Approve First, Ask Questions Later: SBA Targets Planned Parenthood’s PPP Loans
As of May 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had flagged nearly 38,000 already-forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that it suspected borrowers were ineligible for. The SBA has and will continue to exercise its authority to claw-back funds from borrowers who it believes were ineligible. This is highlighted by its latest target, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), who is now under the gun to respond to thirty-eight different requests for information regarding its affiliates’ PPP loan eligibility. In . . . Read More
Request for Comment: GSA Seeks Input on Value-Added Reseller Market
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently requested information to explore “potential improvements” to the acquisition of Information Technology (IT) hardware and software through Value Added Resellers (VARs), commonly known as ITVARs. Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum wants to “learn directly from Value Added Resellers about the value they add to the government within the supply chain.” This request coincides with the first phase of the GSA’s OneGov Strategy, which seeks to provide agencies with standardized terms and pricing for easier access to . . . Read More
DOD Releases Intellectual Property Guidebook: Key Insights for Defense Contractors, Part 2
When doing business with the Department of Defense (DOD), it is imperative that contractors protect their intellectual property (IP) and understand DOD’s data rights regime under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). Fortunately, the DOD released its Intellectual Property Guidebook (Guidebook) in May 2025, which gives contractors critical insight into how DOD handles IP and data rights in government contracts. This blog, the second in PilieroMazza’s series, takes a closer look at the Guidebook’s fundamental IP and data rights concepts, such . . . Read More
SBA Issues Suspension Notices to 8(a) Firms Following Data Call
On December 5, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a program-wide data call (Data Call) to all 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) Program) participants seeking three years of financial and contractual records. The Data Call was designed to identify fraud, waste, and abuse in the 8(a) Program. Further to that stated goal, following the response deadline of January 19, 2026, SBA swiftly moved to take adverse action against 8(a) firms it deems non-compliant with the Data Call obligations. 8(a) . . . Read More
No Interest, No Protest: The Critical Importance of Understanding the “Interested Party” Standard
Last week, the Supreme Court declined to review Percipient.ai, Inc. v. United States, 153 F.4th 1226 (Fed. Cir. 2025), a high‑profile Federal Circuit decision that limits who may bring a protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). Percipient.ai invested years and untold legal fees in protesting and appealing COFC’s “interested party” standard, underscoring just how consequential meeting that definition is for government contractors seeking to challenge federal procurement decisions. In this blog, we explain why positioning your company . . . Read More
The Rise of OTA in Defense Contracting, Part 5: Commercial Solutions Openings and NDAA FY26
In the evolving landscape of government contracting, non-FAR-based procurements, including Other Transactions Authority (OTA), have become a focal point. A key element of President Trump’s April 9, 2025, Executive Order, “ Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation In the Defense Industrial Base ,” emphasized reforming the Department of War’s (DOW) acquisition process by prioritizing Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and OTA. In November 2025, Secretary Hegseth’s memorandum, “ Transforming the Warfighting Acquisition System to Accelerate Fielding of Capabilities ,” highlighted that the Under Secretary of War for Acquisitions and Sustainment (USW(A&S)) would soon mandate the use of OTA, among other non-FAR-based procurements . . . Read More
GovCon M&A and Recertification: What Small Business Contractors, Investors, and Private Equity Firms Need to Know
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) size and recertification rules have always been central to government contracting. But recent regulatory changes , and where we now stand in mid-January 2026, mark a meaningful shift in the GovCon M&A landscape, particularly for private equity firms and other investors. The “grandfathering” era is over. Successful GovCon M&A transactions now require buyers and sellers to identify, price, and actively manage size-status risk early in the deal process. Those that treat recertification as a post-close compliance exercise risk . . . Read More
Top 10 Killer Construction Contract Clauses, Part 3: Are the Indemnification Provisions in Your Construction Contract Enforceable?
Construction projects involve high risk. Multiple contractors and subcontractors working on a project site—often with heavy equipment and hazardous conditions—creates the potential for significant injuries, property damages, and delays. To allocate that risk, indemnification provisions are standard in construction contracts. Whether you are a project owner, general contractor, subcontractor, or supplier, chances are your contracts have indemnification provisions that require you, or the party with which you are contracting, to provide indemnification for and a duty to defend against claims . . . Read More
Warfighting at Warp Speed, Part 3: Tracking the 2026 NDAA and DOW’s Acquisition Overhaul
In December 2025, PilieroMazza explained some key highlights of the 3,000-page 2026 NDAA for defense contractors, tracking how these important updates will affect their ability to compete and how they align with DOW’s Acquisition Overhaul . In this blog, we dive deeper into one of these NDAA updates—Section 1826—which all small businesses, defense contractors, and prospective defense contractors need to understand, as it could significantly ease compliance burdens across the existing defense industrial base and invite new competitors into the space. For more insights on . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Annual Review: 2025 CBCA and ASBCA Annual Reports Highlight Critical Contract Dispute Trends for Government Contractors
The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) recently published their annual reports (the Reports), providing updates on personnel, decision statistics, and other relevant developments over Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025). As the primary forums for federal contract appeals, the CBCA and ASBCA serve as critical resources for federal contractors. In this blog, attorneys in PilieroMazza ’s REAs, Claims, and Appeals Group offer key insights from the Reports that could affect how government contractors submit or respond to CBCA . . . Read More