DHS Updates Cybersecurity Regulations Clarifying Old and New Obligations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a final rule (Final Rule), effective July 21, 2023, updating the Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) to include cybersecurity provisions aimed at safeguarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and facilitating improved incident reporting. This rule’s promulgation follows a recent trend and overall government-wide effort focused on strengthening our national security against bad actors and foreign adversaries. PilieroMazza recently blogged about some of those efforts, including the TikTok ban ( here ), new standardized cybersecurity obligations mirroring . . . Read More
8(a) MAS Pool Initiative Increases Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small-Disadvantaged Businesses
PilieroMazza recently shared the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) new rules: (1) Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization (Moratorium Rule) and (2) Affiliation and Lending Criteria for the SBA Business Loan Programs (Affiliation Rule). These rules focus on combating persistent gaps in access to capital affecting small business owners in underserved communities. Along the same vein, a recent initiative jointly issued by the SBA and the General Services Administration (GSA) is the 8(a) MAS (Multiple Award Schedule) Pool Initiative (the Initiative). The Initiative aims to increase federal contracting opportunities for small-disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) who are part of SBA’s 8(a) . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – July 6, 2023
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB): Certification; Correction, Small Business Administration (SBA) SBA is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2022. . . . Read More
Clocking in with PilieroMazza: New FAR Clause Bans TikTok on Federal Contractor Devices
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – June 29, 2023
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GAO Sustains Rare Bid Protest Challenging Agency’s Corrective Action, PilieroMazza Blog, Sam Finnerty In February 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) agreed to take corrective action following three bid protests filed at the . . . Read More
Clocking in with PilieroMazza: FLSA Exemptions Matter When Bidding for SCA Contracts
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – June 22, 2023
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Federal Drive with Tom Temin Interviews PilieroMazza’s Kevin Barnett on DOD Rule Updating SPRS Assessment Process for Federal Contractors, PilieroMazza News, Kevin Barnett The Department of Defense (DOD) issued a final rule amending . . . Read More
GAO Sustains Rare Bid Protest Challenging Agency’s Corrective Action
In February 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) agreed to take corrective action following three bid protests filed at the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Thereafter, two of the original protestors, Kupono Government Services, LLC and Akima Systems Engineering, LLC, filed protests challenging the scope of DOE’s corrective action. In Kupono Gov’t Servs., LLC; Akima Sys. Eng’g, LLC, B-421392.9 (June 5, 2023) , GAO sustained the protests, finding that DOE neither appropriately explained nor described its reasoning for the corrective action. In this blog, PilieroMazza reviews the facts of the case and offers . . . Read More
The FCA at the Supreme Court, Part 3 of 4: Subjective Intent Controls FCA Liability
The False Claims Act (FCA) is seeing quite a bit of action at the Supreme Court this term, with multiple cases under consideration. In this third installment in PilieroMazza’s blog series on “The FCA at the Supreme Court,” we examine active cases, comment on recently issued decisions, and discuss ways government contractors can protect themselves against an FCA claim or in FCA litigation. Parts 1 and 2 of the series are available here and here . In the second installment of this . . . Read More
Federal Drive with Tom Temin Interviews PilieroMazza’s Kevin Barnett on DOD Rule Updating SPRS Assessment Process for Federal Contractors
The Department of Defense (DOD) issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requiring Contracting Officers to use Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) assessments when evaluating proposals and considering a contractor’s responsibility. Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with PilieroMazza attorney Kevin Barnett about what the updated rule means for government contractors. Below is a transcript of Kevin’s interview, and visit this link to hear the audio version. For more coverage on this topic, please visit this link for a blog and this link for a webinar . . . Read More