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 KnowRobust 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 Huntsville2020 Deal Dismantled for National Security Reasons
We recently authored an article for Law360 detailing a July 8 order by the Trump administration to block and force the unwinding of a transaction that occurred more than five years ago.
Continue Reading 2020 Deal Dismantled for National Security ReasonsOFPP Green Lights Immediate Use of Revised Procurement Rules
On August 15, the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) announced agencies may “immediately begin eliminating one-third of requirements from their future contracts that are not required by statute or executive orders and have little to do with contract outcomes.”
Continue Reading OFPP Green Lights Immediate Use of Revised Procurement RulesManufacturing & Industrial: Outlook & Trends
Manufacturers are operating in a period of both opportunity and uncertainty. Buyer demand remains strong in a competitive M&A market, but shifting tariff policies, heightened immigration enforcement, and an evolving regulatory agenda are reshaping how companies plan for growth.
Continue Reading Manufacturing & Industrial: Outlook & Trends
FAR Final Rule Clarifies SAM Registration
On August 7, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council issued a final rule, published in the Federal Register, 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.
Continue Reading FAR Final Rule Clarifies SAM RegistrationHuge Export Penalty for U.S. Technology Company
On July 28, various arms of the U.S. government announced concurrent export enforcement resolutions involving Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Cadence), a California-based software and technology firm. Cadence will pay over $140 million in combined net criminal and civil penalties and forfeiture.
Continue Reading Huge Export Penalty for U.S. Technology CompanySmall Business Alert – Possible End for the Rule of Two?
The federal government’s commitment to supporting small businesses through procurement remains strong, but the shape and scale of that support may soon look very different. In accordance with recent executive orders, sweeping changes to acquisition policies are already underway and the future of key non-statutory provisions favoring small businesses is uncertain. While there has been no clear indication that the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council intends to eliminate one of the most important of those provisions, known as “the Rule of Two,” its non‑statutory status means such a move is within the realm of possibility and is likely the reason that, as noted below, legislation codifying the Rule of Two was introduced earlier this year. This uncertainty underscores how dynamic the government contracting landscape has become and raises important questions about how reforms could impact small businesses that rely on federal contracts.
Continue Reading Small Business Alert – Possible End for the Rule of Two?Guidance on Compliance Challenges in Oil and Gas Industry
I recently authored an article for World Pipelines providing guidance on compliance challenges in the oil and gas industry.
Continue Reading Guidance on Compliance Challenges in Oil and Gas IndustryGAO Proposes Higher Pleading Standard for Bid Protests, Questions Remain for Loser-Pays Model
As we noted in this blog post in February, the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was enacted in December 2024 included a provision at Section 885 raising the protest threshold for Department of Defense (DoD), Coast Guard, and NASA task orders from $25 million to $35 million.
Continue Reading GAO Proposes Higher Pleading Standard for Bid Protests, Questions Remain for Loser-Pays Model