Author Archives: Shane McCall

SmallGovCon Week in Review: March 23-27, 2026

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Happy Friday! I just got back from a short trip to the Caribbean to enjoy some relaxation with the fam. We saw some incredible fish, rays, and even a sea turtle, while also making some time for reading on the beach. It’s good to recharge the batteries every once in a while and come back raring to go.

But federal contracting news never stops. This week in federal government contracting news including a report that the federal government is looking to hire more employees (but maybe cut down on the number of contractors), SBA moving it’s Washington district office, and how AI is fitting into federal contractor work.

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“In Scope” vs. “Out of Scope” Modifications: How GAO Explains The Difference

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One of the perennially popular topics on SmallGovCon has been the question of what constitutes a modification to a contract that renders that modification “Out of Scope.” This post will explore a leading GAO decision that came out back in 2017, along with some recent updates on this same question.

An agency may modify a contract without having to deal with restrictions in the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), so long as the the modification is deemed “in scope.” An “out of scope” modification, on the other hand, is improper–and may be protested at GAO.

In a leading bid protest decision, GAO denied a protest challenging an agency’s modification of a contract where the modification was within scope and of a nature that competitors could have reasonably anticipated at the time of award. In its decision, GAO explained the difference between an in scope and out of scope modification, including the factors GAO will use to determine whether the modification is permissible.

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Webinar Announcement: Protests in Federal Contracting: What Contractors Need to Know

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Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC partner Nicole Pottroff will be joining the GovCon Roundup Crew to discuss bid protests tomorrow at March 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. Be sure to join them to learn when a bid protest might be a strategic choice for federal contractors to make, and how to respond to bid protests.

Do you know your rights when the government gets procurement wrong? Join Nicole Pottroff, Carroll Bernard, and Steven Koprince on the next GovCon Roundup Live for a 90-minute deep dive into bid protests — one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) tools in federal contracting.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: March 9-13, 2026

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Happy Friday the 13th…again! This time of year, that Friday feeling hits even better because March Madness is right around the corner. Around these parts, with the original rules of basketball down the road (!), we are looking forward to the onset of March Madness. Even if you don’t have a favorite team, you can always root for your favorite mascot. Enjoy the weekend and here’s hoping your favorite team makes a run for the championship title.

And now, this week in federal government contracting, updates including increased use of AI and getting more technology experts into the government.

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OHA: NAICS Code Should be Diagnostic Imaging, Not Physicians Office

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In the world of government contracting, most contractors consider protests in the context of bid, size, or status protests. As we’ve discussed before, however, there is another highly useful tool in the toolbox for contractors: the NAICS code appeal. When leveraged correctly, the NAICS code appeal can be quite effective for small businesses in securing a favorable outcome. That said, a recent SBA OHA decision shows that the burden of proof on a NAICS code protester requires some potentially heavy lifting. Today we’re diving into that decision to help clarify what it takes to successfully appeal the NAICS code designation in a federal solicitation, and thereby help determine whether this particular approach is the right one for your business.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: March 2-6, 2026

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Happy March! The weather is turning warmer, but also stormier in our parts. We hope everyone is thawing out from winter and enjoying some nicer weather. Please enjoy the articles from the Week in Review, with updates on the FAR overhaul, AI in government, and adoption of CMMC. And note that key US historical documents will making a journey across the US soon, and may come to site near you. The first stop is Kansas City, Missouri, right down the road from us, where the documents will be transferred to the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: February 23-27, 2026

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Happy Friday! It seems like only last week that the winter Olympics ended (probably because it was last week). That means it is time to look forward to spring. With the buds and grass starting to shoot up, warmer weather is right around the corner. We just have to hold out for a few more weeks.

As we wrap up the week in the world of federal government contracting, we hope you can find the time to take a breath and reset this weekend. Key stories this week include awards on large IT contracts and a bill to change how contractor employees can be evaluated. Have a great weekend.

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