January 2026: Partial Government Shutdown Imminent—Key Considerations for Federal Contractors
Last fall, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history—at 43 days—had lasting and widespread negative impacts across the country. The shutdown ended when Congress eventually agreed on an appropriations bill, but that bill funded the government only through January 30, 2026, with full-year appropriations only for Agriculture, the Legislative Branch, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs. Since then, full-year appropriations were passed and signed into law for Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment. However, six of . . . 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
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
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
Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA Signed into Law: 6 Key Takeaways for Defense Contractors
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (2026 NDAA), which authorizes over $900 billion in funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and other national security programs. The 2026 NDAA contains many acquisition reform provisions and other critical provisions impacting defense contractors. This client alert provides six key takeaways from these provisions. Efforts to Increase Competition by Small Businesses and Nontraditional Defense Contractors Several provisions of the 2026 . . . Read More
SBA Data Call: Deadline Extended Until January 19, 2026
SBA announced today, as part of a broader release of FAQs, that the deadline to respond to the December 5, 2025, data call, which we discussed here , has been extended until January 19, 2026. Over and beyond the welcomed extension, SBA has clarified certain of the data call requests. Of note, SBA confirmed that the “last three (3) closed fiscal years of each respective participant” is required. Takeaways from this are: (1) it is the participant’s, not the government’s, fiscal year, . . . Read More
SBA’s 8(a) Program Audit Starts—PilieroMazza Launches “8(a) Audit Response Task Force” to Help Clients Handle the Holiday Gift No One Asked For
On December 5, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued formal data and document requests (linked here ) to certified 8(a) Business Development Program participants. This follows SBA’s June 2025 announcement that it would implement an “immediate and full-scale audit” of the 8(a) Program. The requests, issued by the SBA Office of General Counsel via email, justified the audit as follows: “Recent reports by journalists and independent investigators have raised questions about widespread misconduct within the 8(a) Businesses [sic] Development Program, . . . Read More
Warfighting at Warp Speed, Part 1: Why Defense Contractors Must Track the Department of War’s Acquisition Overhaul
The Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on November 7, 2025, that the U.S. Department of War (DOW) is dropping a game-changing memo: “ Transforming the Warfighting Acquisition System to Accelerate Fielding of Capabilities .” This bold blueprint reimagines how defense capabilities are delivered—with speed, agility, and results at the forefront. But with rapid transformation comes turbulence. While the newly branded Warfighting Acquisition System promises thrilling opportunities, it also introduces uncertainty. Defense contractors should stay sharp and informed. Understanding how DOW plans to fast-track contract delivery will be key to . . . Read More
Update on the DBE Interim Final Rule: DOT Issues Key Guidance for DBE Program Stakeholders
As PilieroMazza previously reported , via an interim final rule (IFR) effective October 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) removed the use of race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage for establishing eligibility for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) Programs. [1] Given the lack of clarity with various aspects of the IFR, there is significant confusion among DBE Program stakeholders in terms of how the IFR is to be carried out. On October . . . Read More
Why Business Leaders Should Speak Out During the Shutdown
On October 1, 2025, Congress failed to pass an appropriations bill to keep the federal government open. Three weeks have passed, and there is still no clear path forward. With each passing day, Republicans and Democrats alike become further entrenched in their positions, convinced that their cause is just. As a result, hardworking Americans, their families, and their businesses suffer. Government representatives who contend that holding out for an uncompromising win will be beneficial in the long run fail to . . . Read More