SVOG Alert: SBA Demands Supplemental Documents from Grant Recipients Who Appealed SBA’s Decision to Rescind Their SVOG Grants
In July 2025, we wrote that the Small Business Administration (SBA) had begun issuing letters to recipients of grant funds under the $16.25 Billion COVID-era Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, rescinding grant recipients’ eligibility for the program and demanding full or partial repayment of the grants years after award. SBA gave grantees 30 days to file an appeal. SBA continued issuing rescission letters to grantees through at least October 2025, including to grantees whose SVOG awards had been fully closed . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 19, 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 DHS Shutdown Talks Hit a Wall as GOP Fumes, The Hill Discussions between the White House and Democratic leaders on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have hit a wall as administration officials publicly slammed the minority party for refusing to make concessions. Read more here . SBA Strikes Again: New 8(a) Program Suspensions . . . Read More
Warfighting at Warp Speed, Part 4: DFARS Overhaul
In November 2025, the Department of War (DOW) announced its blueprint for its Acquisition Overhaul, and savvy defense contractors took note of DOW’s plan to realign its processes with its goals— namely, accountability, speed, and industry investment . In concert with the broader Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), DOW is now implementing a sweeping rewrite of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). In this blog, we provide an overview of how the DFARS rollout will occur and some key insights on a few of the class . . . Read More
Bloomberg Government: Cy Alba Warns DOD’s Direct OEM Buying Trend Could Raise Costs and Undermine ITVAR Competition
A recent report by Bloomberg Government highlights a major shift in federal IT procurement: billions of dollars in work are moving from IT value-added resellers (ITVARs) and integrators to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) under new Department of Defense acquisition strategies. In the article, PilieroMazza Partner Isaias “Cy” Alba cautions that this trend could carry significant consequences for pricing, competition, and long-term government value. “Increased use of direct acquisition from OEMs shows a misunderstanding by the government of the role of IT VARs,” Alba told . . . Read More
SBA Strikes Again: New 8(a) Program Suspensions Related to Economic Disadvantage Criteria
On February 11, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a press release announcing that it was initiating termination proceedings and suspending over 150 Washington, D.C.-based 8(a) firms for allegedly failing to meet “economic disadvantage” eligibility criteria for the 8(a) Program. This is a bold move as traditionally proposed terminations are not also coupled with suspensions. And while the press release asserts that these firms “exceeded statutory net worth limits, adjusted gross income caps, or total asset limits,” the notice . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 12, 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 U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Notice: Procurement Thresholds for Implementation of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 On February 3, USTR published a notice providing the U.S. dollar procurement thresholds to implement certain U.S. trade agreement obligations for calendar years 2026 and 2027. The notice is available here . Department of War (DOW) Memorandum: Class Deviation—Contract . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Annual Review: Workforce Updates for Multijurisdictional Employers—What to Watch in 2026
Click here to view the recorded session. In 2026, companies operating in multiple jurisdictions face an increasingly complex patchwork of federal, state, and local workforce requirements and investigative priorities. From evolving state pay transparency laws and wage mandates to shifting federal compliance obligations, employers must be ready to adjust quickly and strategically. In this webinar, PilieroMazza’s Nichole Atallah and Sarah Nash examine upcoming developments and provide practical guidance to help companies remain compliant, competitive, and prepared for what’s ahead. Learning objectives include: identify major federal . . . Read More
DOL’s Got Opinions—Lots of Them: Important FLSA and FMLA Guidance for Employers
On January 5, 2026, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued six new opinion letters related to various topics under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Below, PilieroMazza provides a brief overview of the three most relevant opinion letters, along with key takeaways for employers. For a full list of all of the opinion letters issued by DOL to date, please visit the DOL’s website . A. FLSA2026-1: Learned Professional Exemption and Employer Discretion . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Annual Review: DOJ’s FY2025 False Claims Act Results and Compliance Considerations for Government Contractors in FY2026
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 False Claims Act (FCA) results, and the message for government contractors is clear: FCA enforcement is accelerating, and procurement fraud, cybersecurity non-compliance, pandemic program fraud, and tariff/custom duty evasion remain key priorities. DOJ reported total FCA settlements and judgments of more than $6.8 Billion for FY2025, the largest annual recovery in FCA history. Below are key takeaways from DOJ’s annual fraud statistics report, our outlook for FY2026, and important . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 5, 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 Partial Shutdown Ends Less Than 4 Days After It Began, Government Executive Nearly every federal agency is now funded through September and employees will be paid for the days they were furloughed. Federal agencies are set to reopen after the House on Tuesday approved a spending package funding those forced to close their doors . . . Read More