All articles
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Policy
FY26 NDAA Section 866 — DoD told to harmonize defense industrial base cybersecurity by June 1, 2026
Section 866 directs DoW to reduce duplicative cyber requirements across DoD contracts and produce a report to Congress on harmonization. Plus Section 863 incentives for supply-chain transparency tools, Section 869 alternate-supplier qualification.
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Policy
ITAR USML revisions effective September 15, 2025 — what defense contractors need to know
State Department's final rule revised the U.S. Munitions List effective September 15, 2025. Categories IV (spacecraft) and XV (launch systems) saw items move from ITAR to EAR jurisdiction. Cambodia removed from prohibited countries list.
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Policy
CMMC Level 3 — 134 security controls, DIBCAC assessment, three-year cert renewal
Level 3 applies to DoD contractors handling CUI on the most sensitive programs. 134 controls (110 from NIST SP 800-171 + 24 from SP 800-172). Government assessment via DIBCAC, not C3PAOs. Renewal every three years. Likely first appearances in solicitations late 2026.
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Policy
DoD expands DFARS domestic sourcing requirements under new EO — specialty metals, rare earths added
A new executive order directing reduced dependency on foreign-sourced critical materials has prompted the DoD to issue a class deviation expanding DFARS domestic sourcing requirements to cover rare earth elements and specialty battery components. Affected contractors have 180 days to demonstrate compliance or receive a waiver.
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Policy
DCAA incurred cost rules — and the IPA evaluation due to Congress April 30, 2026
Federal contractors with cost-reimbursement work file Incurred Cost Submissions within 6 months of fiscal year-end. DCAA targets adequacy assessments in 60 days, audits in 1 year. Plus: DoD must evaluate Independent Public Accountants by April 30 and report to Congress.
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Protests
GAO sustains DHS EAGLE II protest — agency failed to document OCI mitigation for awardee's consulting role
The Government Accountability Office has sustained a protest challenging a DHS EAGLE II task order award, finding the agency failed to conduct a meaningful organizational conflict of interest review after the awardee's consulting subsidiary had assisted in writing the task order's performance work statement.
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Protests
SBA OHA ostensible subcontractor rule — VSBC-459-P clarifies when compliance is judged
January 15, 2026 OHA decision (VSBC-459-P) clarified that compliance with the ostensible-subcontractor rule and JV agreement requirements is determined as of the date of final proposal revision — not initial offer. Big implications for negotiated procurements.
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Policy
Section 508 — WCAG 2.0 still the formal baseline, but Refresh Act would push to WCAG 2.2
Federal accessibility (Section 508) currently requires WCAG 2.0 Level AA for federal websites and federally-procured ICT. The Section 508 Refresh Act, introduced July 2024, would update to WCAG 2.2, expand to cloud and AI interfaces, strengthen procurement docs.
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Policy
DFARS Cyber Incident Reporting Stays at 72 Hours as DoD Walks Back 8-Hour Proposal
DoD's Revolutionary FAR Overhaul reaffirmed the 72-hour DFARS 252.204-7012 cyber incident reporting window in June 2026, reverting course on an earlier, industry-opposed proposal that would have shortened it to 8 hours. Corrects the article's original claim that an 8-hour rule had taken effect — the opposite happened.
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Policy
SBA's 2-year JV rule — and why competitive 8(a) JV approvals stopped
Same JV partners can submit offers for 2 years from the date of the first contract before being deemed affiliated. Plus: SBA no longer approves JV agreements for competitive 8(a) contracts (sole-source still allowed).
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Awards
Bell V-280 Valor (now MV-75) — first FLRAA flight in 2026, production 2028, fielded 2030
The Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (Black Hawk replacement) is now designated MV-75. Bell Textron won the December 2022 contract; first prototype flight scheduled 2026, low-rate initial production 2028, initial fielding 2030.
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Awards
Air Force CCA program — Anduril and General Atomics in flight tests, production decision in 2026
Two prototypes flying: Anduril's YFQ-44A and General Atomics' YFQ-42A. Both companies received Increment 1 contracts in 2024; live flight tests began Aug-Oct 2025. Air Force is integrating government-owned Autonomy Reference Architecture and targets production decision in 2026.
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