The Shifting Landscape for Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, Part 2: The Current Landscape
In Part 1 of this series, we examined the Department of Defense’s Proposed Rule and how it would broaden the reach of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) obligations across the defense industrial base. Before looking ahead, it helps to understand how the current framework works. In this installment, PilieroMazza attorneys walk through the foundation of the existing system: obtaining and maintaining a facility security clearance, securing personnel security clearances for the people who run and safeguard the business, and, . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – August 20, 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 SBA to Propose Massive Changes to Its Small Business Size Standards, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Jon Williams, Meghan Leemon Today SBA published stunning proposed changes to its size standards, replacing the August 2025 proposed rule, which we discussed here, as well as revised size standards methodology. From time to time, SBA reviews and proposes changes to its . . . Read More
SBA to Propose Massive Changes to Its Small Business Size Standards
On August 20th, SBA will publish stunning proposed changes to its size standards, replacing the August 2025 proposed rule, which we discussed here, as well as revised size standards methodology. From time to time, SBA reviews and proposes changes to its size standards and those changes are typically incremental and to adjust for inflation. Tomorrow’s proposed changes are massive and will dramatically reshape how small businesses are determined for federal contracting if finalized. One of the major proposed changes is . . . Read More
2026 Newly Increased Health and Welfare Rates on SCA Government Contracts
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has again issued new Service Contract Act (SCA) health and welfare (H&W) rates. Effective August 10, 2026, WHD increased the prevailing H&W fringe benefits from a rate of $5.55 per hour to $5.92 per hour. Where a contractor is obligated to comply with Executive Order (EO) 13706 sick leave obligations, the rates increased from $5.09 per hour to $5.42 per hour. Updated rates of $2.51 per hour (without the EO) . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – August 13, 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 SBA Finalizes Rule Regarding Social Disadvantage Requirements for Individually-Owned 8(a) Applicants PilieroMazza Client Alert, Meghan Leemon On August 11, 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 . . . Read More
Loser Pays: GSA Seeks to Extend New DoD Bid Protest Rules to Civilian Agencies
On July 17, 2026, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) submitted legislative proposals to Congress—two of which have important implications for government contractors and the bid protest system. First, GSA is requesting Congress enact a “loser pays” bid protest rule for civilian agencies that is similar to the “loser pays” rule established for Department of Defense (DoD) bid protests to GAO in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (FY26 NDAA). Second, GSA is seeking to raise the minimum . . . Read More
The LOI Problem: How the Present Effect Rule Creates Affiliation Risk Investors and PE Buyers Aren’t Pricing In | The GovCon M&A Playbook, Part 2
Private equity investors and strategic acquirers pursuing small business government contractors have largely absorbed one lesson from SBA’s 2025 recertification reforms. If a target has outstanding proposals for set-aside work, timing the close matters. Under SBA’s 180-day recertification rule, closing a transaction within 180 days of proposal submission can render a target ineligible for award if it cannot recertify as small. Close after day 180, and the target may remain eligible, but only for certain contracts. Single award set-aside contracts . . . Read More
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