Back in October and November 2025, with the Department of Defense putting some finishing touches on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (“CMMC”) Program, we explored the contours of that program and what it means for contractors like you. During this same timeframe, we were not the only ones reviewing the CMMC Program. The GAO also has been in the process of conducting a review of the CMMC Program and recently released its findings. In a report titled, “Defense Contractor Cybersecurity: DOD Should Address External Factors That Could Impede Program Implementation,” GAO’s position on the CMMC Program is pretty clear: Good but needs tweaking. Today, we’ll take a look at those findings and how they might affect the CMMC Program going forward.
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SmallGovCon Week in Review: March 16-20, 2026
Happy Friday! Well, March Madness is off to an exciting start! Here at SmallGovCon, we have our brackets locked in and are having a lot of fun talking basketball. If you have a dog in the hunt, we hope you are enjoying the hopeful journey to the championship along with us. There’s nothing quite like this time of year—the buzzer-beaters, the unexpected upsets, and the camaraderie of cheering on your favorite picks. Whether you’re tracking every game or just in it for the fun, we hope you have a wonderful weekend and an absolutely “mad” March!
Turning to recent federal government contracting news, the NCAA tournament teams are clearly not the only ones applying some full court press right now. As you can see from this week’s articles, the federal government also continues to apply pressure in implementing its recent efficiency and consolidation-based initiatives. This includes: new HR services sharing from the OPM, seeking to streamline agencies’ back-office capabilities; new GSA goals to use acquisition as “a primary lever for Section 508 compliance”; the Army’s consolidation of its 120 Anduril contracts together into a single (potentially $20 billion) enterprise agreement; AI’s continued journey into various aspects of our federal procurement system; even some insight into DOGE itself, as well as its early days of pressure campaigns; and so much more. So, buckle up for some March Madness both on and off the basketball court!
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: March 9-13, 2026
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.
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: March 2-6, 2026
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.
Continue readingSkin of its Teeth: Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture Survives SDVOSB Status Protest Despite Missing Required Provisions in Joint Venture
For the most part, the rules on joint ventures under SBA are very similar. the various regulations for small business, 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, and HUBzone joint ventures are so similar in fact that they are almost identical. But they are not perfectly identical. There are a few quirks that distinguish the regulations from the others, and one such quirk can cost contractors dearly if they are not careful. In today’s post, we will review an SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) case in which one SDVOSB nearly fell victim to this quirk to show what this quirk is, and how you can avoid the same.
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: February 23-27, 2026
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.
Continue readingSmallGovCon Week in Review: February 16-20, 2026
Happy Friday! After a stretch of surprisingly mild winter days, that brisk north wind rolled in yesterday and reminded us that it’s still February. Brrr! We were crossing our fingers that the groundhog’s prediction wouldn’t hold up this year and that spring would make an early appearance. Judging by today’s chill, though, it seems he may have been correct after all.
We hope your week has been a productive one and that you’re keeping cozy in your corner of the community. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the articles we’ve gathered for you below, including updates on the partial shutdown, a defense of the 8(a) Program, and DoD procurement overhauls. Have a great weekend.
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