Please note that the content below was posted on October 2, 2025. We have since provided updated guidance on the topics discussed in this post here.

On September 29, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a new interim final rule that significantly expands the scope of U.S. export controls. Entitled Expansion of End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities and referred to by BIS as the “Affiliates Rule,” the rule is designed to close a longstanding loophole by extending restrictions to foreign affiliates of parties already subject to export restrictions, including those parties designated on the Entity List and the Military End-User (MEU) List.

Continue Reading BIS Closes Loophole: New Rule Expands Export Controls to Affiliates of Listed Entities

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council recently released its long-awaited overhaul of FAR Part 19, the section governing small business programs. While the rewrite is part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to reduce the FAR to statutory and “essential” provisions, the changes to Part 19 carry significant implications for both small and large contractors.

Continue Reading FAR Part 19 Rewrite: Key Developments for Small Business Contracting

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) released its Spring 2025 regulatory agenda as part of the government-wide Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, unveiling a slimmed-down list of procurement rules.

Continue Reading FAR Agenda Narrows, with CUI and OCI Rules Moving Forward

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

I recently authored an article for Washington Technology discussing the recent final rule published by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council clarifying that an offeror must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) when submitting an offer and when the contract is awarded, and how the rule change affects businesses trying to acquire federal contracts.

Continue Reading FAR Council’s Final Rule Requiring Active SAM Registration at Two-Points in the Contract Acquisition Process

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

On August 22, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposed an important change that could affect thousands of companies competing for federal contracts. In the proposed rule, the SBA suggested raising certain size standards used to determine when a company is considered “small.” If finalized in its current form, the proposal will increase thresholds across 263 industries, from telecommunications and natural gas pipelines to commercial banking, and could add more than 11,000 firms to the small business category.

Continue Reading SBA Proposes Bigger Size Standards: What It Means for Small Businesses

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

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

From the Bass, Berry & Sims Blog Network
From the Bass, Berry & Sims Blog Network

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