Bigger Threshold, Smaller Footprint: What the 2026 CAS Reforms Mean for Federal Contractors
KEY TAKEAWAYS Effective October 1, 2026, the CAS Board’s implementing final rule completes a major overhaul of the Cost Accounting Standards framework, including substantial increases to the thresholds governing CAS applicability, full coverage, Disclosure Statement requirements, and agency waiver authority. The basic CAS applicability threshold increases from $2.5 million to $35 million, while the longstanding […]
GovCon Roundup: Three September Developments Federal Contractors Need to Know
September 2026 has been one of the busiest months for federal procurement policy in years. The Defense Department turned its CMMC pause into binding contract policy, the FAR Council released its second set of Revolutionary FAR Overhaul proposed rules, and SBA’s overhaul of 8(a) eligibility took effect. Each development is significant by itself. Together they […]
A $7.75 Million Omission: The FCA, Omissions, and False Claims Prosecutions
Sierra Nevada Company, LLC (SNC), the Sparks, Nevada aerospace and defense contractor, agreed on July 28, 2026 to pay $7.75 million to resolve False Claims Act (FCA) allegations. The problem was not a defective part or an inflated invoice. It was a conflict of interest that never made it onto the page. Â It was a […]
The Army Goes Commercial: What Directive 2026-19 Means for Software Contractors
In this post, Associate Attorney Chase Tavernier gives an overview of Army Directive 2026-19, its key requirements including mandatory software acquisition processes, a commercial-first solutions approach, and using testing and cybersecurity to enable speedy delivery. Chase also provides insights on how contractors should proceed under this new Directive. Key Takeaways Army Directive 2026-19 (“Directive […]
“Good Enough for Government Work?” Lessons for Contractors from Revelations Counseling and Consulting, LLC v. United States
Everyone has heard the phrase “good enough for government work,” used with a wink to describe work that clears the bar without going the extra mile. A new decision from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims makes clear that for mandatory certification requirements in a solicitation, “good enough” isn’t good enough at all. In Revelations […]
A New Era for the 8(a) Program: How SBA Is Redefining Proof of Social Disadvantage
Beginning September 10, 2026, the familiar 8(a) eligibility framework gives way to a fundamentally different approach. Applicants must now prove social disadvantage through evidence of group-based discrimination, replacing both the longstanding presumption and the individualized narrative that defined the certification process for decades. On August 11, 2026, SBA published a final rule rewriting 13 C.F.R. […]
Phishing for Contractors: A Cybersecurity Dilemma for GSA Schedule Holders
Most of us have received phishing emails in the past. Whether from actual criminals or from IT staff testing our ability to distinguish good from bad, phishing is a reality for all of us. Many phishing attempts are obvious, often intentionally so. A more difficult to detect phishing scheme has been targeting government contractors, especially […]