The Weekly Update February 3, 2017

The Weekly Update, Publications 02.03.17

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Presidential Executive Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs On January 30, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order requiring for every one new federal regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination, and that the cost of planned regulations be prudently managed and controlled through a budgeting process.  In addition, for fiscal year 2017, the heads of all agencies are directed that the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, . . . Read More

The Weekly Update January 27, 2017

Publications, The Weekly Update 01.27.17

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Executive Order Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals for High Priority Infrastructure Projects On January 24, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order for agencies to streamline and expedite environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects, including projects that are high priority, such as improving the U.S. electric grid, telecommunications systems, and repairing and upgrading critical port facilities, airports, pipelines, bridges and highways.  The executive order also directs the White House Council on Environmental Quality to decide within . . . Read More

The Weekly Update January 20, 2017

Publications, The Weekly Update 01.20.17

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Recognition of Tribal Organizations for Representation of VA Claimants The Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) is amending its regulations concerning recognition of certain national, state, and regional or local organizations for purposes of VA claims representation.  Specifically, this final rule allows the Secretary to recognize Tribal organizations in a similar manner as the Secretary recognizes state organizations.  The final rule allows a Tribal organization that is established and funded by one or more Tribal governments to be recognized . . . Read More

The Weekly Update January 16, 2017

Publications, The Weekly Update 01.16.17

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2006-95 This Federal Acquisition Circular provides a summary presentation of final rules issued by the Department of Defense (“DOD”), the General Services Administration (“GSA”) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration and agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council. The Small Entity Compliance Guide for these final rules can be found here . Item I – Uniform Use of Line Items (FAR Case 2013-014) This final rule . . . Read More

The Weekly Update January 6, 2017

Publications, The Weekly Update 01.06.17

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Memorandum: Implementation of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Final Rule 2016-D002, Enhancing Effectiveness of Independent Research and Development On January 4, 2017, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics released a memorandum to implement the class deviation the Department of Defense (“DOD”) issued on December 1, 2016 for its final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. This class deviation alleviates the requirement that the technical interchanges between “major” defense contractors and a technical . . . Read More

The Weekly Update December 30, 2016

Publications, The Weekly Update 12.30.16

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Payment of Subcontractors On January 20, 2016, the Department of Defense, Government Accountability Office, and National Aeronautic and Space Administration proposed a rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) Case 2014-004, Payment of Subcontractors, requiring contractors to notify the contracting officer in writing if the contractor pays a reduced price to a small business subcontractor, or if the subcontractor’s payment to a small business contractor is more than 90 . . . Read More