FAR Overhaul
Practical insights and real-world guidance to help you navigate this key area of government contracting.
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511 – The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Overview
There is no constant but change (Heraclitus).
The FAR Overhaul is underway. This is happening in real time and it seems to be a moving target. This stands to be a really big deal – since the FAR is the Rule Book of government acquisition. Rather than guess about what may or may not be affected (reminder: Guessing is a time vampire), we are taking a methodical approach to outline each FAR Part update against four key concepts as it comes out.
In this episode, we begin the FAR Overhaul review with FAR Part 1. We break down what’s changed, what has not, and how these impact both government and contractors.
516 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 10
In this episode, Kevin and Paul dive into the FAR Part 10 Overhaul, a key part of the larger FAR 2.0 update known as “The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul.” FAR Part 10, which guides market research in federal acquisitions, has been dramatically shortened from 1300 words to just 318. The section on “procedures” has been removed, and “shall” has been replaced with “must.” Agencies now need to document market research results in a way that fits the acquisition’s size and complexity. The reference to a threshold for contracts worth over $6 million has been eliminated, along with many key words and sections, including those related to small businesses, trade-offs, consolidation, and bundling. The new FAR Part 10 favors existing contracts and incumbents, offering less guidance on how to conduct market research. COs have more freedom but less tactical guidance, and acquisition teams now have tools in one place, which could either streamline training or overwhelm with too many topics.
If you sell commercial products and services, this overhaul might bring more government business your way. However, if you’re not an incumbent or don’t have an existing contract, the new language drives the government to existing contracts, making it harder to break in. This overhaul aims to make market research regulations simpler and more efficient, giving COs more freedom but favoring existing contracts and incumbents, which could impact the diversity of the vendor base.
Tune in to hear Kevin and Paul break down these changes and what they mean for you!
520 – The “Overhaul” of FAR 6 (Part 1)
This is a big moment in our series on the FAR Overhaul. Kevin and Paul, are here to break it all down. FAR Part 6 is one of the most important parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. It tells us how the government decides to compete contracts. And now, it’s been rewritten.
In this episode, we look at what’s new in FAR Part 6. The part is now half as long as before—but does that make it better? We’ll use our WATS method—Words, Authority, Thresholds, and Specificity—to find out. If you work in government contracting, this episode will help you understand what’s changed and why it matters. Join us to learn how these updates could affect your work—and what to expect next.
523 – Overhaul of FAR Part 18 (Emergency Acquisitions) w/Cesar Lopez
Big changes are happening in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and this episode breaks down one of the most important updates—FAR Part 18. This part covers how the government buys things during emergencies. If you work in government contracting, this is something you need to know.
Host Kevin Jans is joined by Cesar Lopez, a retired Marine and experienced contracting officer. Cesar has handled contracts in emergency situations and shares real stories from the field. Together, they explain what’s new, what’s missing, and how these changes affect your work. This episode is clear, direct, and full of useful tips for anyone dealing with emergency acquisitions.
526 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 6 (Part 4 of 4) with Steve Lucianetti
Welcome to the final part of our four-part series on the FAR Part 6 overhaul. In this episode, we focus on how the government explains why it does not compete some contracts. This is a key part of government buying. It affects how contracts are awarded and how fair the process is for everyone involved.
Kevin is joined by Steve Lucianetti, a retired Navy contracting officer. Steve brings real-world experience to this topic. Together, they break down the changes using the WATS rubric. These updates may seem small, but they can have a big impact on how contracts are written and approved. If you work in government contracting or support it as a contractor, this episode will help you understand what’s new, what stayed the same, and why it matters.
513 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 1
The FAR Overhaul is underway.
In episode 511, Kevin and Paul introduced the “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul” and outlined what it means will change in GovCon, along with will not change. In this episode, they dig into the weeds of applying the Overhauled version of FAR Part 1.
The FAR is one big Rule Book (not a Play Book). Humans then often apply the FAR rules (and plays) to adapt uniquely to each acquisition, each situation, each contacting office, each contracting officer, and each contractor. Knowing the rules is important…but knowing how the rules may uniquely affect YOU is what really matters.
Kevin and Paul again use Skyway’s WATS rubric to assess what impact the new FAR Part 1 will have on us, individually and what, if anything, we need to do about it.
519 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 43 (w/ Steve Lucianetti)
Big changes are happening in federal contracting. The FAR is getting a major update. In this episode, we take a close look at the new version of FAR Part 43, which covers contract modifications. These updates are part of a larger effort to make the FAR easier to use and understand.
Your host, Kevin Jans, is joined by Steve Lucianetti, a retired Navy Contracting Officer. Steve brings real-world experience and stories that help explain why these changes matter. Together, they break down what’s new, what stayed the same, and how it affects your work. If you deal with contracts from a CO or a contractor’s point of view, this episode will help you stay informed and ready.
522 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 6 (Part 2)
In this episode, Kevin and Paul talk about the updated rule in FAR 6.103-1. This rule explains when the government can buy from just one source. It’s used when no other company can meet the need. This is a big part of how government contracts work.
The new version of the rule is shorter and easier to understand. It removes extra words and gives contracting officers more freedom to decide. If you work with government contracts, this episode will help you learn when and why sole source awards are allowed. Let’s take a closer look at what’s changed and why it matters.
525 – The “Overhaul” of FAR Part 6 (Part 3)
“The Overhaul of Part 6 – Part 3.” In this installment, Kevin and Paul continue their deep dive into the FAR overhaul, focusing on one of the most critical and nuanced aspects of federal acquisition—justifying when not to compete. This episode continues the series on FAR Part 6, bringing clarity to the updated rules around sole source contracting and the justification and approval (J&A) process.
By using the WATS rubric—the duo breaks down what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what it means for both government and industry. Whether you’re a seasoned acquisition professional or new to the field, this episode offers practical takeaways and thoughtful analysis on how the FAR overhaul is shaping the future of competition in government contracting.