Topics

Anti-Money Laundering

FinCEN Proposed Rulemaking: Significant Revisions Centered on Risk, Effectiveness, and Supervisory ConsistencyFinCEN Update: Huge Penalty on Broker-Dealer for Willful AML, SAR, and Due Diligence FailuresIs the “Pause” Over? DOJ Resumes FCPA Enforcement, Announces Guidelines

Bid Protest Minute

Bid Protest Minute: Pricing Narratives Won’t Save You If Rates Look Unrealistic, GAO SaysBid Protest Minute: Insufficient Funds are Grounds to CancelSmall Business Size Protest Minute: The Ostensible Subcontractor Exception that (Almost) Swallowed the Rule

Bid Protests

Clarified Standard for Challenging CICA Stay OverridesGAO: Conversion Did Not Void Procurement EligibilityBid Protest Minute:  GAO Rejects “Should Have Received More Strengths” Protest in $64M Army Task Order Competition

CFIUS

2020 Deal Dismantled for National Security ReasonsCFIUS and President Trump Force Unwinding of 2020 Acquisition of Jupiter Systems, LLCAmerica First Investment Policy Sets Sights on China

Claims

Preparing for the Unexpected: Legal and Strategic Considerations in Federal Contract and Grant TerminationsFalse Claims Act Gives Broad Dismissal Authority to Government, District Judge SaysJudge Denies Government’s Motion to Stay Injunction of Anti-DEI Executive Orders

Commercial Items

FAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District CourtDid the Federal Circuit Just Eliminate Commercial Services?Heightened Buy American Act Requirements Are Here and More Are on the Way

Compliance

FinCEN Proposed Rulemaking: Significant Revisions Centered on Risk, Effectiveness, and Supervisory ConsistencySBIR/STTR Reauthorization Brings New Opportunities and New Diligence ExpectationsFAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District Court

Construction

Register Now: The Rules and Risks of Federal Grant-Funded Construction WebinarFirst CHIPS Opportunity Lays Out Requirements and Application Process Advancing the “Made-in-America” Movement

COVID-19

Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Effectively Halts Federal Contractor Vaccine MandateNinth Circuit Green Lights Contractor Vaccine MandateDOJ’s Quixotic Defense of the Vaccine Mandate May Undermine Presidential Authority

Cybersecurity

FAR Agenda Narrows, with CUI and OCI Rules Moving ForwardDoD Finalizes CMMC Rule: What Defense Contractors Need to KnowKey Takeaways from DOJ’s Continued Cybersecurity Enforcement

Ethics

FAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District CourtEthics Rules Applicable to Hiring Former Federal Government EmployeesJudge Denies Government’s Motion to Stay Injunction of Anti-DEI Executive Orders

Events

Legal/Legislative Update at the GWSCPA 2025 Government Contracting ConferencePreparing for the Unexpected: Legal and Strategic Considerations in Federal Contract and Grant TerminationsWatch Now | Managing Forced Labor and Other Supply Chain Compliance Challenges Webinar

Export - EAR

Export Enforcement Update: Huge Penalty Imposed for Semiconductor Re-Exports to ChinaExport Enforcement Update: EAR99 “In-Country” Transfers Lead to PenaltyUPDATE: BIS Affiliates Rule Suspended for One Year Following U.S.-China

Export - ITAR

Join Us: 2023 Export Year in Review WebinarRegister Now | A Multi-Jurisdictional Discussion of Export Controls on China, Russia and Belarus: Contrasting US, UK and EU Restrictions[WEBINAR] Update on Export Enforcement

False Claims Act

FAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District CourtFinCEN Advisory Warns Financial Institutions of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Medicare and MedicaidPresident Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting “DEI” Practices by Federal Contractors

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

Clarified Standard for Challenging CICA Stay OverridesPresident Trump Issues Executive Order Directing Agencies to Default to Fixed-Price ContractingFAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District Court

FOCI

[WEBINAR] Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI)

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

Is the “Pause” Over? DOJ Resumes FCPA Enforcement, Announces GuidelinesAmerica First Investment Policy Sets Sights on ChinaImportance of Cooperation Credit in FCPA Settlements

Government Contracts

Clarified Standard for Challenging CICA Stay OverridesSBIR/STTR Reauthorization Brings New Opportunities and New Diligence ExpectationsPresident Trump Issues Executive Order Directing Agencies to Default to Fixed-Price Contracting

GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS)

GSA Issues FAR Class Deviations Implementing DEI RequirementsFAR Council Announces Proposal to Ban Government Purchases and Use of Certain SemiconductorsGAO Recommends Steps to Ensure VA FSS Program Remains Useful

Import (Customs)

DOJ Settlement Highlights Customs, FCA Risks for ImportersEffects of UFLPA on U.S. ImportersTennessee Company Skirts Customs Obligations, Pays $500,000 FCA Penalty

Intellectual Property

[WEBINAR] Conducting Clinical Trials Outside the U.S.: U.S. and Foreign Rules, Regulations, and Guidance[VIRTUAL EVENT] Spring 2022 Small Business Innovation ConferenceSee You at GovCon Summit 2021!

International Trade

FTC Signals Renewed “Made in USA” Enforcement Focus Following Trump Executive OrderExport Enforcement Update: Huge Penalty Imposed for Semiconductor Re-Exports to ChinaOFAC Enforcement Update: $1.72M Settlement Highlights Screening Gaps in Education, Similar Sectors

International Trade Enforcement

FTC Signals Renewed “Made in USA” Enforcement Focus Following Trump Executive OrderExport Enforcement Update: Huge Penalty Imposed for Semiconductor Re-Exports to ChinaOFAC Enforcement Update: $1.72M Settlement Highlights Screening Gaps in Education, Similar Sectors

Labor & Employment

President Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting “DEI” Practices by Federal ContractorsBid Protest Minute:  GAO Rejects “Should Have Received More Strengths” Protest in $64M Army Task Order CompetitionDOJ’s New Civil Rights Fraud Initiative – Expect Increased Enforcement

Mergers & Acquisitions

2020 Deal Dismantled for National Security ReasonsSBA’s OHA Finds Initial Offer To Be Of Consequence, Not Final Proposal Revision, for the “180-Day Rule”SBA Final Rule Updates Negative Control Requirements and 8(a) Ownership Rule

OCI

FAR Agenda Narrows, with CUI and OCI Rules Moving ForwardNew Organizational Conflict of Interest Regulations Coming SoonBid Protest Minute: Proving an Organizational Conflict of Interest Exists

Prevailing Wage Rates

DOJ's "Fairyland Damages" Calculation Rejected in Prevailing Wage Rate False Claims Act Case

Private Equity

Revisiting Private Equity Investment in Federal IT Contractors

Procurement Fraud

FinCEN Advisory Warns Financial Institutions of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Medicare and MedicaidGAO: Conversion Did Not Void Procurement EligibilityFAR Agenda Narrows, with CUI and OCI Rules Moving Forward

Publications

COVID-19: What Employers Should Consider During the Coronavirus OutbreakCalling All Women-Owned Small Businesses: Self-Certify with CautionStakes for Exxon in Sanctions Case Go Far Beyond a $2 Million Fine

Sanctions (OFAC)

OFAC Enforcement Update: $1.72M Settlement Highlights Screening Gaps in Education, Similar SectorsUpdate on Venezuela: Significant Trade Restrictions and Risks ContinueOFAC Enforcement Update: Recent Penalties Highlight Expectations Around Beneficial Ownership, Transparency, and Reporting Obligations

Security Clearances

Final Draft of NIST SP 800-171A Still Open for Comments

Self-Disclosure

The Tale of a Self-Disclosure

Size/Status Protests & Appeals

SBA OHA Clarifies Present Effect of “Indications of Interest” When Determining Size StatusSBA's All Small Mentor-Protégé Program Provides Critical Affiliation Exception for Eligible Joint VenturesEvent: 5th Annual Small Business Forum "Woman Owned Small Businesses, Breaking Through the Barriers"

Small Business Regulations and Programs

SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Brings New Opportunities and New Diligence ExpectationsSBA Suspends Over 1,000 8(a) Participants After Program-Wide Audit Data Request While DoW Announces Line-By-Line Review of All Small Business Awards Over $20 MillionCOFC Decision Highlights Risks in Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture Agreements

Suspension & Debarment

FAR Council Moves Quickly on DEI Executive Order, Which Has Already Been Challenged in District CourtEthics Rules Applicable to Hiring Former Federal Government EmployeesExecutive Order on Federal Contracting Transparency: Potential Challenges and Implications

U.S. Department of Defense

Executive Order Links Defense Contractor Payouts and Incentives to Production and Delivery PerformancePreparing for DoD’s Upcoming DFARS Rule on Beneficial Ownership and FOCI VettingDepartment of Defense Issues Affirmative Action Class Deviation