The Rise of OTAs in Defense Contracting: Opportunities, Risks, and What Contractors Need to Know
Podcast - Navigating the Updated SF-328 Form
Podcast - A Comparative Guide to Obtaining an FCL: DCSA vs. the Intelligence Community
Diversifying Your Contract Pipeline by Maximizing Opportunities through the DOD’s Mentor Protégé Program
A Comprehensive Overview of FOCI Mitigation
Podcast - Defense Dynamics: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape for the National Security Sector, Part 2
Mitigating FOCI Under Section 847
Episode 345 -- Raytheon Pays $950 Million to Resolve Fraud, FCPA, ITAR and False Claims Act Violations
Everyone Come to Play: Exploring FOCI Mitigation Instruments
Defense Dynamics: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape for the National Security Sector
Podcast - Navigating M&A Due Diligence: Safeguarding Security Clearances
Podcast - Change Condition Packages: Tips for Cleared Contractors
Podcast - Corporate Documents in the Context of Clearances
Navigating Personnel Security Clearances (PCLs)
Cybersecurity Insights: Updates on CMMC Implementation and CUI Identification
What Is an FCL and How Do I Obtain One?
Protecting Our Nation’s Data: Cybersecurity Compliance for Government Contractors
Intellectual Property In Department of Defense Contracting
The When, Where, Why and How of CMMC with Fernando Machado
Welcome to Holland & Knight's monthly defense news update. We are pleased to bring you the latest in defense policy, regulatory updates and other significant developments....more
For contractors within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the time to ensure compliance with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program (CMMC) 2.0 is now. DOD formally sent the final...more
The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) response to congressional inquiry regarding GAO’s bid protest function (Section 885 response), while pushing back against some proposed changes that could disincentive meritorious...more
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has published a July 2025 report entitled Update on Critical Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Uses. House Report 118-121, which accompanied the 2024 DOD appropriations bill (H.R. 4365),...more
The United States Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued a final rule on July 7, 2025 that immediately amended the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)....more
Earlier this year, the Department of Defense (DoD) published an “Intellectual Property Guidebook for DoD Acquisition.” It is the culmination of many years of work and the most insightful data rights guidance out of the...more
On July 9, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) voted 26-1 to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 to the Senate floor. The Senate version of the NDAA includes a comprehensive...more
As we noted in a blog post in February, the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was enacted in December 2024 included a provision at Section 885 raising the protest threshold for Department of Defense (DoD), Coast...more
On July 9, 2025, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued a public notice requesting comments on how to strengthen the role of small businesses in the defense industrial base. The deadline for comments is August 8, 2025....more
Government contractors should be on high alert following the recent announcement that Raytheon Company, its parent RTX Corporation, and Nightwing Group, LLC, have agreed to pay $8.4 million to resolve allegations of violating...more
The Defense Production Act of 1950 (“DPA”) remains one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in the federal government’s arsenal for mobilizing private industry during national emergencies. For in-house counsel,...more
For government contractors, one consequence of the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce is the availability of recently departed (or actively looking to depart) government employees. This...more
Closing an aerospace or defense M&A deal is only the beginning. Successful integration requires careful planning to ensure compliance, operational continuity, and the retention of key personnel....more
In SMS Data Products Group, Inc., B-423341, et al. (May 29, 2025), SMS Data Products Group protested a task order award to Abacus Technology Corporation for intranet control support services. While the protest raised several...more
The Department of Defense’s (“DoD”) Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment issued a memorandum on June 23, 2025, that tightens oversight on DoD contracts for information technology consulting & management services...more
This week, I discuss with Patricia Underwood, Ph.D., DABT, MBA, Chief Toxicologist, Principal Director – Chemical and Material Risk Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, and my...more
Government contractors regularly handle sensitive federal data, and cybersecurity compliance is no longer optional—it’s mandatory. A recent settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and defense contractor Raytheon...more
Continuing its efforts under Chairman Brendan Carr’s leadership to safeguard United States communications infrastructure from foreign threats, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted an Order and...more
On May 27, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) issued a request for information (RFI) to gather information to identify and assess critical applications for DOD and the defense industrial base (DIB) that necessitate...more
Contractors Should Seek to Distinguish Themselves in More Competitive Environment - The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on May 27, 2025, issued a memorandum implementing Executive Order (EO) 14222. As Holland & Knight...more
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) on May 27, 2025, issued a memorandum implementing Executive Order (EO) 14222. As our team previously summarized, EO 14222 implemented the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) "cost...more
Government efforts to enforce cybersecurity control requirements have moved forward in the opening months of the Trump administration. Regardless of the changes coming to other areas of contracting and the Federal Acquisition...more
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently issued a memorandum signaling that defense contractors soon will be required to comply with new cybersecurity compliance requirements. The memorandum establishes...more
Section 847, which will expand foreign ownership, control or influence requirements to non-classified contracts, is on track for implementation in 2026. Section 847 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2020...more
Welcome to Holland & Knight's defense news update. We are pleased to bring you the latest in defense policy, regulatory updates and other significant developments....more