Government contractors operate in one of the most heavily regulated business environments in the world. Among the most significant compliance obligations facing contractors is the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s Mandatory Disclosure Rule (MDR), which requires contractors to disclose credible evidence of certain violations of federal criminal law, the False Claims Act, and significant overpayments arising in
For several years, defense contractors have been preparing for the implementation of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. In 2026, that preparation phase is rapidly giving way to implementation. Contractors that handle federal contract information (FCI) or controlled unclassified information (CUI) should expect CMMC requirements to appear with increasing frequency
Federal contractors should be paying close attention to a growing issue in government procurement: the use of shadow AI and generative artificial intelligence by agency evaluators during proposal evaluations.
As federal agencies increasingly experiment with AI tools in procurement and acquisition processes, evaluators may be using generative AI platforms to summarize proposals, identify strengths and
When the federal government awards a contract, it imposes a detailed set of legal obligations on the prime contractor through the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency-specific supplements. Those obligations do not stop at the prime level. Many of them — sometimes dozens — must be passed down
Quantum computing has moved from the laboratory into the national security conversation — and the regulatory landscape is shifting fast. Government contractors and companies operating in the quantum technology space face a growing web of export controls, foreign investment scrutiny, cybersecurity mandates, and data protection obligations that demand attention now, not when a commercially viable
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a significant proposal that could reshape how federal agencies address confidentiality obligations across the federal workforce. In a notice seeking public comment, OPM released a draft governmentwide nondisclosure agreement (NDA) intended for use with both new and existing federal employees. Comments are due by June 26, 2026.
The Defense Acquisition Regulations System has issued a significant proposed rule that would dramatically expand disclosure and compliance obligations for defense contractors and subcontractors regarding beneficial ownership and foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI). The proposed amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) implement key provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs)
A recent order from the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals in Zhang v. General Services Administration offers important guidance on the scope of discovery obligations in federal contract disputes — particularly where responsive records are held not by the respondent agency, but by a separate federal entity.
The decision merits attention for its analysis of
Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements have become one of the most important — and most misunderstood — vehicles for doing business with the federal government. Once limited to niche research programs, OTAs are now widely used across the Department of Defense and civilian agencies to accelerate acquisition of emerging technologies, prototypes, and innovative capabilities.
For
A recent executive order marks a significant policy shift in federal procurement by directing agencies to default to fixed-price, performance-based contracting. Framed as an effort to promote fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability, the order reflects concerns about cost overruns and inefficiencies associated with cost-reimbursement models. This post examines the order’s key provisions, its legal and