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
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
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
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
Faster to the Fight: How the Navy is Reengineering SBIR/STTR Innovation
Earlier this month, the U.S. Navy announced a significant overhaul of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, with a renewed emphasis on speed, efficiency, and commercialization. The changes are intended to accelerate how quickly innovative technologies move from concept to deployment, which is unsurprising given the U.S. Department of War’s (DOW) focus on speed and supporting the warfighter. As these reforms begin to take shape, small business contractors should make efforts to assess . . . Read More
Trump Administration’s Latest Executive Order on DEI Requires Immediate Action for Government Contractors
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 believes constitutes “racial discrimination in American society.” It follows a Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum issued in May 2025 in which DOJ indicated it would utilize the False Claims Act (FCA) to target DEI policies for federal contractors, educational institutions, and companies doing business . . . Read More
86 That Grant: SBA Targets Restaurant Revitalization Fund Recipients for Recoupment
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) was a Congressionally-created program, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), under which financial grants were issued to restaurants, food stands, caterers, bars, food trucks, food carts, breweries, wineries, and other food and beverage businesses to help those companies navigate the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2024, the SBA Office of Inspector General issued a report, SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program Award Practices , which suggested that approximately $6.7 Billion of the $28.6 Billion in grants issued under . . . Read More
Navigating the Recent Ban on Foreign Ownership for SBA Loans
Earlier this month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) banned foreign nationals, non‑citizens, and lawful permanent residents whose principal residence was outside of the U.S. from owning any interest in a small business applicant of a SBA‑guaranteed small business loan under the 7(a) and 504 programs. Effective April 1, 2026, that ban will expand to the Surety Bond ( Procedural Notice 5000-877134 ) and Microloan ( Procedural Notice 5000-877232 ) programs. Below, PilieroMazza highlights what this means for businesses that regularly apply for SBA-backed loans as well . . . Read More