OPPORTUNITIES:
DISA RFI: Cloud Support Services.
NSF RFI: Technology, Information, and Partnership Directorate.
VA RFI: Rapid AI Software & Support.
Army RFI: Deployable Defensive Cyberspace Ops System – Modular Version.
ICE eyes data tools to monitor a million people. (See RFI)
GOVCON INSIGHTS:
Trump EO pumps brakes on software security requirements – The Trump administration is taking a step back on governmentwide software security requirements and setting up an industry consortium to develop guidance around the implementation of secure software development practices. President Donald Trump’s new cybersecurity executive order maintained Biden-era requirements for government contractors to sign off on a self-attestation software security compliance. The security standards are based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Secure Software Development Framework. But Trump’s order stripped a section from Biden’s January cyber EO that directed the development of new Federal Acquisition Regulations that would have required software vendors to submit proof that they comply with the NIST framework. In a fact sheet, the White House said Trump was taking steps to address “problematic and distracting issues” in Biden’s January order, including “unproven and burdensome software accounting processes that prioritized compliance checklists over genuine security investments.”
New SBA goals: Down but not out – On January 24, the Small Business Administration announced updated small business contracting goals for fiscal year 2025, significantly decreasing goals for small, disadvantaged businesses and standardizing targets across federal agencies for all categories except overall prime and subcontract small business goals. While the changes mostly bring the small business targets more closely in line with historic targets, they will have a considerable impact on the number of awards to small, disadvantaged businesses. In addition, there were some significant increases at some agencies to subcontract small business goals, which will impact large businesses required to submit small business subcontracting plans pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations 52.219-9. New administrations frequently tweak small business subcontracting goals to align closer to their overall policy objectives, and these changes are in line with the Trump administration’s broader push against programs seeking to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These revisions, coupled with an overarching objective to lower overall federal contract spend, will likely have significant effects on certain small businesses that contract with the federal government.
‘Absolutely nuts’: DHS secretary to review all contract, grant awards over $100k – Just ahead of the busiest time of the year for most agency acquisition shops, the Homeland Security Department is throwing in an extra layer of review for its procurement efforts. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is requiring her office to review and sign off on all contracts and awards over $100,000. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a new contract award review policy. “All proposals for my consideration must include all relevant details, including any mission impact, dollar values, description of the supplies or services, any timeliness issues and a description of the proposed action,” Noem wrote in the memo obtained by Federal News Network. “Requests for approval of obligations above the $100,000 threshold must be submitted via memo through the Executive Secretary process. As with any request for secretarial approval, please allow a minimum of five days for front office review.”
Pentagon cancels multibillion dollar household goods moving contract – The Defense Department has cancelled its multibillion dollar Global Household Goods contract (GHC), bringing an abrupt end to a years-long effort that was intended to overhaul the management structure of the system that’s used to move service members’ belongings from one duty station to another, but whose implementation ultimately caused many more problems than it solved. In a statement Wednesday night, the Pentagon said it terminated its up-to-$17.9 billion contract with HomeSafe Alliance for cause. Sean Parnell, DoD’s chief spokesman, said the decision was due to HomeSafe’s “demonstrated inability to fulfill their obligations and deliver high quality moves to service members.”
Back to Basics: Terminations – The word “termination” in nearly every context elicits concern. And in federal contracting, such concern may often be warranted. Some terminations are no big deal, resulting in a federal contract–or even just part of one–being ended a bit early for convenience of the government. But other terminations, based on alleged default or deemed “for cause,” can have significant negative impacts (especially on small and disadvantaged businesses). So, one thing remains consistent across the board for federal contract terminations: it is crucial to understand the type of termination you are issued, its legal implications, and your rights and options for resolution. This article provides a general overview of terminations. Future posts will dive in deeper to contractor termination rights and options and settlement proposals.
New sole-source thresholds gives a bigger piece of pie to Tribals and ignores small businesses – Small businesses aiming to work with the Defense Department are about to see even larger gaps in equity — literally. Proposed in November of 2024, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council recommended the sole source IDIQ justification threshold to go from $100M to $150M. What this means is the colloquial “super 8as” which currently have $100M sole source contracts without justification and approval see a 50% increase in capability, whereas more traditional minority-owned 8as remain stagnant.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Proposed Rule Withdrawals:
On June 12, the Department of Defense, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration withdrew three proposed rules: Protests of Orders under Certain Multiple-Award Contracts, published on January 15, 2025; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs, published on April 7, 2023; and Small Business Participation on Certain Multiple-Award Contracts, published on January 15, 2025. These withdrawals are made to reevaluate the rules considering the FAR Council’s new Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative.
General Services Administration (GSA) Notice: Advanced Notice for Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Refresh 27 and Upcoming Mass Modification – On June 9, GSA announced that it is planning to issue GSA MAS Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 – Refresh # 27 in June 2025. The notice outlines the upcoming changes. The full notice is available here. It is also attached.
FREE TRAINING:
Upcoming Government Contract Presentations (from PilieroMazza):
WEBINAR: Avoiding Common Teaming and Subcontracting Pitfalls, June 25, 2025, Jon Williams
WEBINAR: The Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act: What Government Contractors Need to Know, June 26, 2025, Jacqueline K. Unger, Abigail “Abby” Finan
TRAINING: Navigating the FAR/DFARS: The Most Confusing and Little-Known Clauses, August 13, 2025, Eric Valle, Kristine “Krissy” Crallé
PM WEBINAR: DOJ Uses FCA to Target DEI Policies and Antisemitism: The Impact on Government Contractors, July 10, 2025, Matthew E. Feinberg, Sarah L. Nash
WEBINAR: How Do I Get Paid When They Stop Paying? Strategies for Construction Contractors, August 1, 2025, Jessica A. duHoffmann, Tracey L. Pruiett
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, June 25, 2025, Sarah L. Nash
PM WEBINAR: Multijurisdictional Employers, Part 2: 2025 State-by-State Updates on Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements, July 1, 2025, Sarah L. Nash, Zachary S. Stinson
PM WEBINAR: Multijurisdictional Employers, Part 3: Best Practices for Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave, August 7, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah, Sara N. Strosser