The Weekly Update recaps recent legislative and regulatory updates affecting
government contractors and commercial businesses.
If you have questions concerning this content, please email marketing@pilieromazza.com.
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House Small Business Committee Unanimously Advances “Rule of Two” Bill Toward Full House Vote, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Antonio R. Franco, Jacqueline K. Unger
In a significant development for the small business federal contracting community, the House Small Business Committee unanimously approved an amended version of H.R. 2804, the Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025, advancing legislation that would codify the longstanding Rule of Two into statute. The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Read more here.
Department of Commerce (DOC) Notice of Intent (NOI): Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Pilot Program
On May 20, DOC’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published an NOI initiating a program that will target key sectors where MEP centers will lead the development and validation of shared technology frameworks to substantially accelerate the acceptance of advanced manufacturing methods or transform fragmented supply chains into a robust ecosystem. These frameworks will provide a foundation for small- and medium-sized manufacturers to establish capabilities for future production needs or reduce barriers to entry into new markets. Two manufacturing technology topics have been identified for this pilot program: (1) additive manufacturing for aerospace components, and (2) a domestic critical minerals supply chain. This NOI is provided to allow potential applicants time to begin developing proposal strategies and establishing collaborations among industry, academic, Federal laboratory, and state/local government partners. The NOI is available here.
Department of War (DOW) News Releases:
- Army Advances Barracks Modernization Efforts to Improve Quality of Life. Since October 2025, when Secretary of War Pete Hegseth established the Barracks Task Force, the Army has accelerated efforts to improve soldier living conditions, modernize aging facilities, and strengthen quality-of-life investments across installations. Read more here.
- DOW Invests $191M to Expand and Enhance the Solid Rocket Motor Industrial Base. On May 15, DOW announced the latest in a series of investments in the solid rocket motor industrial base: on April 20, 2026, an investment of $27.3 million in DPA Title III funds to Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (PacSci EMC), in Chandler, Arizona. It supports DOW’s objectives to expand the munitions industrial base, bolster supply chain resiliency, and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas. Read more here.
Five Ways Contractors Can Turn a Growing Compliance Burden into a Competitive Advantage with AI, Federal News Network
For government contractors, the regulatory changes keep coming, and as a result, the compliance responsibilities keep mounting. Ongoing updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) are forcing government contracting firms to adjust on the fly to new federal agency purchasing practices. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 continues moving toward enforcement, with new cybersecurity requirements and additional obligations on the horizon. FedRAMP expectations are tightening. Recent executive actions bring new diversity, equity, and inclusion-related restrictions and potential penalties. Read more here.
These RFPs Show Acquisition Reform Is More Than Just Policy, Federal News Network
Three recent solicitations offer an interesting glimpse into the Trump administration’s influence on federal procurement. From the overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulations to the push for consolidation and centralization to the focus on modernizing back office systems, these three requests for proposals demonstrate how agencies are implementing and accepting the Office of Management and Budget’s prioritization of reforming federal technology and acquisition management. Read more here.
Upcoming Presentations
CONFERENCE: Biggest Shifts in GovCon Law, June 10, 2026, Eric A. Valle
SEMINAR: AI Clauses in Federal Contracts: Managing Procurement Risk, Compliance, and Competitive Advantages, June 10, 2026, Ryan Boonstra
WEBINAR: GovCon 101: Small Business Programs, July 13, 2026, Meghan Leemon
Contract Claims 101: Uncommon Theories, Part 5, PilieroMazza Blog, Lauren Brier, Jonathan “Jon” R. Neri, Ryan Boonstra
While it is likely only a matter of time before contractors working for federal agencies become familiar with the government contract claim issues discussed in Part 4 of our series (e.g., changes, delays, defective specifications, and terminations), it is equally important that contractors are also aware of the less common and often more difficult claim theories recognized by federal courts as well as boards authorized under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA). These claims are less common as they often flow from narrower fact patterns and carry higher evidentiary burdens that are difficult to overcome. Even so, they are critical in cases where common routes for recovery under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) fail to alleviate ongoing harm or adequately make the contractor whole. This post addresses several uncommon or difficult claim theories, what must be proven to succeed under these theories, and how to maintain an adequate record to do so. Note that this post does not represent an exhaustive list of all uncommon claim theories, and contractors should always seek the advice of legal counsel prior to asserting any claims against federal agencies. Read more here.
Appeals Court Upholds Order Reinstating VA’s Union Contracts, Government Executive
A federal appeals court last weekend upheld a March ruling that restored collective bargaining rights to the Veterans Affairs Department, though not a later requirement that the department “comply” with its contracts with the American Federation of Government Employees. Read more here.
EEOC Says Government Must Pay Damages to Some Employees Subject to Biden’s Vaccine Mandate, Government Executive
The Biden administration unlawfully discriminated against some Interior Department employees who were denied religious exemptions to the now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate, an oversight body ruled, saying the workers will be entitled to monetary compensation. Read more here.
Upcoming Presentations
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, June 24, 2026, Nichole D. Atallah
Upcoming Presentations
CONFERENCE: Buying or Selling: Keys to Successful SDVOSB M&A Transactions, June 2, 2026, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
Grants QSMO Shifting Approach to Meeting Market Demands, Federal News Network
The Grants Quality Service Management Office is moving away from its traditional RFI approach of bringing on new vendors and instead will rely on GSA schedules. Read more here.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report: Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA)
On May 19, SBA’s OIG issued a report detailing its review of SBA’s information security program. OIG found that SBA’s information security program has defined policies, but the agency has not consistently implemented them, falling short of the Office of Management and Budget rating for effective security controls. SBA fell below the baseline for effective controls in most metrics. SBA made progress in incident response, which was rated as optimized, exceeding the baseline for effective security controls. SBA regressed in three other metrics: information security and continuous monitoring, identity and access management, and risk and asset management. Read more here.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice: Town Hall Meetings to Provide Input on Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) Rulemaking
On May 26, DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a notice announcing town hall meetings to allow stakeholders an additional opportunity to provide input on the CIRCIA rulemaking that was issued on April 4, 2024, which will require cyber incident and ransom payment reporting for covered entities. The notice is available here. Town halls will occur virtually and are scheduled to take place from June 15 to 18 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm ET. Registration is accepted until 5 pm ET two business days before the meeting.
White House Postpones Signing of AI Executive Order, NextGov/FCW
The White House postponed a highly anticipated signing of an artificial intelligence executive order, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. The order is expected to establish a voluntary framework for the government to view AI models ahead of release. Read more here.
Trump Cites US AI Lead In Shelving Cybersecurity Directive, Law360
President Donald Trump on Thursday abruptly delayed the planned signing of an executive order to tackle cybersecurity concerns surrounding emerging artificial intelligence models, saying he was worried the proposal to encourage developers to voluntarily share their systems with the government for pre-release testing would impede innovation. Read more here (subscription required).
Anticipated Executive Order Could Give NSA a Role in Voluntary AI Model Testing, NextGov/FCW
White House officials are planning a provision in a forthcoming artificial intelligence executive order that would establish a voluntary information-sharing framework between the government and AI developers to facilitate safety testing of AI models before deployment, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Read more here.
House Homeland Dems Request CISA Briefing Amid Report of Leaked Agency Credentials, NextGov/FCW
Top Democratic lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee have requested a briefing from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency acting Director Nick Andersen following reports of a contractor-linked leak of internal agency credentials. Read more here.
Draft Executive Order Would Set Deadlines for Digital Signature and Key Quantum Encryption, NextGov/FCW
The White House is preparing a new executive order aiming to spur federal agency migration to a post-quantum cryptographic standard under particular deadlines, as well as requiring covered contractors to take similar steps within the same window. The developing order on post-quantum cryptography sets rigid deadlines for quantum-resistant cryptography updates, underscoring that contractors need to migrate to certain standards by 2030. Read more here.
Advanced AI Models Bring Government to ‘Reflection Point,’ CIA Official Says, Nextgov/FCW
Advanced AI models with unique hacking capabilities like Anthropic’s Mythos should bring federal agencies that handle some of the government’s most sensitive information to a “reflection point,” according to one of the CIA’s top tech officials. Read more here.
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