Protect Small Business Opportunities: The “Rule of Two” Faces Potential Elimination
The federal government is actively trying to reduce its size and deregulate agencies across the Executive Branch. As noted in a previous Client Alert by Sam Finnerty, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) has not been exempt from these initiatives. On May 6, 2025, the FAR Council issued its first formal deregulation measure, signaling that any regulations not explicitly codified by statute may be subject to removal from the FAR and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) regulations. As a result, the “Rule of . . . Read More
Cybersecurity Compliance in the Crosshairs: Raytheon’s $8.4 Million FCA Settlement and What It Means for Defense Contractors
Government contractors regularly handle sensitive federal data, and cybersecurity compliance is no longer optional—it’s mandatory. A recent settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and defense contractor Raytheon Company (Raytheon) highlights the critical importance of strict adherence to federal cybersecurity standards and the severe consequences of falling short. DOD contractors that neglect compliance or inaccurately represent their cybersecurity posture may find themselves facing costly False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. The Raytheon Settlement: Key Facts and Allegations On April 4, 2025, . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – June 5, 2025
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . Podcasts: Listen to PilieroMazza’s podcasts GovCon Live! here , Clocking in with PilieroMazza here , and Ex Rel. Radio here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS New Department of Defense Policy Memo Imposes Sweeping Restrictions on Consulting, Management, Advisory Services, and Contractor Utilization, PilieroMazza Blog, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV , Kristine “Krissy” Crallé The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a significant policy memorandum “to . . . Read More
New Department of Defense Policy Memo Imposes Sweeping Restrictions on Consulting, Management, Advisory Services, and Contractor Utilization
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a significant policy memorandum “to promote fiscal responsibility, streamline operations, and maximize [DoD] readiness and lethality.” The May 27 Memo, Implementation of Executive Order 14222 – Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative Memorandum , identifies four distinct policies aimed at in-sourcing expertise, reducing reliance on external support, and harnessing the talent of existing DoD experts. This latest reform is consistent with the DoD’s ongoing efforts to phase out and eliminate reliance on consulting service contracts. Tightened Restrictions on Information Technology (IT) Consulting and Management Services The . . . Read More
Market Research Slimmed Down: How the FAR Part 10 Overhaul Impacts Government Contractors
The FAR Council’s “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul” has streamlined FAR Part 10, shifting from a prescriptive, statute-heavy approach to a leaner set of minimum requirements. While this promises faster procurements and greater agency flexibility, it also raises critical questions for small businesses and government contractors accustomed to predictable market-research triggers. In this blog, we break down what you need to know about the new FAR Part 10, which GSA has already adopted via a class deviation , effective May 22, 2025. Background FAR . . . Read More
DBE Program in Peril: Recent Legal Challenges and What They Mean for Women- and Minority-Owned Contractors
Recent legal challenges jeopardize the future of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, a long-standing initiative designed to support minority- and women-owned businesses in federally funded state and local transportation infrastructure projects. In litigation against the DOT filed in October 2023, two non-DBE firms challenged the constitutionality of the program’s use of race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage to determine DBE eligibility. In the latest setback for the program, on May 28, 2025, . . . Read More
Washington Post Quotes Tony Franco: Trump Administration Upends $37 Billion Affirmative Action Program for Nearly 49,000 Government Contractors
The Washington Post has reported that the Trump administration has moved to dismantle one of the federal government’s largest and longest-standing affirmative action programs, siding with two businesses that challenged its constitutionality. In a motion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the Justice Department said that a Transportation Department program that has carved out an estimated $37 billion for minority- and women-owned businesses violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution. If a judge . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – May 29, 2025
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . Podcasts: Listen to PilieroMazza’s podcasts GovCon Live! here , Clocking in with PilieroMazza here , and Ex Rel. Radio here . 2025 Super Lawyers® Honors 13 PilieroMazza Attorneys for Outstanding Legal Service, PilieroMazza News PilieroMazza is proud to announce that 13 attorneys from the Firm’s Government Contracts , Construction , Labor & Employment , and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice groups have been honored . . . Read More
2025 Super Lawyers® Honors 13 PilieroMazza Attorneys for Outstanding Legal Service
PilieroMazza is proud to announce that 13 attorneys from the Firm’s Government Contracts , Construction , Labor & Employment , and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice groups have been honored with a listing in the 2025 edition of Super Lawyers ® for their outstanding contributions to the legal profession. Managing Partner Tony Franco commented: “We are honored by the recognition our attorneys received from Super Lawyers. This achievement reflects the dedication, skill, and collaborative spirit of our team as we continue to deliver exceptional service and results for our clients.” Please see below . . . Read More
Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle, Part 3: Derivative Actions
While litigation risk is an unavoidable aspect of running a business, business owners can limit such risks with early planning. In this third installment of PilieroMazza’s blog series, “Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle,” we explore the impacts of derivative actions and the proactive steps that business owners can take to avoid them. Visit this link to access Part 1 in this blog series (Entity Formation and Organization) and this link to access Part 2 (Business Acquisition and Post-Closing Disputes). What . . . Read More