On August 20, 2026, President Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 17 (NSPM-17), establishing a new National Space Transportation Policy and replacing the policy that had governed federal space transportation since 2013. The goal is ambitious: By 2030, America must be capable of supporting more than 1,000 launches and reentries every year. For perspective
The Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) recently issued an important decision explaining when a federal agency may terminate a contractor for default before contract performance is complete. In Jaxon Construction, Inc., ASBCA No. 64432 (June 24, 2026), the board recognized that although the contractor may have committed numerous performance deficiencies, the
In a significant policy shift that will have immediate implications for the defense industrial base (DIB), the Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 13, 2026, that it is suspending the implementation of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Phase II requirements. The announcement halts what would have been one of the most consequential cybersecurity
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision offers an important reminder that agencies cannot apply evaluation criteria that differ from the language of the solicitation. In Veterans Management Services, Inc., B-424182.2; B-424182.3 (June 22, 2026), GAO sustained a bid protest after finding that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improperly limited its review of
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has once again reinforced a critical message for the federal contracting community: Cybersecurity compliance is no longer simply a contractual obligation. It is increasingly becoming a False Claims Act enforcement priority that can expose government contractors to significant financial liability.
In a recently announced settlement, a defense contractor
On June 2, 2026, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security,” signaling the administration’s latest effort to strengthen America’s leadership in artificial intelligence while addressing emerging cybersecurity and national security risks associated with advanced AI systems.
The executive order reflects the administration’s broader policy approach
What happens when a mentor-protégé joint venture fractures before a federal contract is awarded — and the mentor company that supplied all of the experience and past performance tries to protest the resulting contract award? The United States Court of Federal Claims answered that question decisively in IBSS v. United States, dismissing the bid
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) recently issued a significant decision addressing due process, administrative records, and the evidentiary standards required for suspending a company from the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program. In ATI Government Solutions, LLC, SBA No. BDPT-728 (May 18, 2026), OHA remanded the proceeding after
The long-anticipated award decisions for the Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement VI, commonly known as NASA SEWP VI, represent one of the most significant procurement developments in the federal marketplace. With an estimated ceiling value approaching $60 billion and expected to serve as a major governmentwide acquisition contract for information technology products and services across
A government contractor submitted an email bid on time — and still lost the contract before anyone at the agency ever saw the proposal. That is the painful reality at the center of Rick Aviation, Inc. v. United States, a June 2026 decision from the United States Court of Federal Claims that carries significant