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
The Rise of OTAs in Defense Contracting: Opportunities, Risks, and What Contractors Need to Know - As the Defense Department increasingly turns to Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to streamline innovation and...more
As the Defense Department increasingly turns to Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements to streamline innovation and speed up procurement, contractors—especially those in the defense sector—must adapt to this rapidly...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
On July 23, the White House released its strategic action plan on AI, “Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan” (the AI Action Plan), which is designed to secure U.S. global leadership in AI with a strategic focus on...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
On June 30, 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) published a...more
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) published a press release on May 9, 2025, announcing an updated Standard Form 328 (SF-328), Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interest. The updated form was approved...more
On June 5, 2025, the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Congress convened a hearing titled “Barriers to Supply Chain Modernization and Factor Productivity Enhancements.” Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses...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
The Department of Defense (DoD) is revving its engines again—this time to rocket past its own software acquisition drag. Launched via an April 24 memo from Acting DoD CIO Katie Arrington, the DoD’s Software Fast Track (SWFT)...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
Cyber-attacks against America’s defense industrial base are becoming more sophisticated and more frequent. To reduce the risk of sensitive national security information landing in the hands of bad actors, the Department of...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
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), is cracking down on procurement fraud and contract fraud. It has recently issued multiple referrals for suspension or debarment, and it is targeting not only prime vendors, but...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
In a decisive move to stay ahead in an era of rapidly evolving digital threats, the Department of Defense (DOD) is accelerating its push for software modernization. The upcoming launch of the Software Fast Track (SWIFT)...more
In celebration of the release of the 6th edition of the Government Contracts Compliance Handbook, we are excited to share six essential tips for ensuring compliance in government contracts in support of Foreign Military Sales...more
The Department of Defense has initiated a far-reaching transformation of its civilian workforce through the Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative, formalized in the Deputy Secretary of Defense memorandum...more
On April 7, 2025, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) announced a comprehensive reorganization plan aimed at consolidating its Region and Corporate Audit Directorates (CAD) into three primary Directorates in response to...more
President Donald Trump signed an executive order April 9, “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base,” to reform the United States’ “antiquated defense acquisition processes.”...more
On April 9, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base,” directing the Secretary of Defense to study and report on ways to...more
On April 9, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) titled Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base. This EO seeks to overhaul many aspects of defense acquisition...more