Topics

Anti-Money Laundering

FinCEN Identifies $17.5 Billion in Suspected Healthcare Fraud, Reinforces Prior Warning to Financial InstitutionsFinCEN Proposed Rulemaking: Significant Revisions Centered on Risk, Effectiveness, and Supervisory ConsistencyFinCEN Update: Huge Penalty on Broker-Dealer for Willful AML, SAR, and Due Diligence Failures

Bid Protest Minute

Bid Protest Minute: Corporate Affiliation Is Not Enough! GAO Clarifies When Offerors May Rely on Affiliate ExperienceBid Protest Minute: Pricing Narratives Won’t Save You If Rates Look Unrealistic, GAO SaysBid Protest Minute: Insufficient Funds are Grounds to Cancel

Bid Protests

D.C. Circuit Upholds FRA Buy America Waiver for Brightline West High-Speed Rail ProjectBid Protest Minute: Corporate Affiliation Is Not Enough! GAO Clarifies When Offerors May Rely on Affiliate ExperienceClarified Standard for Challenging CICA Stay Overrides

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

D.C. Circuit Upholds FRA Buy America Waiver for Brightline West High-Speed Rail ProjectFinCEN Identifies $17.5 Billion in Suspected Healthcare Fraud, Reinforces Prior Warning to Financial InstitutionsDOJ's $2 Million Honeywell Settlement Under the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative: What Compliance Failures Mean for Defense Contractors

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

Procurement Fraud Enforcement Trends Continue Into 2026FAR Agenda Narrows, with CUI and OCI Rules Moving ForwardDoD Finalizes CMMC Rule: What Defense Contractors Need to Know

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

BIS Settlement Highlights Russia Export Control Risks for EAR99 Items and Third-Country TransactionsBIS Settlement Highlights Export Control Risks for Medical and Research TechnologyDOJ Issues First Corporate Enforcement Policy Declination: Lessons from Bosch's FDPR Export Control Resolution

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

FinCEN Identifies $17.5 Billion in Suspected Healthcare Fraud, Reinforces Prior Warning to Financial InstitutionsStarbucks Settlement Adds to Growing Scrutiny of Corporate DEI ProgramsDOJ's $2 Million Honeywell Settlement Under the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative: What Compliance Failures Mean for Defense 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)

DOJ’s First FCPA Deferred Prosecution Agreement of 2026 Highlights Cartel-Linked Corruption RisksIs the “Pause” Over? DOJ Resumes FCPA Enforcement, Announces GuidelinesAmerica First Investment Policy Sets Sights on China

Government Contracts

New DIU Program Creates Pathway for Nontraditional Contractors to Obtain Facility ClearancesD.C. Circuit Upholds FRA Buy America Waiver for Brightline West High-Speed Rail ProjectBid Protest Minute: Corporate Affiliation Is Not Enough! GAO Clarifies When Offerors May Rely on Affiliate Experience

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

BIS Settlement Highlights Russia Export Control Risks for EAR99 Items and Third-Country TransactionsBIS Settlement Highlights Export Control Risks for Medical and Research TechnologyOFAC Settlement Highlights Iran Sanctions Risks for Non-U.S. Subsidiaries of U.S. Companies

International Trade Enforcement

BIS Settlement Highlights Russia Export Control Risks for EAR99 Items and Third-Country TransactionsBIS Settlement Highlights Export Control Risks for Medical and Research TechnologyOFAC Settlement Highlights Iran Sanctions Risks for Non-U.S. Subsidiaries of U.S. Companies

Labor & Employment

Starbucks Settlement Adds to Growing Scrutiny of Corporate DEI ProgramsDeloitte DEI Settlement Highlights False Claims Act Risk at Both Federal and State LevelsPresident Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting “DEI” Practices by Federal Contractors

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

Procurement Fraud Enforcement Trends Continue Into 2026FinCEN Advisory Warns Financial Institutions of Healthcare Fraud Targeting Medicare and MedicaidGAO: Conversion Did Not Void Procurement Eligibility

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 Settlement Highlights Iran Sanctions Risks for Non-U.S. Subsidiaries of U.S. CompaniesOFAC Launches Reconsideration Portal to Streamline Delisting PetitionsOFAC Enforcement Update: $1.72M Settlement Highlights Screening Gaps in Education, Similar Sectors

Security Clearances

New DIU Program Creates Pathway for Nontraditional Contractors to Obtain Facility ClearancesFinal 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

SBA Finalizes New Social Disadvantage Standard for 8(a) ProgramSBIR/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 Million

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

New DIU Program Creates Pathway for Nontraditional Contractors to Obtain Facility ClearancesProcurement Fraud Enforcement Trends Continue Into 2026Executive Order Links Defense Contractor Payouts and Incentives to Production and Delivery Performance