GAO Decision Highlights the Power of Protests in Protecting Fair Competition
The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent decision in Effective Communication Strategies, LLC, B-422289 (Mar. 18, 2025), offers an important reminder for federal contractors: when an agency repeatedly changes requirements and demands near-immediate proposal revisions, contractors are not required to race against the agency’s arbitrary clock. Agencies must provide a reasonable opportunity to respond. In this blog, we break down GAO’s decision and explain how a timely protest is often necessary to protect your competitive position when the agency’s requirements or . . . Read More
Widening Supply Chain Scrutiny: Latest on the Proposed Semiconductor Ban
More supply chain scrutiny is coming. Nearly two years ago, we blogged about an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking ( ANPR ) involving a potential proposed rule on covered semiconductors. The wait is finally over. In February, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) released its proposed rule ( Proposed Rule ) identifying and explaining some potential changes coming to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The impact on contractors in every industry will be expensive and time-consuming, especially for small businesses. Below, PilieroMazza highlights . . . Read More
Contract Claims 101: The Fundamentals of Contract Administration Disputes
Click here to view the recorded session. The Contract Disputes Act (CDA) provides the framework governing contract disputes between contractors and the government. Understanding the claims process is vital to better position contractors before moving forward into potential traps for the unwary. Join PilieroMazza’s Josie Farinelli , Abby Finan , and Kelly Kirchgasser as they break down the essentials of REAs, claims, and appeals, walking through the most common sources of disputes and the financial fundamentals every government contractor should understand. This webinar is designed to help . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – April 16, 2026
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 . _____________________________________________ GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS DHS Orders Thousands of Furloughed Employees Back to Work Despite Ongoing Shutdown, CBS News The Department of Homeland Security has ordered thousands of furloughed employees back to work, according to internal emails obtained by CBS News, even as most of the agency technically remains shut down and unfunded by Congress. Read more . . . Read More
DOL $596K Recovery, 3-Year Debarment Highlights Davis-Bacon Compliance Risks for Construction Contractors
An investigation by the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD) recently found that J. Solano HVAC LLC (the Company), a subcontractor on two Washington, D.C. affordable housing projects, willfully violated the DBA (Davis-Bacon Act) multiple times when it: (1) failed to pay workers the prevailing wage and (2) misclassified skilled sheet metal workers and pipefitter mechanics as lower-skilled laborers, thereby underpaying required wages and fringe benefits. DOL action shows that willful violations of the DBA risk more . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – April 9, 2026
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 . _____________________________________________ LABOR & EMPLOYMENT Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) Proposed Rule: Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives On March 31, EBSA published a proposed rule and request for comments clarifying and providing a safe harbor for a fiduciary’s duty of prudence under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) in connection . . . Read More
The Trust Trap: How Minor Mistakes with Spoofed Emails Can Lead to Major Losses
GovCon Co., a successful government contractor, receives an email from the billing or accounting representative of a trusted subcontractor, Service Corporation, asking for payment of an outstanding invoice for $400,000, stating: “Please note our new bank account information in your system for any current and future wire transfers.” The email includes the Service Corporation logo and the name of the company representative with whom GovCon Co. normally deals. Everything seems to be in line with typical practices. However, the accounts . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – April 2, 2026
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 . _____________________________________________ LABOR & EMPLOYMENT Trump Administration’s Latest Executive Order on DEI Requires Immediate Action for Government Contractors, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Matthew E. Feinberg , Sarah L. Nash On March 26, 2026, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies for federal contractors. The EO continues the Trump Administration’s hyper-trained focus on DEI, or what the President . . . Read More
Navigating the Termination Threat of President Trump’s Latest DEI Executive Order for Government Contractors
On March 26, 2026, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) that all-but promises contract termination for federal contractors whose diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies are deemed non-compliant with the EO. The EO builds on the Administration’s ongoing scrutiny of DEI initiatives, following a May 2025 Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum signaling the use of the False Claims Act (FCA) to challenge DEI practices within federal contracting, higher education, and other federally funded entities. This blog specifically . . . Read More
A Kick in the Asphalt: $30 Million Settlement Highlights FCA Risk for Construction Contractors
Earlier this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it amassed a record $6.8 Billion in fraud and False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries in Fiscal Year 2025. New FCA matters also increased substantially, driven in large part by a significant rise in suits brought by whistleblowers. As part of DOJ’s and whistleblowers’ relentless focus on pursuing claims of fraud committed against the federal government, construction contractors have come under heightened scrutiny. Recently, two Ohio asphalt companies paid a combined $30 Million . . . Read More