SBA Finalizes Rule Regarding Social Disadvantage Requirements for Individually-Owned 8(a) Applicants
Today, just shy of 30 days after comments on the proposed rule closed, SBA issued a final rule entitled “Reforms to 13 CFR 124.103 to remove SBA’s 8(a) Program’s rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individually owned firms only. Reforms do not impact entity-owned firms.” This client alert covers key aspects of the final rule and how it will impact your pending or future 8(a) application. Notably, this final rule does not impact current individually-owned participants in the U.S. Small . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – August 6, 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 Strategi Consulting: A Jurisdictional Win for SBIR Contractors, PilieroMazza Blog, Lauren Brier, Adel Mansour In Strategi Consulting LLC v. United States, the plaintiff alleged that the United States Air Force (“USAF” or “Agency”) improperly continued developing software derived from Strategi’s Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) work through an affiliated agency organization rather than awarding . . . Read More
Strategi Consulting : A Jurisdictional Win for SBIR Contractors
In Strategi Consulting LLC v. United States, the plaintiff alleged that the United States Air Force (“USAF” or “Agency”) improperly continued developing software derived from Strategi’s Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) work through an affiliated agency organization rather than awarding Strategi a Phase III SBIR contract. The Court of Federal Claims denied the Government’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, allowing the case to proceed. Although the court has not yet determined whether the USAF violated the . . . Read More
Competing at the Speed of Space: What Space Force’s Acquisition Shift Means for Government Contractors
Defense contracting is changing rapidly, and United States Space Force (USSF) procurements are no exception. In September 2025, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized that USSF cannot afford to maintain the status quo of “chasing perfection” and instead must shift toward building “minimum viable capability.” For contractors, that message is important: winning future USSF work may depend less on proposing a fully mature, long-duration solution and more on showing that the company can deliver a usable, mission-ready capability . . . Read More
Not So Fast: Recent ASBCA Decision Highlights Government’s Burden Before Terminating a Contractor for Default
A recent decision from the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA or Board) offers a useful reminder that the government must do more than point to performance problems when terminating a contract for default before completion. Although Jaxon Construction, Inc., ASBCA No. 64432 (June 24, 2026) was issued under the ASBCA’s Small Claims/Expedited procedures and therefore lacks precedential value (previously explained in our blog series about how the Boards of Contract Appeals work), government contractors should still take note . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – July 30, 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 Contract Claims 101: Claim Sponsorship, Part 7, PilieroMazza Blog, Lauren Brier, Adel Mansour Claim sponsorship is one of the most important and frequently overlooked aspects of federal subcontracting. Because subcontractors generally lack privity of contract with the Government, their ability to pursue recovery for government-caused impacts often depends entirely on the prime contractor’s ability . . . Read More
Employee Organizing 101: What Employers Need to Know Before, During, and After Employees Organize
Click here to view the recorded session. Join PilieroMazza’s Labor & Employment Group for this introductory webinar, the first in a 3-part series, which provides employers with a clear, practical overview of the legal landscape surrounding employee organizing efforts. Participants will learn what constitutes protected activity, how to respond lawfully during an organizing campaign, and what obligations arise if employees choose union representation. This webinar walks through each stage—before, during, and after organizing—highlighting common pitfalls, compliance requirements, and strategies for maintaining positive employee . . . Read More
Contract Claims 101: Claim Sponsorship, Part 7
Claim sponsorship is one of the most important and frequently overlooked aspects of federal subcontracting. Because subcontractors generally lack privity of contract with the Government, their ability to pursue recovery for government-caused impacts often depends entirely on the prime contractor’s ability and willingness to sponsor a Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claim on the subcontractor’s behalf. As a result, the subcontract’s claim and dispute provisions can significantly affect whether a subcontractor can obtain meaningful relief and whether a prime contractor can . . . Read More
Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Interference?: How AI is Reshaping Litigation for Better and Worse, Part II
In the first installment of our blog series, Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Interference?: How AI is Reshaping Litigation for Better and Worse, we wrote about how artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to have an impact on litigation and various pitfalls created by reliance on AI in the legal context. Late last year, a noteworthy case brought those concerns to fruition after two plaintiffs introduced AI-generated and materially altered exhibits as “evidence.” To be sure, artificial intelligence has its benefits, but, as Mendones v. Cushman and Wakefield, Inc. shows, AI presents significant risks, and attorneys and litigants alike must be cognizant of the impact . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – July 23, 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. _____________________________________________ CYBERSECURITY & DATA PRIVACY Small Business Administration (SBA) News Release 26-73: SBA Commends U.S. Department of War’s Suspension of CMMC Phase II for Small Defense Contractors Yesterday, SBA commended the DOD for suspending its CMMC program Phase II requirements, which were originally scheduled to go into effect on November 10, 2026. The suspension follows months of . . . Read More