GAO Denies Protest in Air Force Intranet Support Award: Price Realism, Discussions, and Best Value All Upheld
GAO denies protest by SMS Data Products over Air Force award to Abacus Technology. The case upholds agency evaluations on price realism, discussions, and best-value determinations under FAR 52.222-46.
GAO’s Annual IT Assessment Warns DOD: Improve Cybersecurity Planning and Performance Reporting
GAO’s June 2025 IT assessment finds DOD needs stronger cybersecurity planning and performance tracking across its $10.9B IT portfolio. With cost overruns, missed metrics, and slow adoption of zero trust, the report underscores DOD’s urgent need for reform in software development and digital oversight.
Slowing the Pace of Innovation: GAO Calls on DOD to Reboot Weapon System Acquisition
GAO’s 2025 Weapon Systems Annual Assessment urges the DOD to overhaul its acquisition strategy. With nearly $2.4 trillion at stake, the report warns of increasing delays, cost overruns, and failure to implement leading practices. GAO recommends early integration of speed and innovation into new defense programs.
Improving Mental Health Screening at Military Separation: GAO Finds Gaps in Validation and Implementation
GAO's June 2025 report reveals gaps in the validation of mental health screening tools used during military separation. While VA has implemented a joint screening program, key tools for alcohol use, PTSD, and violence risk lack validation, putting service member care at risk.
Why FAR Reform Alone might not Fix Federal Acquisition
Lt. Col. Matthew J. Fleharty argues in The Nash & Cibinic Report that FAR reform alone cannot fix federal acquisition. True progress demands investment in people, not just policy. His piece challenges conventional reform logic and calls for a revolution in workforce education.
Army’s Long-Range Fires Modernization Falls Short Without Iterative Development Practices
GAO’s June 2025 report on Army modernization finds that inconsistent application of iterative development and digital engineering practices undermines efforts to field modern artillery and missile systems.
GAO Upholds USMC’s Corrective Action to Add Price Realism in Catalyst Solutions Protest
GAO denies Catalyst Solutions’ protest, affirming the USMC’s right to amend its solicitation to include a price realism evaluation during corrective action. The ruling highlights agency discretion in addressing procurement risks and ensuring fair competition.
the 2025 Set-Aside Rollback: Trump Administration’s Reduction of SDB Contracting Goal to 5%
In 2025, the Trump administration reversed the Biden-era 15% goal for Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) federal contracting, returning it to the statutory 5%. This post revisits the rollback, explores its legal foundation, and considers ongoing implications for contractors in today’s procurement environment.
How Federal Contractors Can Help Establish Commerciality of Their Products and Services
Federal contractors can streamline acquisition by helping federal agencies establish the commerciality of their products or services. Learn how to prepare persuasive evidence, conduct market research, and support the government’s Commercial Item Determination process in compliance with FAR Part 12.
Report Highlights Political and Procedural Complexities in U.S. Space Command Headquarters Decision
A May 2025 GAO report reveals how political discretion and analytical gaps shaped the final decision to keep U.S. Space Command's headquarters in Colorado Springs, despite an Air Force reevaluation favoring Huntsville, Alabama.
The Agentic State: Reimagining Government Through AI Agents
This blog post explores “The Agentic State” whitepaper by Luukas Ilves, which outlines how agentic AI will transform ten core functions of government. The report envisions a paradigm shift toward AI-driven public value, with implications for policy, leadership, and public services.
When Data Becomes Law: How Governments Use Information as a Regulatory Tool
This blog post explores the provocative thesis that data—how it is gathered, released, or suppressed—can serve as a powerful instrument of public policy. Drawing from Janet Freilich and W. Nicholson Price II’s forthcoming article Data as Policy, we examine the regulatory role of government-provided data in law, innovation, and society.
Turning Surplus into Strategy: The Complex Path of Federal Property Disposition
Disposing of surplus federal property is far from simple. This blog explores the legal, political, and practical hurdles involved in repurposing government-owned real estate—and what that means for developers, contractors, and public-private partnerships aiming to unlock new value.
GAO Denies Protest Over SBIR Phase III Award to Clear Align for Air Force Tactical Security System
The GAO denied a protest by Digital Force Technologies challenging the Air Force's decision to issue a sole-source SBIR Phase III solicitation to Clear Align for a tactical security system. The ruling clarifies successor-in-interest eligibility and the threshold for SBIR-derived work under Phase III.
FAR Rewrites and the Section 809 Vision
The May 2025 FAR lineouts show growing alignment with the Section 809 Panel’s vision for reform—highlighting mission-first acquisition, industry engagement, and streamlined oversight. This blog explores whether these changes mark a true transformation of federal procurement or just the beginning.
Properly Handling FCI and CUI in Federal Contracts
Federal contractors must guard Federal Contract Information with FAR 52.204-21 basics and protect Controlled Unclassified Information with NIST SP 800-171, DFARS 252.204-7012, and upcoming FAR CUI rules. Vet every subcontractor, cloud, and component, police dissemination, and stay ahead of new CMMC-style mandates to keep awards and avoid False Claims Act risk.
GAO Dismisses Perimeter Solutions’ Protest Over Sole-Source Award for Wildfire Retardant Testing
GAO dismissed Perimeter Solutions' protest over a Forest Service sole-source contract to Fortress North America for wildfire retardant testing, citing Perimeter’s lack of standing due to incomplete testing. This decision reaffirms the government’s discretion in determining readiness for field evaluations under public safety exigencies.
Why Generative AI Isn’t Revolutionizing Government — Yet
Despite grand claims, generative AI has yet to transform government services. Tiago C. Peixoto explores the real barriers—technical, institutional, and cultural—slowing adoption, and proposes actionable strategies to responsibly deploy AI for social impact through augmentation, governance, and citizen engagement.
FAR 2.0: Ambition, Ambiguity, and the Need for Human-Centered Reform
President Trump’s FAR 2.0 rewrite aims to streamline procurement, but as Jennifer Ogren argues, success depends less on removing regulations and more on investing in people and judgment. This article explores the implications of the Executive Order and Revolutionary FAR Overhaul for government contractors.
AI in Financial Services: GAO Report Highlights Benefits, Risks, and Oversight Gaps
The GAO’s May 2025 report examines the use of artificial intelligence in financial services, outlining its benefits, associated risks, and the oversight mechanisms in place. It highlights regulatory gaps, especially at the National Credit Union Administration, and suggests paths forward for ensuring trustworthy AI deployment.