregularities during the last 14 months at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among other things, former Secretary Noem was featured in a $220 million advertising campaign that reportedly involved a large government contract with a Delaware company created only days before the... Continue Reading…More
Has GSA Adopted DOD’s CMMC Requirements?
If your organization handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for the federal government, take note: the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has just raised the bar on compliance. On January 5, 2026, GSA published new requirements for contractors and other nonfederal entities that work with CUI, and unlike the Department of Defense’s (DOD) phased rollout of... Continue Reading…More
What GSA’s New Draft AI Procurement Clause Could Mean for Your GSA Schedule Contract
On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (“GSA”) published a draft contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, “Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems,” that would establish binding requirements for contractors using artificial intelligence (“AI”) under GSA Multiple Award Schedule (“MAS”) contracts. The clause is part of a broader federal push to govern AI procurement.[1] Because the... Continue Reading…More
Acknowledging Amendments: When Is an Amendment Material to an Invitation for Bids?
When does a bidder’s failure to acknowledge an amendment to an Invitation for Bids (IFB) render the bidder nonresponsive? Generally, the FAR requires bidders to acknowledge receipt of material amendments to an IFB, but permits agencies to either allow a bidder to cure its failure to acknowledge an amendment or waive the requirement entirely where... Continue Reading…More
The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Issues New Rules of Procedure for Its Adjudicatory Role in the Administrative False Claims Act
On January 28, 2026, the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) issued final rulemaking to address its role in hearing and resolving disputes under the Administrative False Claims Act (AFCA), formerly known as the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (PFCRA). See 91 Fed. Reg. 3797. The AFCA provides an alternative enforcement... Continue Reading…More
A Recent Federal Circuit Case Highlights the Perils of Not Intervening in a Bid Protest and Raises Issues Caused by a Party’s Failure To File a Redacted Pleading
A federal contractor whose contract award is challenged in a bid protest often faces a dilemma: whether to intervene and participate in the litigation. Intervention generally requires an awardee to retain counsel who can be admitted under a protective order at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC)—which... Continue Reading…More
What to Know About the Department of Defense’s Review of 8(a) and Small Business Awards
The Department of Defense (DoD) issued a memorandum on January 16, 2026 to announce a two‑stage review of small business set‑aside and 8(a) contract awards over $20 million for possible terminations for convenience. This review is occurring quickly, and contractors should be prepared to understand what DoD is investigating and respond quickly to agency requests.... Continue Reading…More
