Bloomberg Government: Cy Alba Warns DOD’s Direct OEM Buying Trend Could Raise Costs and Undermine ITVAR Competition
A recent report by Bloomberg Government highlights a major shift in federal IT procurement: billions of dollars in work are moving from IT value-added resellers (ITVARs) and integrators to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) under new Department of Defense acquisition strategies. In the article, PilieroMazza Partner Isaias “Cy” Alba cautions that this trend could carry significant consequences for pricing, competition, and long-term government value. “Increased use of direct acquisition from OEMs shows a misunderstanding by the government of the role of IT VARs,” Alba told . . . Read More
SBA Strikes Again: New 8(a) Program Suspensions Related to Economic Disadvantage Criteria
On February 11, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a press release announcing that it was initiating termination proceedings and suspending over 150 Washington, D.C.-based 8(a) firms for allegedly failing to meet “economic disadvantage” eligibility criteria for the 8(a) Program. This is a bold move as traditionally proposed terminations are not also coupled with suspensions. And while the press release asserts that these firms “exceeded statutory net worth limits, adjusted gross income caps, or total asset limits,” the notice . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 12, 2026
The Weekly Update recaps recent legislative and regulatory updates affecting government contractors and commercial businesses. If you have questions concerning this content, please email marketing@pilieromazza.com . _____________________________________________ GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Notice: Procurement Thresholds for Implementation of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 On February 3, USTR published a notice providing the U.S. dollar procurement thresholds to implement certain U.S. trade agreement obligations for calendar years 2026 and 2027. The notice is available here . Department of War (DOW) Memorandum: Class Deviation—Contract . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Annual Review: Workforce Updates for Multijurisdictional Employers—What to Watch in 2026
Click here to view the recorded session. In 2026, companies operating in multiple jurisdictions face an increasingly complex patchwork of federal, state, and local workforce requirements and investigative priorities. From evolving state pay transparency laws and wage mandates to shifting federal compliance obligations, employers must be ready to adjust quickly and strategically. In this webinar, PilieroMazza’s Nichole Atallah and Sarah Nash examine upcoming developments and provide practical guidance to help companies remain compliant, competitive, and prepared for what’s ahead. Learning objectives include: identify major federal . . . Read More
DOL’s Got Opinions—Lots of Them: Important FLSA and FMLA Guidance for Employers
On January 5, 2026, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued six new opinion letters related to various topics under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Below, PilieroMazza provides a brief overview of the three most relevant opinion letters, along with key takeaways for employers. For a full list of all of the opinion letters issued by DOL to date, please visit the DOL’s website . A. FLSA2026-1: Learned Professional Exemption and Employer Discretion . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Annual Review: DOJ’s FY2025 False Claims Act Results and Compliance Considerations for Government Contractors in FY2026
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 False Claims Act (FCA) results, and the message for government contractors is clear: FCA enforcement is accelerating, and procurement fraud, cybersecurity non-compliance, pandemic program fraud, and tariff/custom duty evasion remain key priorities. DOJ reported total FCA settlements and judgments of more than $6.8 Billion for FY2025, the largest annual recovery in FCA history. Below are key takeaways from DOJ’s annual fraud statistics report, our outlook for FY2026, and important . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 5, 2026
The Weekly Update recaps recent legislative and regulatory updates affecting government contractors and commercial businesses. If you have questions concerning this content, please email marketing@pilieromazza.com . _____________________________________________ GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS Partial Shutdown Ends Less Than 4 Days After It Began, Government Executive Nearly every federal agency is now funded through September and employees will be paid for the days they were furloughed. Federal agencies are set to reopen after the House on Tuesday approved a spending package funding those forced to close their doors . . . Read More
Beware the “Hallmarks” of AI: Recent GAO Decision Provides Cautionary Tale for Protesters
For better or worse, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the legal industry. The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recently decided Bramstedt Surgical Inc. [1] , dedicating three pages to warnings about penalties it could have imposed on the protester and protester’s counsel for incorrect citations. For those tracking GAO’s recent handling of protesters and lawyers who file documents that appear to be riddled with AI-hallucinated citations or legal arguments citing to cases that do not stand for the premise alluded to, the decision comes as . . . Read More
You’re Hired! Restrictions on Hiring Former Government Employees for Government Contractors
Click here to view the recorded session. Government contracting is an inherently competitive enterprise, and employers frequently seek to hire former government personnel with valuable acquisition and contract administration experience. However, both the Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) and the U.S. Criminal Code impose strict limits on what former government employees may do when working for a government contractor. These restrictions can affect recruitment, proposal preparation, negotiations, communications with federal agencies, and post-award conduct. Failure to comply with these laws can expose . . . Read More
DOD Releases Intellectual Property Guidebook: Key Insights for Defense Contractors, Part 3
When doing business with the Department of Defense (DOD), contractors must ensure that protecting their intellectual property (IP) and understanding DOD’s data rights regime under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is top of mind. DOD released its Intellectual Property Guidebook (Guidebook) in May 2025. This blog, the third in the series, takes a closer look at the doctrine of segregability, modular licensing, special categories of data, and the general rules surrounding the government’s data rights in each. Visit this link to access . . . Read More