On October 5, the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) issued a joint notice (Joint Notice) with the Small Business Association (SBA) and in coordination with the Department of Defense (DOD) clarifying that the Cognizant Security Agency (CSA) is responsible for determining which entities are required to hold an Entity Eligibility Determination (EED), also known as a Facility Clearance (FCL), and providing specific guidance as to which entities must possess EED in different scenarios. Continue Reading New Guidance Clarifies Facility Clearance Eligibility Determination Requirements for Joint Ventures

Todd Overman
Todd Overman is the chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice and Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office. He has over twenty years of experience advising companies on the unique aspects of doing business with the federal government. Over the last decade, he has advised on more than 50 transactions involving the purchase or sale of a government contractor.
GAO’s 2023 Bid Protest Report: More Than Meets the Eye
On October 26, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sent its annual bid protest report to Congress, which reflected a dramatic increase in protests filed following four straight years of decline. Continue Reading GAO’s 2023 Bid Protest Report: More Than Meets the Eye
GAO Assesses Health of the Defense Industrial Base
The health of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) has been brought to the fore as the United States responds to wars in Ukraine and Israel. Unfortunately, according to the National Defense Industrial Association’s “Vital Signs” report, the U.S. DIB faces numerous challenges due to limited capacity to surge production, political obstacles to defense budgeting, and labor challenges. Continue Reading GAO Assesses Health of the Defense Industrial Base
The Corporate Transparency Act: A Primer for “Small” Businesses
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which aims to curb illicit financial activities like money laundering and other fraudulent activities, will go into effect on January 1, 2024. Consequentially, many types of businesses, known as “reporting companies,” will be required to provide certain identifying information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) related to the individuals who directly and indirectly own them. The information will then be stored in a non-public database to be used in a variety of government enforcement efforts. Continue Reading The Corporate Transparency Act: A Primer for “Small” Businesses
CSO Requirements for Government Contractors
We recently authored an article for Reuters examining Commercial Solutions Openings, a contracting mechanism through the Department of Defense (DoD), which seeks innovative commercial technologies or services.Continue Reading CSO Requirements for Government Contractors
Biden Administration Directs Federal Agencies to Consider Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases in Procurement
On September 21, the Biden administration approved recommendations from the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (IWG), directing federal agencies to consider the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (SC-GHG) in federal procurement processes. Continue Reading Biden Administration Directs Federal Agencies to Consider Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases in Procurement
UPDATE: 8(a) Reopens its Certify Site Welcoming New Applicants
On September 29, the Small Business Administration (SBA) reopened its Certify portal to new applicants seeking admittance into the SBA 8(a) program. Continue Reading UPDATE: 8(a) Reopens its Certify Site Welcoming New Applicants
GovCon M&A: What Is Going On In 2023? Predictions for 2024 (On-Demand Webinar)
I recently had the honor of taking part in a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “GovCon M&A: Unveiling the 2023 Landscape and Forecasts for 2024.” This illuminating webinar featuring Sharon Heaton, the Founder and CEO of sbLiftOff, and Kenneth Dodds, Vice President at Live Oak Bank, was a deep dive into the world of Government Contracting Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).Continue Reading GovCon M&A: What Is Going On In 2023? Predictions for 2024 (On-Demand Webinar)
Register Now | Demystifying Controlled Unclassified Information Requirements Webinar

Please join us on November 2 for an engaging webinar, Demystifying Controlled Unclassified Information Requirements: Overview of the Regulatory Landscape and Strategies for Implementing a Successful Compliance Program, alongside Stacy High-Brinkley from BDO. Together, we will illuminate the dynamic landscape of federal Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requirements.Continue Reading Register Now | Demystifying Controlled Unclassified Information Requirements Webinar
UPDATE: Next Step in SBA’s Implementation of Ultima Ruling to 8(a) Program
The July 19 Ultima ruling threw the 8(a) program into tumult after the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee found the program’s rebuttable presumption mechanism, used to find social disadvantage, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.Continue Reading UPDATE: Next Step in SBA’s Implementation of Ultima Ruling to 8(a) Program