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 . . . 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
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 23, 2025
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 / LABOR & EMPLOYMENT / REAs, CLAIMS, AND APPEALS Contracting Through the Long Haul: Maximizing Recovery During a Protracted Government Shutdown, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Sarah L. Nash, Lauren Brier, Abigail “Abby” Finan, Josie Farinelli As the federal government shutdown continues, contractors are left to grapple with growing uncertainty regarding whether certain costs are recoverable or whether certain work . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 9, 2025
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. _____________________________________________ FAR OVERHAUL Long-Awaited Release of FAR Part 19: New Rule of Two and More, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Antonio R. Franco, Kristine “Krissy” Crallé On September 26, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council released the much-anticipated rewrite of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19, formerly titled Small Business Programs, as part of the broader Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative. To . . . Read More
Long-Awaited Release of FAR Part 19: New Rule of Two and More
On September 26, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council released the much-anticipated rewrite of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19, formerly titled Small Business Programs, as part of the broader Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative. To the pleasant surprise of many in the government contracting community, much of Part 19’s original content remains intact considering other more significant changes to other parts of the FAR. Still, several notable revisions—most prominently, retention of the Rule of Two—carry significant implications for small business . . . Read More
DOT Ends Race- and Sex-Based Presumptions of Disadvantage in DBE and ACDBE Programs
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a major change to the eligibility criteria for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) Programs. Through an interim final rule (IFR) taking effect on October 3, 2025, DOT is removing the use of the race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage for establishing DBE and ACDBE eligibility. The IFR will have an immediate impact on all current DBE/ACDBE firms and future applicants as all . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – September 18, 2025
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 CMMC Is Here—What It Means for Defense Contractors, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV, Daniel Figuenick, III, Joseph P. Loman The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program is finally here. A final rule establishing the CMMC Program at Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 170 went live on December 16, 2024. Now, . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – August 14, 2025
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 DOD Push for Commercial Item and Service Contracting Increases Defense Contracting Opportunities, PilieroMazza Blog, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV PilieroMazza recently highlighted a Department of Defense (DOD) memo (linked here) requiring DOD Components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred acquisition method for business and weapon system programs. The memo also recommends using the . . . Read More
DOD Push for Commercial Item and Service Contracting Increases Defense Contracting Opportunities
PilieroMazza recently highlighted a Department of Defense (DOD) memo (linked here) requiring DOD Components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred acquisition method for business and weapon system programs. The memo also recommends using the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) and Other Transactions (OT) as the default solicitation and award approach (visit this link to access our blog series and webinar on “The Rise of OTA in Defense Contracting”). As DOD and other agencies are expected to increase . . . Read More