A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims delivers an important — and sobering — message to small businesses competing for federal innovation funding: Historical ties to foreign countries of concern can be sufficient, standing alone, to disqualify a company from receiving a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award, even when those ties
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
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
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
South Korea has become one of the fastest-growing defense markets on the planet. Korea’s defense exports reached $15.4 billion in 2025, surging 60% year-on-year, driven largely by major contracts with Poland and other NATO-aligned buyers. The country’s four largest defense firms — Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries, and LIG Nex1 — are expanding
The timing has rarely been better for Korean companies to pursue U.S. government contracts. The White House and the Republic of Korea signed a Technology Prosperity Deal MOU in October 2025 covering AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and space. Korean companies committed $350 billion in U.S. investments. And the administration’s America’s Maritime Action Plan — issued
AI is now embedded in core defense mission systems, acquisition planning, and contract administration. The legal, compliance, and contractual risks that follow are fast-growing and consequential — capable of derailing performance, generating False Claims Act (FCA) exposure, or disqualifying proposals.
As the Department of Defense (DoD) increases its reliance on AI-enabled capabilities, contractors should understand