Category Archives: Federal Government Contracting

SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 15-19, 2025

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Happy Friday. Federal contracting is seeing a lot of movement lately. Contractors, as usual, must stay flexible as the federal acquisition world and rules keep shifting. With regulatory updates rolling out and fresh talk of bid protest reforms, contractors have a lot to keep up with. Luckily, we have summarized these updates for you!

You can read more about what is happening in federal government contracting this week, in the articles below, including a bipartisan bill on price gouging by contractors and talks of a a potential shutdown.

Have a great weekend!

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A Refresher on How the Small Business Rule of Two Generally Works

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We have talked a good deal about the Small Business Rule of Two (not to be confused with the separate VA rule of two for veteran-owned businesses) over the years. The (very) general gist of the rule is this: If the procurement is above the simplified acquisition threshold, the agency must set it aside for small businesses if two or more small businesses can perform the work at fair prices. If the agency has a reasonable expectation that two or more SDVOSB/VOSBs, EDWOSBs/WOSBs, 8(a) participants, or HUBZone participants can perform work under a procurement, the agency must consider setting aside the procurement for that particular category (i.e., if it believes two or more 8(a) participants can perform the work, it can set aside the procurement for 8(a) participants). However, it appears there remains a good deal of confusion about what the Rule of Two requires, as opposed to what it simply permits. In a recent GAO protest, a contractor learned this the hard way, and today, we’ll explore that decision.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 8-12, 2025

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This week’s Week in Review includes quite a few updates from the federal procurement world. Federal contractors should take note of several major updates. These include:

  • A new GSA streamlining office
  • DoD finalized CMMC rules
  • Increased federal IT spending overall

You can read more about these topics and more in the articles below.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: September 1-5, 2025

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Happy Friday and happy September! We hope you had a great Labor Day weekend. It’s that time of year when everything starts to shift. The chill in the air and the marketing of pumpkin spice fills your social media feeds. My kids are back in school and football is back in session as well. Hope you had a great first week of September.

Speaking of shifting, federal government contracting news included a fall target for FAR updates, potential changes to SBIR rules, as well as the unwanted specter of a government shutdown.

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SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 25-29, 2025

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Happy Friday and happy Labor Day weekend! Labor Day was established to honor the hard work and achievements of American workers. It originated in the late 19th century during a time of growing labor movements advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and reasonable hours. Today, it not only pays tribute to those efforts but also marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the fall season. We hope you enjoy a day of rest, barbecues, and time with family!

This week in federal government contracting, take a look at stories highlighting the FAR overhaul, reduced peer review for Army procurements, and increasing use of AI.

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Govology Webinar: Avoiding Common Bid Protest Mistakes, September 11, 2025

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Bid protests are an unavoidable part of federal contracting—and they seem to be happening more often as competition grows. What many contractors don’t realize is that the outcome of a protest is often determined before it’s even filed. Understanding the rules, timelines, and procedures is critical to protecting your company’s chances.

In this focused course, federal government contracting attorneys John Holtz and Gregory Weber will break down the most common mistakes contractors make during the protest process—and how to avoid them.

Key topics include:

  • The difference between bid protests and size/status protests
  • What pre-bid protests are and why they matter
  • Critical deadlines and how debriefs affect them
  • How to get the most from a debrief
  • Frequent pitfalls that can hurt the protest success

Please join us for this informative Govology webinar by registering here.

SmallGovCon Week in Review: August 18-22, 2025

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Happy Friday! It’s beginning to look like the Fall season is upon us, with the kids going back to school and football season starting. Our college town is buzzing with activities as the students arrive to start the semester. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and can catch a game or two.

This week in federal government contracting, take a look at articles showing potential GSA acquisitions for an AI procurement system, increased use of best in class contracts, and new cybersecurity requirements.

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