Bid protests in Maine are governed by a relatively structured administrative framework that provides disappointed bidders and other “aggrieved persons” with a defined right to challenge contract and grant award decisions. Unlike more informal state procurement protest regimes, Maine law — particularly 5 M.R.S.A. § 1825-E — establishes mandatory procedures, strict deadlines, and a formal
Alaska’s bid protest framework provides an administrative process for challenging solicitation terms, proposed awards, and awarded contracts — but it is highly procedural, fast-moving, and strictly deadline-driven. As a result, involving experienced legal counsel early in the process is often critical to preserving protest rights and positioning the contractor for a meaningful remedy. Below is
On March 26, 2026, the president issued an executive order titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors”, directing federal agencies to include a new mandatory contract clause prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.” The order also expressly links compliance to False Claims Act (FCA) materiality, signaling heightened enforcement
On April 15, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a significant decision in Life Science Logistics, LLC v. United States, No. 2024-1522, clarifying the legal standard governing judicial review of agency overrides of automatic stays under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA). While the court addressed jurisdiction under
The first quarter of 2026 brought significant legal, regulatory, and compliance developments that federal contractors and government procurement professionals must understand. From transformative regulatory initiatives to high-profile executive actions and agency guidance, these shifts reflect changing priorities across the federal acquisition landscape. Below is a summary of the most impactful trends and legal updates through
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that IBM agreed to pay $17,077,043 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) in connection with its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring and employment practices. This resolution — the first under the DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative — underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny
In a decision that underscores the limits of “speed” in federal procurement, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently sustained a bid protest by Effective Communications Strategy, LLC (EFS) challenging a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contract award.
The case is a cautionary tale for both agencies and contractors. While streamlined acquisition methods are designed to
Federal contractors often face unique challenges when their work intersects with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). While FOIA primarily governs federal agencies, contractors can be indirectly affected when agencies receive requests for documents related to proposals or contract performance. Understanding how to respond — and when to object — is critical to protecting
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. The ruling invalidated a broad set of tariffs imposed by executive order under IEEPA and reaffirmed that the constitutional
The U.S. Department of Justice recently expanded and clarified its Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP), significantly strengthening incentives for corporations to report misconduct to the government. The policy is part of a broader effort to standardize corporate enforcement practices and reward companies that promptly disclose wrongdoing, cooperate with investigators and remediate misconduct.