Space has become central to protecting U.S. national security interests as Americans increasingly rely on space-based services to support everyday life. As a result, the U.S. government has bolstered investment in the space sector creating a wealth of opportunities for contractors. For example, the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) budget request for fiscal year 2025 is seeking $33.7 billion for space programs.
Continue Reading “Small” Space Companies: Growth Comes at a CostRegister Now | Small Businesses as Inorganic Growth Targets Webinar
Join me on December 3 for a webinar where I’ll dive into why small GovCon businesses with set-aside designations could be particularly attractive for acquisition in 2025. If you’re looking to enter the full and open market, acquiring a set-aside company may be a strategic path to hitting that elusive $100 million revenue target before selling.
Continue Reading Register Now | Small Businesses as Inorganic Growth Targets WebinarDoD Announces Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 Final Rule (Finally!)
After numerous fits and starts, on October 14, the Department of Defense (DoD) published a final rule implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. Borne from documented deficiencies in the implementation of DoD-mandated security controls throughout the defense supply chain, the new CMMC program is a verification requirement to ensure contractors are complying with cybersecurity requirements at FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, and DFARS 252.204-7020. Importantly, beginning in 2025 DoD RFPs will mandate the CMMC level contractors must meet in order to be eligible for award.
Continue Reading DoD Announces Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 Final Rule (Finally!)International Trade Enforcement Roundup – October 2024
You are reading the October 2024 Update of the Bass, Berry & Sims Enforcement Roundup, where we bring notable enforcement actions, policy changes, interesting news articles, and a bit of our insight to your inbox.
Continue Reading International Trade Enforcement Roundup – October 2024Webinar | CMMC is Here (Finally!): What Contractors Should Know
Join us for a webinar on navigating the DoD’s new CMMC compliance requirements, implementation timeline, and key cybersecurity controls contractors need to meet eligibility for contract awards.
Continue Reading Webinar | CMMC is Here (Finally!): What Contractors Should Know
HHS-OIG Set To Intensify Scrutiny of Grants and Contract Compliance: How to Prepare
As we detailed in a previous blog, on October 3, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a strategic plan to “safeguard[] the integrity of HHS grants and contracts.” The plan comes after the HHS-OIG found “gaps in HHS oversight of grants and contracts—gaps that allow HHS funds to be misspent, programs to fall short of their promise, and people to be put at risk.”
Continue Reading HHS-OIG Set To Intensify Scrutiny of Grants and Contract Compliance: How to PrepareHHS’ Office of Inspector General Announces New Strategic Plan: What Contractors Should Know
On October 3, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a strategic plan for improving oversight of public grants and contracts “to strengthen compliance with HHS award requirements; promote award practices that achieve program outcomes; and mitigate fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.” This comes as grant fraud related to awards by HHS and other agencies routinely makes the news. For example, in July Janet Mello was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing over $100 million from a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Department of Defense (DoD) grant program aimed at helping military families. Similarly, fraud stemming from the Paycheck Protection Act has been dubbed the “biggest fraud in a generation.”
Continue Reading HHS’ Office of Inspector General Announces New Strategic Plan: What Contractors Should KnowDOD’s Office of Strategic Capital Announces First Notice of Funding Availability
On September 30, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) announced a notice of funding availability (NOFA) of up to $984 million in loans aiming to support the financing of certain covered technology equipment. For years, DOD has attempted to find new ways to encourage the development of certain key technologies and integrate them into the defense industrial base.
Continue Reading DOD’s Office of Strategic Capital Announces First Notice of Funding AvailabilityInternational Trade Enforcement Roundup – September 2024
You are reading the September 2024 Update of the Bass, Berry & Sims Enforcement Roundup, where we bring notable enforcement actions, policy changes, interesting news articles, and a bit of our insight to your inbox.
Continue Reading International Trade Enforcement Roundup – September 2024New Organizational Conflict of Interest Regulations Coming Soon
On September 19, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report highlighting a gap in current Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) restrictions. According to the report, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) does not adequately address how contracting officers should consider bids from contractors who engage in contracting activities with the government of China and other countries of concern.
Continue Reading New Organizational Conflict of Interest Regulations Coming Soon