On January 14, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied a protest filed by Strategic Resources, Inc. (SRI) after the Army issued a task order to360 Patriot Enterprises, LLC (Patriot) for Army National Guard military funeral honors and survivor outreach services.Continue Reading Bid Protest Minute: GAO Rejects “Should Have Received More Strengths” Protest in $64M Army Task Order Competition
Executive Order Links Defense Contractor Payouts and Incentives to Production and Delivery Performance
On January 7, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting,” aimed at reshaping how certain defense contractors allocate capital. The goal is to push defense contractors to focus less on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive pay tied to short-term financial results, and more on delivering on time and investing in production capacity for critical defense programs.Continue Reading Executive Order Links Defense Contractor Payouts and Incentives to Production and Delivery Performance
Supreme Court Leaves “Interested Party” Limits Intact in Percipient.ai, Reinforcing Bid Protest Standing at COFC
On January 12, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Percipient.ai’s (Percipient) petition for certiorari, leaving in place an en banc Federal Circuit decision that restricts who qualifies as an “interested party” eligible to bring a bid protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). Continue Reading Supreme Court Leaves “Interested Party” Limits Intact in Percipient.ai, Reinforcing Bid Protest Standing at COFC
D.C. District Court Dismisses Challenge to a “Buy America” Waiver for Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project
A federal district court in Washington, D.C. recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by Alstom seeking to overturn a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) waiver that allows Siemens to supply certain foreign-made components for the Brightline West high-speed rail project between Las Vegas and Southern California.Continue Reading D.C. District Court Dismisses Challenge to a “Buy America” Waiver for Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project
Preparing for DoD’s Upcoming DFARS Rule on Beneficial Ownership and FOCI Vetting
The Department of Defense (DoD) is preparing to roll out new requirements that will significantly expand how it evaluates and mitigates foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) across its contractor base. Under Section 847 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the DoD must establish procedures to assess and mitigate FOCI risks for both cleared and uncleared contractors involved in unclassified defense contracts, subcontracts, or research awards valued at $5 million or more. In May 2024, the DoD took its first formal step toward implementation by issuing DoD Instruction 5205.87, which sets policy for evaluating beneficial ownership and identifying potential foreign control early in the contracting process. Continue Reading Preparing for DoD’s Upcoming DFARS Rule on Beneficial Ownership and FOCI Vetting
COFC Decision Highlights Risks in Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture Agreements
On September 18, the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) issued a decision in Multimedia Environmental Compliance Group JV v. United States, denying a bid protest that challenged the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) ruling on joint venture eligibility. Continue Reading COFC Decision Highlights Risks in Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture Agreements
Army Introduces FUZE to Streamline Innovation and Acquisition
In September, the U.S. Army outlined its plans to modernize how it engages with industry and accelerate the development of new technologies. At the Army Demand Signal Forum, leaders emphasized the importance of closer collaboration with industry, small businesses, and startups. The event highlighted the Army’s effort to better connect operational needs with available technologies and to create clearer pathways for companies to contribute solutions.Continue Reading Army Introduces FUZE to Streamline Innovation and Acquisition
Legal/Legislative Update at the GWSCPA 2025 Government Contracting Conference
On September 25, join me in Vienna, Virginia at the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA) 2025 Government Contracting Conference where I will lead a session on the latest Legislative and Legal Updates.Continue Reading Legal/Legislative Update at the GWSCPA 2025 Government Contracting Conference
DoD Finalizes CMMC Rule: What Defense Contractors Need to Know
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued its long-awaited final rule implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program into the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The rule establishes a three-year phased rollout that will ultimately apply to nearly every contractor and subcontractor handling federal contract information (FCI) and controlled unclassified information (CUI) (the new requirements do not apply to awards that do not involve the handling or transmission of FCI or CUI). Continue Reading DoD Finalizes CMMC Rule: What Defense Contractors Need to Know
Robust Federal Contracts Market in Huntsville
I was quoted by the Huntsville Business Journal (HBJ) in a recent article about the metro area’s economy, which relies heavily on government contract work, and why it may be positioned for even more federal growth. Currently, the Huntsville area market relies on what I called its “three major pillars” of federal contract work stemming from NASA, Redstone Arsenal and the FBI.Continue Reading Robust Federal Contracts Market in Huntsville