Expanding Exemptions: DoW Seeks Additional FOIA Exemption for CUI

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), enacted in 1967, allows the public to request federal government records. It is designed to require disclosure of US government records in the absence of any of its 9 exemptions for things like privacy, national security, and law enforcement.

Now, the Department of War (DoW) has asked Congress for additional exemptions to disclosing documents under (FOIA). DoW has submitted a legislative proposal to create an exemption for controlled unclassified information (CUI).

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Will Orlowski Joins Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC as Associate Attorney and SmallGovCon Contributor!

We are pleased to announce that Will Orlowski has joined the firm and will also be a regular SmallGovCon contributor! Please check out Will’s first post discussing joint venture certification and timing for eligibility.

Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Will worked as a law clerk for the firm for over two years, gaining invaluable experience and insight into a wide array of specialized government contracting areas while completing his legal education at the University of Kansas School of Law. During his time as a law student, Will was founder and President of two different student organizations, Student Articles Editor at the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy, Class Representative for the Student Bar Association, and a Student Ambassador. Will received the Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award as the most distinguished student in the combined areas of scholarship, leadership, and service, and was admitted into the Order of the Coif for excellence in academic achievement. In addition to his law degree, Will earned the Business and Commercial Law Certificate from the University of Kansas School of Law. 

In his free time, Will is an avid reader and music fan. He cherishes time with his friends and family and is an active member of the Lawrence, Kansas community, even serving as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Lawrence Farmers Market. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his fiancée and two magnificent cats and can often be found (loudly) cheering for his beloved Kansas Jayhawks. 

SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 21-25, 2026

Happy Friday! Fall is here, bringing some cooler weather and pumpkin everything. For small businesses contracting with the federal government, the SBA has been rolling out some important changes—including proposed updates to size standards and recent changes to the 8(a) program. The size-standard proposal could affect which businesses qualify as “small,” while the 8(a) changes may mean new considerations for current and prospective participants. We have been adding some blog posts about these changes so please stay tuned to SmallGovCon.com for the latest developments.

This week in federal government contracting saw stories related to size standards and government enforcement on bribery and false certifications.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 14-18, 2026

Happy Friday! Another week in the books and it sure was a busy one! For small business owners, that means celebrating the wins, learning from the challenges, and giving yourself a little credit for everything you managed to get done. This weekend we hope you can take a breath, step away from the emails for a bit, and enjoy some time off.

This week in federal government contracting news, stories include a CIO-SP4 post-mortem and new RFO parts being published for comments.

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Govology Webinar! Communicating with Government Contracting Officials: What Can (and Should) Contractors Really Say and Do? (2026 Update)–September 29, 2026

Clear communication with contracting officers and agency officials can help contractors resolve performance issues, negotiate contract changes, and protect valuable business relationships. But missteps can lead to unauthorized commitments, violations of gratuities and conflict-of-interest rules, contract disputes, or protests.

In this webinar, government contracts attorneys Nicole Pottroff and John Holtz will debunk common myths about contractor communications, including who has authority to modify a contract, how to respond to unauthorized instructions, when one-on-one communications are appropriate, and how government gratuities rules differ from commercial practices. Register here.

SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 7-11, 2026

Happy Friday! It’s sunflower season here in Kansas—our state flower—and the sunflowers were at peak bloom over Labor Day weekend. The hot weather didn’t seem to bother them, and it certainly didn’t keep people from coming out to enjoy the beautiful fields this year. It’s a great place to remember how beautiful the world can be. If you have a sunflower field near you, I encourage you to take some time to go see them.

As you head into the weekend, here is our roundup of the latest in federal contracting news.

This week in federal government contracting included stories about the savings from contract cancellations and a continued push for AI use by the federal government.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 31- September 4

Happy September! We’ve kicked off the month with some very hot days here, but we know the seasons will soon change and cooler fall weather will be here before we know it. We hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend and have plenty of time to relax and spend time with friends and family. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and a great start to September!.

This week in federal government contracting included important stories related to a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown, and a report that purported saved costs from last year’s contract terminations may not be as large as touted.

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