TWIG-C™ – March 30, 2026

Mar 30, 2026 | TWIG-C™

GOVCON INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION:

GSA Market Research Tool – Market Research As a Service delivers meaningful market data to federal, state, and local agencies for free. Through FAR Part 10 compliant Requests for Information, sources sought, industry days, and advanced product research, MRAS collects data to help customers understand where their need fits within the GSA governmentwide marketplace. Additionally, MRAS helps provide feedback from industry about agency requirements documents, industry trends, best practices, and the best GSA contract and NAICS for their acquisition.

Contractors weigh in on how AI fits into GSA rules that weren’t built for it – We’ve been talking about what’s changing in GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule and how contractors will have to respond. The next question is how industry is reacting, especially as agencies try to buy AI through systems that weren’t designed for it.

GSA’s new AI clause drives contractors to sound the alarm – The General Services Administration is rolling out the government’s first acquisition regulation clause written specifically for artificial intelligence systems. It sets sweeping new rules on data ownership, licensing, disclosure and who’s on the hook when AI is used in contract performance—raising red flags across the contracting community. We’ll break down what’s in the clause, who it applies to and why industry groups are pushing back.

Expanding, Yet Under Fire: Takeaways on The False Claims Act in 2026 from the ABA White Collar Crime Institute – The FCA Panel at the 2026 ABA White Collar Crime Institute in San Diego made one thing clear: the False Claims Act is in a constant flux, shaped by constitutional tensions, policy debates, and a rapidly politicizing enforcement landscape. The FCA Panel brought together an unusually strong lineup featuring Michael Granston, Giselle Joffre, Jacqueline Romero, and Aviva Gilbert, with Preston Pugh moderating. Drawing on experience across DOJ leadership, U.S. Attorney offices, and defense-side practice, the Panelists offered a candid look at where FCA enforcement is headed. The throughline: an assertive government posture meeting a judiciary that is increasingly skeptical of overreach.

Army to ‘narrow’ right-to-repair effort in next NDAA after industry pushback – The Army is continuing its push for right-to-repair reform after Congress stripped the provisions from the 2026 defense policy bill following industry pushback, but a top official signaled to defense contractors that the renewed effort would be “very narrow.” Army Undersecretary Michael Obadal said last week the service is working with Congress to “get more refined” on the right to repair issue. “To me, we have to be very narrow on what we’re asking for,” Obadal said Tuesday during the McAleese Defense Programs conference.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Direct Final Rule: Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act Regulations Statutory Updates – On March 19, SBA published a direct final rule and request for comments implementing changes made to the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 by the Administrative False Claims Act (AFCA) of 2023. These changes, among other things, revise the name of the administrative action from “Program Fraud Civil Remedies” to “Administrative False Claims” and increase the threshold for a claim from $150,000 to $1,000,000. The AFCA mandates that the SBA issue regulations, and SBA is adopting statutory requirements without change. The rule is available here. The rule will be effective May 4, 2026. Comments close April 20, 2026.

Harsher penalties for contractors who violate new DEI EO – Federal contractors have been required to comply with the Trump administration’s mandate to remove anything that is considered diversity, equity and inclusion for the past 15 months. But under President Donald Trump’s new executive order, signed last night, vendors face harsher penalties that could include False Claims Act lawsuits as well as possible suspension and debarment.
The executive order details six new or expanded requirements for agencies and contractors as well as seven possible penalties for violations of the new order.

Trump Administration’s Latest Executive Order on DEI Requires Immediate Action for Government Contractors – On March 26, 2026, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies for federal contractors. The EO continues the Trump Administration’s hyper-trained focus on DEI, or what the President believes constitutes “racial discrimination in American society.” It follows a Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum issued in May 2025 in which DOJ indicated it would utilize the False Claims Act (FCA) to target DEI policies for federal contractors, educational institutions, and companies doing business with the federal government. In the latest EO, the President states that “DEI activities are not only unethical and often illegal, but also cause inefficiencies, waste, and abuse within entities that engage in such practices” and raises concerns that the alleged costs associated with federal contractors’ DEI policies are then passed on to the government.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Army RFI: AN/ALR-69A RWR, CSP, RR Engineering Services.
USAF RFI: Enterprise Hybrid SATCOM Connectivity Solutions.
NASA RFI: Lunar Science and Technology Payloads for Expanded Lunar Landing Opportunities.
DEA RFI: MSAT PTT and Satellite Data services and Devices.
Army RFI: Fog Tester Instrument Image Analysis Software.
Navy RFI: FY27-31 Technical Engineering Support Services.
NGA RFI: Applicant Tracking System.
Army BAA: Intelligence Technology Discovery Experiment 2026.
DOE RFI: Advancing Critical and Emerging Microelectronics Technologies.
PTO RFI: Asset Management Program Support Services.
USAF RFI: Materiel Management Operations Services.
AFRL RFI: Large Aircraft Threat Sensing and Cueing Capabilities and Technology Development.
DCSA RFP: CPOC 2.0 Background Investigation Support Contract.
CBP RFI: Mobile Technology Passive Optical Network.
State Department Seeks Industry Input for Diplomatic Platform Support Services II Contract