The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is facing growing scrutiny from Congress after it abruptly canceled hundreds of contracts—many of which support critical services for veterans—based in part on recommendations from a hastily developed artificial intelligence (AI) tool. On June 13, 2025, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Angus King (I-ME), members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Committee), sent a letter to Acting VA Inspector General David Case urging a formal investigation into the VA’s contract termination process. If . . . Read More
On July 8, 2025, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure (Subcommittee) will hold a hearing titled “Leveling the Playing Field: Fostering Opportunities for Small Business Contractors.” The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) is coordinating the submission of letters of support to ensure small business voices are heard by the Subcommittee. Why Your Letter Matters—and How to Submit It Letters of support will be accepted through Tuesday, July 15. This is a crucial opportunity for small business . . . Read More
On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memorandum launching a new enforcement program known as the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative). Furthering the Trump Administration’s direct targeting of diversity, equity, and inclusion ((DEI) policies and alleged antisemitism among corporations and institutions receiving government funds, the Initiative will utilize the False Claims Act (FCA) to “investigate and . . . pursue claims against any recipient of federal funds that knowingly violates federal civil rights laws.” As part of the Initiative, . . . Read More
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
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
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
In this final blog of PilieroMazza’s blog series, “The Rise of OTA in Defense Contracting,” we discuss DOD’s authority to award OTs to consortia and how joining a consortium may be an ideal way to “get your feet wet” if you’re a small business, non-traditional government contractor, or otherwise new to OTA. Visit this link to access Parts 1-3 in this blog series. What is a Consortium? In the context of a DOD OT, a consortium is a relationship between a . . . Read More
Transparency into major system acquisitions by federal agencies could be a casualty of cuts to procurement regulations proposed by the agency council that coordinates how the government buys goods and services. Suggested deletions from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) will make executive branch agencies more vulnerable to financial and litigation risk when purchasing goods and services from the private sector[. . .]. . . . The overhaul would strip out key references to policies and procedures detailing the use of . . . Read More
On May 6, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) published draft revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as part of a sweeping, phased update known as the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO). The initial draft revisions—covering FAR Parts 1, 34, and 52—are now open for public comment through September 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. However, in a major break from traditional practice, federal agencies are being directed to begin immediate adoption of the draft text through FAR deviations. This . . . Read More
