Super Bowl Sunday is just a few days away. Whether you are a fan of football or are just tuning in for the commercials, I hope you have a relaxing day with friends and family. Next week, I’ll be heading to Orlando for the 2017 National 8(a) Association Small Business Conference where I have been selected as a panelist to discuss “Two is Better than One: JVs, MPs, and Teaming Agreements.” If you are planning to attend the conference I hope you will come say hello at my Koprince Law booth on the exhibit floor.

Before I leave the freezing temperatures of Kansas behind for the sunshine and sand of Florida, we bring you this edition of the SmallGovCon Week In Review. This week, we have articles discussing the role of FOIA under the new Administration, Congress is working to block former President Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” executive order, a look ahead to what experts are saying may be the most competitive year in federal IT contracts in over a decade, and much more.

• How does FOIA fit under the new Trump administration? FCW takes a look. [FCW]
• The VA is exempting some contracting professionals from President Donald Trump’s recently announced, short-term hiring freeze. [Federal News Radio]
• One commentator says that despite good intentions, initiatives surrounding the Multiple Award Schedules have resulted in costly, time-consuming contracting and reporting requirements for both contractors and contracting officials. [Federal News Radio]
• President Donald Trump signed an executive order that requires federal agencies requesting new regulations to cut two existing regulations, which he hopes will reduce regulatory burdens on the private sector, particularly small businesses. [NBC News]
• For the Trump administration to make good on its campaign pledges to radically reform the government, agencies will have to reprogram dollars from some current programs. [Washington Technology]
• If 2016 was the biggest year for federal IT contracts in a decade, 2017 might well be the most competitive. [Nextgov]
• A series of new acquisition rules proposed weeks ago by the Department of Homeland Security have some Federal contracting experts worried about future governmentwide disruptions and a decrease in competition. [MeriTalk]
• Leaders in both the House and Senate made good on past pledges and introduced a joint resolution to block former President Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” rule. [Government Executive]
• Linda McMahon clarified past statements and now says she favors keeping the SBA separate, instead of merging it into the Department of Commerce. [Multichannel]