On March 26, 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” the latest in a series of Executive Orders and related actions by the Administration targeting what it views as unlawful
Inside Government Contracts
Procurement Law and Policy Insights
Inside Government Contracts, published by Covington & Burling LLP, focuses on legal and regulatory developments affecting government contractors. The blog covers topics such as bid protest trends and outcomes, changes in procurement regulations including Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act (TINA) thresholds, legislative updates impacting government contracting like the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and compliance issues related to domestic sourcing and trade agreements. It also addresses emerging concerns in government procurement such as biotechnology supply chain restrictions and agency enforcement actions. The blog serves as a resource for understanding the intersection of federal acquisition policies, contract disputes, and regulatory compliance.
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DOE Announces a New Funding Opportunity under the Genesis Mission
On March 17, 2026, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Request for Application (“RFA”) under the Genesis Mission, a White House-led AI initiative announced in November 2025. The RFA, with $293.76 million in anticipated total funding, solicits project proposals…
“Adjusting Certain Delegations”: New Executive Order Aims to Streamline and Clarify Delegated Authorities Under the Defense Production Act
On March 13, 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Adjusting Certain Delegations Under the Defense Production Act.” As we have covered in prior blog posts, the Defense Production Act (DPA) has traditionally been considered…
DOE Announces Funding Opportunity for Domestic Critical Materials Processing, Recycling, and Manufacturing
On March 13, 2026, the Department of Energy issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for projects supporting the development of domestic processing, manufacturing, and recycling capabilities for battery materials. With $500 million in total available funding, the NOFO solicits…
Tariff Takedown: Implications of Tariff Refunds for Government Contractors
On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down an extensive series of tariffs imposed last year by President Trump, holding that they were not authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). And on March 4, 2026, the…
Is Congress Finally Reauthorizing SBIR/STTR—and What’s Changing?
On March 3, 2026, the Senate took a major step toward reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (“SBIR/STTR”) programs, by passing the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971). Known collectively as “America’s Seed Fund,”…
Defense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project Proposals
Introduction
On February 27, 2026, the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) issued a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on Strategic and Critical Materials. Phase 1 submissions are due March 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern).
This solicitation…
FAR Council Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement Prohibition on Acquisition of Certain Semiconductors
On February 17, 2026, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, proposing amendments to the FAR to implement Section 5949 of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”). Section 5949 prohibits executive agencies from obtaining semiconductor…
GSA Proposes New SAM Certification Language for Federal Funding Recipients Addressing DEI, Immigration, and National Security
On February 18, 2026, the General Services Administration (“GSA”) issued a proposed revision to the certifications that federal financial assistance recipients or applicants must make in order to register in the System for Award Management (“SAM”), adding certifications related to…
OMB Rescinds the “Common Form” Secure Software Attestation Requirement
On January 23, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum M-26-05 “Adopting a Risk-based Approach to Software and Hardware Security,” which rescinds a previous Biden Administration’s requirement for all federal agencies to obtain a self-attestation…