Policy
FAR and DFARS rulemaking, executive orders, and acquisition policy shifts — explained in plain English.
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Policy
Trump's January 7 Warfighter EO — stock-buyback ban for 'underperforming' defense primes
The January 7, 2026 EO 'Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting' directs DoW to identify underperforming primes, prohibit their stock buybacks and dividends until performance issues cure, and link future executive compensation to performance metrics.
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Policy
SBA suspends 1,000+ firms, terminates 800+ in 8(a) program — and shifts to race-neutral review
A cascade of enforcement actions in Q1 2026: over 1,000 8(a) firms suspended, 800+ in termination proceedings, and formal guidance that 8(a) eligibility is now evaluated on individualized social-disadvantage evidence, not group membership. New-firm admissions dropped from ~525/year to 65 in 2025. What current participants actually need to do.
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Policy
WOSB and EDWOSB Certification: How It Actually Works (Self-Certification Ended in 2020)
WOSB/EDWOSB self-certification for federal set-asides ended October 15, 2020, not February 2026 as originally reported — corrects the article's invented 2026 date with the real history and explains the three current certification paths.
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Policy
FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 ends in March — wide-scale rollout coming Q3-Q4 2026
FedRAMP's 20x program — the cloud authorization rebuild — exits Phase 2 pilot March 31. Phase 3 opens authorization to all Low and Moderate cloud providers in Q3-Q4. Authorization timelines drop from 18+ months to ~3 months for compliant providers.
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Policy
NIST 800-171 Revision 3 + GSA's January 2026 CUI mandate — what changed for non-DoD contractors
GSA introduced new CUI requirements for non-federal entities on January 5, 2026, building on NIST 800-171 Rev 3 (final May 2024). Three new control families, 49 organization-defined parameters, and meaningful supply-chain risk-management additions. Non-DoD contractors should not assume the rules don't apply to them.
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Policy
Buy America hits full enforcement: October 2026 deadlines tighten domestic content rules
Federal agencies are transitioning from waivers and transitional periods to full enforcement of Buy American Act and Build America, Buy America Act provisions. October 1, 2026: FHWA projects must meet 55% U.S.-component-cost threshold. False Claims Act exposure for misrepresentation.
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Policy
GSA Refresh 31 hits Schedule contracts — TDR mandatory, AI clauses, Price Reductions Clause dies
GSA's Refresh 31 imposes mandatory Transactional Data Reporting on 112 previously-exempt SINs, adds AI-training restrictions on government data, and ends the Price Reductions Clause. Schedule holders have 90 days to accept the mass mod.
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Policy
HUBZone clock: redesignated areas expire July 1 — many firms don't realize it
When SBA updated the HUBZone map in 2023 reflecting 2020 census data, many areas that lost qualified status got a 3-year grace period as 'Redesignated Areas.' That grace period ends July 1, 2026. Firms with principal offices in those zones lose eligibility unless they relocate.
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Policy
DoD issued 31 DFARS class deviations in December — and 6 more in January. What's actually changing
On December 19, 2025, the Department of War issued 31 class deviations to the DFARS — covering nearly every section. A second batch of 6 followed January 24, 2026. Both took effect February 1, 2026. The largest DFARS shake-up in over a decade.
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Policy
The 43-day shutdown is over — but the contracting damage will linger through Q2
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended November 12, 2025 after 43 days. New contracts froze, options weren't exercised, and the post-shutdown CR keeps DoD frozen at FY24 levels. Some DoD civilians still chasing back pay weeks later.
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Policy
Hegseth orders DoD-wide review of every small-business contract over $20M
A January directive from the Secretary of Defense triggered a line-by-line review of all 8(a) and small-business set-aside awards above $20M. Compliance verification owed by Feb 28. What it actually changes for legitimate small primes.
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Policy
SBA's January recertification rule guts small-business M&A valuations
Effective January 17, 2026, an SBA final rule requires recertification of small-business size status on a triggering event — and only acquirers who were small themselves can keep the status. The valuation hit on small-business sellers is real and immediate.
