The Rise of OTAs in Defense Contracting: Opportunities, Risks, and What Contractors Need to Know
CHPS Podcast Episode 5: The Future of Federal Procurement
2024-2025 Bid Protest Decisions with Far-Reaching Impacts for Government Contractors
SBA’s Final Rule Is Here: Key Takeaways on Updates to HUBZone Program, Other Small Business Programs, and Various Small Business Matters
Mitigating FOCI Under Section 847
Navigating Bid Protest Choices at GAO and COFC
Sustainable Procurement: A Closer Look at the New Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
DE Under 3: FAR Council Seeks to Require Federal Contractors to Report First-Tier Subcontractor Information, Including Potentially Executive Compensation Data
New Wave of Pay Transparency Requirements Affects Employers and Federal Contractors
Recent Bid Protest Decisions Reshape Strategies for Future Government Contractor Success
DE Under 3: FAR Council's Latest Proposed Rule & OFCCP's 10 New FAQs on Compensation History
Excitement, Turbulence & Confusion: The Top 10 Employment Law Issues That Affected Federal Contractors in 2023
Successor Government Contractor Hiring Obligations Change: DOL’s Long Awaited Nondisplacement Rule
DE Under 3: FAR Council Submitted for OMB Approval Proposed Rule on “Pay Equity and Transparency in Federal Contracting”
DE Under 3: FAR Council Issued Final Rule Requiring Unionized Workforces on Large Federal Construction Projects
Intellectual Property In Department of Defense Contracting
Podcast - Navigating the TikTok Ban: Implications for Government Contractors
[Podcast] TikTok off the Clock: Navigating the TikTok Ban on Devices for Government Contractors
This small law firm has a BIG niche blog that brings in the clients - Legally Contented podcast
On July 18, 2025, the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum M-25-31. The Memorandum provides additional guidance on the consolidation of federal procurement activities pursuant to the...more
For those who grew up gripping a joystick and dodging alien fire in Defender, riding ostriches through floating platforms in Joust, or crossing a hectic freeway in Frogger, winning wasn’t about memorizing rules; it was about...more
As the federal government continues to modernize procurement processes and embrace emerging technologies, contractors are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline their responses to...more
Organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs) continue to be a critical compliance risk in the federal contracting landscape. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) mandates that contracting officers “avoid, neutralize, or...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
Under Executive Order 14173, federal contractors are required to certify that their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs comply with all applicable federal anti-discrimination laws. This certification must be...more
In Part 1 of our blog series, we outlined the Trump Administration’s new Executive Orders (“EOs”) on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (“DEI”) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (“DEIA”) programs, and the current...more
On February 26, 2025, Executive Order 14222, Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative, was released. This Executive Order (“EO 14222”) states that its purpose is to...more
WHAT: The March 14 funding deadline is fast approaching, and it is increasingly likely that the federal government may shut down. Although the House narrowly passed a funding bill this week, the Senate has signaled that it...more
As the Trump administration continues to eliminate federal positions and reduce contract and grant outlays, many private companies will likely be eyeing current and former government employees for employment over the coming...more
On February 26, 2025, the White House issued another Executive Order (EO) that will have major implications for Federal government contractors across numerous industries and agencies. The new EO, entitled Implementing the...more
The FAR Council issued a proposed rule that would amend the several FAR provisions and add new clauses to provide guidance on the safe handling of CUI. Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until March 17,...more
Organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs) should be front of mind for any federal government contractor. The mere presence of an OCI may cause contractors to reconsider which contracting opportunities to pursue, reshape...more
The wait is finally over! After more than 14 years of anticipation, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) Proposed Rule on Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”) was released on January 15, 2025 and comes as part of...more
On January 15, 2025, the Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (collectively, “the FAR Council”) issued a long-anticipated proposed...more
On January 15, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council published a proposed rule (the FAR CUI Rule) that would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to impose government-wide cybersecurity, training, and...more
After years of anticipation, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council has announced the arrival of its proposed rule to enhance the safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in federal contracts (the...more
As an initial primer: tariffs typically work as a tax, charged on goods purchased and imported to the United States from a foreign country. The tariff is charged as a percentage on the price paid for the foreign good. Tariffs...more
As the new administration embarks on its first 100 days, contractors and grant recipients face a pivotal moment. With a clear emphasis on reducing government spending and shifting resources toward energy independence and...more
To kick off the New Year (and as is now tradition, since we put out a similar Recap & Forecast last year), Sheppard Mullin’s Governmental Practice Cybersecurity & Data Protection Team has prepared a cybersecurity-focused 2024...more
Introduction - On January 3, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (“FAR Council”) published a long-awaited final rule to update suspension and debarment procedures. 90 Fed. Reg. 507. The final rule takes...more
Some might say there’s little difference between dealing with the devil and being a federal contractor. And for the unwary or unprepared, that may not be far off. Federal contracting comes with a litany of “fine print” that...more
Much has been and will be written on responsibility determinations and compliance programs in federal contracting, particularly at the intersection of cybersecurity and recent developments. Although a federal contract is not...more
In November 2022, the U.S. government, acting through the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics & Space Administration, issued a proposed rule that would amend the Federal...more
Stay on top of the complexities in aerospace, defense, and government compliance - Few industries are as heavily regulated as aerospace, defense, and government contracting, and few also have such a large investment in...more