Mandatory-Use Vehicles Must Be Competed as Mandatory-Use Vehicles
A protest over DoD’s Microsoft enterprise software vehicle signals a broader procurement risk: agencies may consolidate buying and pursue enterprise savings, but if a vehicle will become mandatory and exclusive, that scope must be disclosed before award. The case also highlights MAS eligibility, incumbent displacement, and small business impacts in enterprise IT procurements.
The FY25 SBA Scorecard Signals a Shift in Small Business Contracting Priorities
SBA’s FY25 Small Business Procurement Scorecard shows the federal government again exceeded the 23% small business prime contracting goal, awarding nearly 28% of prime dollars to small firms. But the results also signal policy shifts around 8(a), SDBs, veterans, fraud control, entity-owned firms, and the future direction of small business contracting.
DOJ’s LOGZONE Settlement Shows Why Cybersecurity Scores Can Become False Claims Act Evidence
DOJ’s LOGZONE settlement shows how cybersecurity compliance failures can become False Claims Act evidence. Defense contractors should treat NIST SP 800-171 implementation, assessment scores, system security plans, POA&Ms, and cyber representations as contract performance evidence tied to payment risk.
Default Terminations, Reconsideration, and the Contractor’s Burden of Proof
A recent ASBCA decision involving DSME Construction underscores three core lessons for federal contractors: a contracting officer’s reconsideration may restart the appeal clock, default termination defenses require evidence rather than assertions, and contractors may still recover undisputed amounts owed for accepted pre-termination performance.
Teaming Agreements Are Not Self-Enforcing: Drafting for Commitment Before the Award
Government contractors often use teaming agreements to pursue opportunities before a subcontract is ready. Case law shows enforceability turns on specificity, governing law, and whether the document creates present obligations or merely future negotiations. Contractors should define workshare, price, exclusivity, remedies, and dispute pathways before bid submission.
Lobbying and Gifts in Federal Contracting: Compliance Begins Before the Meeting
Federal contractors must manage lobbying and gift compliance with discipline. Lobbying activity can trigger registration, reporting, expense tracking, and certification duties, while gift rules restrict interactions with congressional and executive branch officials. Effective controls require advance review, accurate records, and clear employee training.
The FAR Overhaul Is Not Final Yet: Contractors Should Engage Now
The FAR Council’s first Revolutionary FAR Overhaul proposed rules are now in formal rulemaking, but they are not final rules. Comments are due July 23, 2026. Contractors should review each Federal Register notice, assess operational impacts, and submit comments before the FAR Council finalizes changes to major acquisition, integrity, competition, and termination provisions.
AbilityOne’s FY 2026–2030 Strategy Signals a Shift Toward Workforce Expansion and Measurable Value
The U.S. AbilityOne Commission’s FY 2026–2030 strategic planning materials outline a proposed direction focused on expanding employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities, strengthening domestic manufacturing, improving program accountability, and increasing partnerships. The draft is now in the public comment stage.
Federal Data Interoperability Is Now a Payment Integrity Problem
GAO’s June 2026 report warns that fragmented federal eligibility data limits agencies’ ability to prevent improper awards and payments. The report calls for Congress to assign a lead agency, potentially Treasury, to establish mandatory government-wide data standards for recipient eligibility data.
Digital Government Has Moved Beyond Technology Adoption
The OECD Digital Government Outlook 2026 argues that governments have built many of the foundations for digital transformation, but now face the harder task of translating strategies, platforms, data governance, AI, and digital public infrastructure into measurable public value, trusted services, and operational performance.
EEOC’s 2026 MD-715 Instructions Signal a Federal EEO Reporting Shift
EEOC’s June 2026 MD-715 instructions signal a shift in federal EEO reporting by allowing agencies to omit diversity and inclusion principles, barrier analysis, triggers, gender identity, and Workforce Data Table A for 2026 where legally or policy sensitive. Contractors supporting HR, EEO, workforce analytics, or training should monitor alignment.
GAO’s Servexo Decision Shows Why CPARS Ratings Can Become Bid Eligibility Risk
GAO’s Servexo decision shows that CPARS ratings can become bid eligibility risk when solicitations use marginal or unsatisfactory ratings as pass/fail thresholds. Contractors should manage CPARS proactively, preserve performance evidence, respond to ratings, and review past performance criteria before pursuing new opportunities.
GAO’s Gilchrist Decision Shows Why Portal Upload Risk Is Proposal Risk
GAO’s Gilchrist decision shows why portal upload risk is proposal risk. Contractors submitting through GSA eBuy, PIEE, SAM.gov, or agency systems should test access, upload early, preserve proof of submission, follow required channels, and avoid assuming that email can cure a late or nonconforming quotation.
SDVOSB Pass-Through Settlements Show Why Control Matters More Than Paper Eligibility
Recent DOJ settlements involving SDVOSB set-aside contracts show that control matters more than paper eligibility. Contractors using SDVOSB, mentor-protégé, joint venture, teaming, or subcontracting structures should review ownership, daily management, performance control, financial administration, and economic benefit.
Bringing the Public Into AI Governance: A Representative Model for Consequential AI Systems
Anna Lenhart’s FAS policy memo argues that the federal government should pilot a Decision Subject Representative Program for consequential AI systems. Modeled on the FDA’s Patient Representative Program, the proposal would embed affected individuals into AI procurement, standards development, and regulatory design to improve fairness, legitimacy, transparency, and public trust.
GSA MAS Pricing 2.0 Shows Why Catalog Hygiene Is Now a Sales Issue
GSA MAS Pricing 2.0 shows why catalog hygiene is now a sales issue for product contractors. As GSA refines algorithmic pricing, MAS sellers should review catalog accuracy, product visibility, market alignment, stale items, pricing support, and internal coordination across sales, contracts, finance, compliance, and product teams.
Data.gov and the Future of Federal Data Access
Meghan M. Stuessy and Clinton T. Brass’s CRS report explains Data.gov’s role as the federal data catalog and examines whether it should remain a registry for locating agency data or become a repository for preserving it. The report highlights transparency, metadata, persistence, usability, and congressional oversight issues.
AI Governance as an Engine of Responsible Public-Sector Innovation
Eric Hysen’s UC Berkeley playbook on public-sector AI governance argues that effective AI oversight must enable innovation while managing risk. Drawing on policy review, interviews, and DHS experience, the report offers a five-stage model for governance: policy, leadership, intake, risk management, and public engagement.
When DEI Compliance Meets Debarment: Why Present Responsibility Still Matters
This post examines Dominique Casimir’s analysis of whether federal contractors may face suspension or debarment based on DEI-related conduct under EO 14398 and FAR 52.222-90. It explains why the new regulatory framework is significant, but also why legal, procedural, and proportionality constraints may limit exclusion risk.
Codifying the Rule of Two and Recalibrating Defense Acquisition: Congressional Reform in Motion
This post examines Terry Gerton’s Federal News Network discussion with Emily Murphy on proposed acquisition reforms, including codification of the small business “rule of two,” possible changes to task order set-asides, and NDAA provisions aimed at accelerating Department of Defense procurement while preserving congressional oversight.