On August 20, 2025, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued a sweeping memo that tears up and rebuilds the way the military decides what new weapons and systems it needs. The Military Services appear to be wasting no time translating
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.
Latest from Inside Government Contracts - Page 8
Expired: SBIR/STTR and DPA Authorities in Limbo
Two cornerstone authorities for federal contracting quietly expired on September 30, 2025, creating ripple effects that contractors—small and large—cannot afford to overlook. The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (“SBIR/STTR”) programs, commonly known as “America’s Seed Fund” for their…
Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Seeks to Make Post-Award, Agency-Level Protests More Enticing
As part of the Trump Administration’s Revolutionary FAR Overhaul[1] (“RFO”), the FAR Council has released a model deviation for FAR Part 33 – Protests, Disputes, and Appeals, which includes changes that seem intended to make agency-level protests more appealing…
E-Verify and the False Claims Act: An Emerging Tool in Immigration Enforcement
On September 18, 2025, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced a civil False Claims Act (“FCA”) settlement against a New Jersey shipbuilder to resolve allegations that it improperly employed unauthorized workers to work on Navy ships. The settlement, which…
First Order Issued under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act, Triggering Immediate Requirements on Contractors
On September 15, 2025, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (“ODNI”) issued the first public exclusion and removal order (the “Order”) under the framework established by the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 (“FASCSA”). The Order…
En Banc Decision in Percipient.ai, Inc. v. United States: Federal Circuit Holds That Only Actual or Prospective Bidders or Offerors Have Bid Protest Standing Under Tucker Act
By Jay Carey & Kayleigh Scalzo
This blog previously covered the Federal Circuit’s decision in Percipient.ai, Inc. v. United States, which addressed bid protest jurisdiction and standing at the Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”), and seemed to potentially open the door to a new category of…
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Procurement Final Rule Announced
This blog post discusses the Department of Defense’s (“DoD”) new cybersecurity rule that imposes certain cybersecurity requirements on relevant DoD contractors and subcontractors. The post will be of interest to all DoD contractors, subcontractors, and possibly affiliates of contractors that…
Opportunities for Advanced Energy Partnerships in the 2nd Trump Administration
Though the 2nd Trump Administration has dramatically turned away from the energy and industrial policies of the Biden Administration, private-sector proponents of advanced energy projects may still find opportunities to partner with the federal government on certain Research and Development…
Bid Rigging Risk for Government Contractors
Consistent with the Trump Administration’s focus on procurement fraud, a recent settlement and guilty pleas secured by the DOJ demonstrate that bid rigging is in the Administration’s crosshairs. Government contractors should be aware of the legal risks associated with bid…
SBA Proposes Increasing 200+ Receipts-Based Size Standards
On Friday, August 22, 2025, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) released a proposed rule to increase the size standard for what it considers to be a small business across 263 industries. The proposed rule principally covers receipts-based size standards. These…