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.
A suspension notice from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can have immediate and significant consequences for a participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program. While a suspension is not the same as a final termination, it typically halts a firm’s ability to receive new 8(a) contract awards and may jeopardize its continued participation in
We previously published an update on the bid protest procedures in the state of Alabama, discussing the revised statutory and regulatory processes and procedures implemented effective October 1, 2022. Certain of these statutes have since been updated again, effective June 1, 2025. This article provides a brief update on those revised statutory processes and procedures
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced recently that settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (FCA) exceeded $6.8 billion in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 — the highest single-year total in the statute’s history. The announcement underscores the continued centrality of the FCA in the federal government’s fraud-enforcement arsenal.
Since Congress substantially
On January 7, 2026, the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14372 entitled “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting.” The order marks a decisive shift in federal defense procurement policy: Production performance and readiness now take precedence over shareholder returns for major contractors. It introduces prohibitions on stock buybacks and dividends during periods of underperformance, accelerates