SBIR/STTR Program Reauthorized Through 2031: What Small Business Contractors Need to Know
President Trump signed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act on April 13, 2026, extending the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031. The legislation introduces "strategic breakthrough" Phase II awards of up to $30 million to bridge the traditional "Valley of Death" between development and commercialization. It also mandates tighter national‑security screening and sets limits on how many Phase I and Phase II proposals a contractor may submit each fiscal year starting FY 2027. Agencies must implement these changes within 90 days of FY 2027’s start.
FCA 101: Materiality
The False Claims Act requires a misrepresentation to be material—meaning it must actually influence the government’s payment decision, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Universal Health Services v. Escobar. Recent executive orders (EO 14173 and EO 14398) attempt to make compliance...
Protecting Protest Rights When a Procurement Scandal Is Unfolding
New allegations reveal that former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Special Government Employee Corey Lewandowski may have steered $220 million advertising contracts and a $1 billion procurement toward politically connected firms, demanding "success fees" and other improper payments. The claims, detailed in...
Has GSA Adopted DOD’s CMMC Requirements?
On January 5 2026 the General Services Administration issued an IT Security Procedural Guide that instantly raises cybersecurity requirements for any contractor handling Controlled Unclassified Information. The guide forces compliance with NIST SP 800‑171 Rev 3, selected SP 800‑172 Rev 3 controls, and privacy controls from...
Acknowledging Amendments: When Is an Amendment Material to an Invitation for Bids?
The GAO’s Morrish‑Wallace Construction decision clarified that an amendment to an Invitation for Bids is material when it adds new performance requirements, even if the price impact is negligible. In the case, a revised sheet‑pile cap size increased material costs...
The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Issues New Rules of Procedure for Its Adjudicatory Role in the Administrative False Claims...
The episode explains the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals' (CBCA) new procedural rules for handling cases under the Administrative False Claims Act (AFCA), which replaces the old PFCRA. It outlines how the AFCA differs from the False Claims Act, notably...
A Recent Federal Circuit Case Highlights the Perils of Not Intervening in a Bid Protest and Raises Issues Caused by...
The episode examines the Federal Circuit appeal in Global K9 Protection Group LLC v. United States, highlighting how a contractor (K2 Solutions) lost its award by failing to intervene in a bid protest and by not obtaining a redacted copy...
What to Know About the Department of Defense’s Review of 8(a) and Small Business Awards
The episode explains the Department of Defense's two‑stage review of small‑business and 8(a) contracts over $20 million, aimed at identifying non‑essential awards, excessive pass‑through arrangements, and above‑market pricing. It outlines the tight timeline—stage one due by Jan 31, 2026 and stage two...
FAR Part 13: Can I Wait to Protest When the Agency Tells Me a Debriefing Will Be Provided?
This episode breaks down a recent GAO decision (ASG Solutions Corp.) that clarified how timeliness rules apply when a contract is awarded under FAR Part 13. The GAO held that because the Navy’s procurement was a simplified acquisition, it was not...