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 […]
BIS Opens Door for Nvidia H200 & AMD MI325X Exports to China—With a 25% U.S. Cut. Opportunity or Trapdoor
In January 2026, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule that changes how the U.S. government reviews export licenses for certain advanced AI semiconductors, such as Nvidia H200 and AMD MI325X equivalents, when they are headed to China or Macau. The previous policy was a presumption of denial, meaning most applications […]
Latest Updates for Federal Government Contractors
I read all the news so you don’t have to. SBA Comprehensive Audit of 8(a) Program The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a sweeping audit of 8(a) contracts. This audit will start with 8(a) contractors receiving either high dollar value or limited competitive contracts. The SBA intends to go back for 15 years. Yes, you […]
Exporting Dual-Use Items from China
At the beginning of this month, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) added several U.S. defense companies to its strict export control list. This move follows the introduction of China’s new and stringent export control law, People’s Republic of China’s Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items (effective December 1, 2024). The law primarily targets dual-use […]
ITAR Revisions and Space Technologies: Modernization with Complexities
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) revisions, published on November 23, 2024, in the Federal Register, introduce pivotal updates to U.S. export controls governing space-related technologies. These changes reclassify certain less-sensitive technologies from the U.S. Munitions List (USML) Category XV (Spacecraft Systems and Associated Equipment) to the Commerce Control List (CCL) under the Export […]
Congress Changes Rules for DoD Task Order Protests At GAO
In late December 2024, Congress gave final approval to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The President signed the bill into law on December 23, 2024.[i] More than seventy acquisition policy provisions were included in this year’s bill. One provision, Section 885,[ii] shifted significantly from the version passed by House of Representatives […]
Teaming Agreements for the 21st Century (Part 2)
I started this topic more than a month ago. Since then, we’ve had a GovConversations on the topic, and now I’ll expand on the topic. First, why are some teaming agreements unenforceable in Virginia? When parties ask courts to do something, the courts like concrete terms and certainty about what the court is ordering. This is […]
We Got a CPARS and Now We are Singing the Blues
I am seeing a lot of CPARS coming out now that should have been done years ago by the government. One of the problems we are seeing is that the contracting officer and COR for that contract are long gone and someone else is now doing that evaluation. That someone has no idea whether your […]
Export Administration Regulations: Revisions to Space-Related Export Controls
IntroductionThe Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently issued significant updates to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) governing spacecraft and related technologies. These revisions aim to streamline export licensing for less sensitive items while maintaining stringent controls for technologies critical to U.S. national security and foreign policy. By easing restrictions on collaborations with trusted international […]
How Trump Administration May Affect Centre Law Clients
Trump Chief of Staff Will Issue “Regulatory Freeze” Direction (Alan Chvotkin) It has become tradition when there is a change in party control of the White House for the new President’s chief of staff to issue a memorandum to all federal agencies on Inauguration Day to freeze any further action on new regulations until a […]