Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 16, 2025
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 Senate Fails to Advance GOP Funding Bill for 9th Time as Government Shutdown Enters Day 16, CBS The Senate failed to advance a House-passed GOP bill to fund the government for the ninth time on Wednesday, the 15th day of the government shutdown. The vote attracted no additional support from Democrats, who are demanding an extension . . . Read More
Overcoming the Compliance Minefield of Cost-Reimbursement Contracts, Part 2: Mastering DCAA Audits in Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Contracts
Click here to view the recorded session. Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contracts come with complex compliance requirements and heightened audit risk. In this webinar, we’ll walk you through how to successfully manage a DCAA audit within a CPFF framework—from pre-award preparations to post-award audit readiness. Learn what auditors are looking for, how to handle common challenges, and best practices for tracking costs, indirect rates, and supporting documentation. Whether you’re new to CPFF or seeking to strengthen your compliance posture, this session will equip . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – October 9, 2025
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 . _____________________________________________ FAR OVERHAUL Long-Awaited Release of FAR Part 19: New Rule of Two and More, PilieroMazza Client Alert, Antonio R. Franco , Kristine “Krissy” Crallé On September 26, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council released the much-anticipated rewrite of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19, formerly titled Small Business Programs, as part of the broader Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative. To the . . . Read More
FAR Part 19 Overhaul: What It Means for the 8(a) Program
On September 26, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released the FAR Part 19 model deviation text, significantly reorganizing the Part’s overall structure. The updated FAR Part 19 not only streamlines the layout to align with the acquisition lifecycle but also revises key rules governing set-aside contracts awarded under various small business programs. One of the most notable areas affected is the 8(a) Business Development Program. This blog provides a more detailed analysis of recent changes to the FAR . . . Read More
CNN Quotes Nichole Atallah: Federal Workers Face Unpaid Furloughs as Shutdown Continues
As the government shutdown continues, federal workers—particularly those in low-wage, hourly roles—are unlikely to be made whole after furloughs, warns Nichole Atallah , Chair of PilieroMazza ’s Labor & Employment Group . “If you’re a cafeteria worker or a janitor, you can’t make up that time. It’s lost,” Atallah told CNN in a phone interview. Although employers can decide to pay contract workers despite the shutdown, experts say that’s rare when it comes to hourly workers in blue-collar jobs. Atallah said contract employers will sometimes work to . . . Read More
Managing the Financial Impact of Tariffs on Your Government Contract
Click here to view the recorded session. Tariffs and trade policy shifts can significantly impact the cost structure of government contracts—particularly those involving imported materials or equipment. Without proactive strategies, contractors may face profit erosion, performance delays, and compliance risks. Join PilieroMazza’s Jackie Unger and Ryan Boonstra for this timely webinar where they explore how tariffs affect pricing, sourcing, and performance obligations under federal contracts. Whether you’re managing an existing contract or preparing for future solicitations, this session will equip you with tools to better navigate . . . Read More
Long-Awaited Release of FAR Part 19: New Rule of Two and More
On September 26, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council released the much-anticipated rewrite of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19, formerly titled Small Business Programs, as part of the broader Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative. To the pleasant surprise of many in the government contracting community, much of Part 19’s original content remains intact considering other more significant changes to other parts of the FAR. Still, several notable revisions—most prominently, retention of the Rule of Two—carry significant implications for small business . . . Read More
FAR Part 19 Overhaul: What It Means for Size Recertification, M&A, and Contract Eligibility
When the FAR Council issued its long-awaited rewrite of FAR Part 19 as part of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, many in the government contracting community focused on headline issues like the preservation of the “Rule of Two” and the streamlining of small business policies. But tucked within the reorganization is one of the most impactful—and potentially disruptive—changes for contractors: the treatment of size recertification. While the new FAR attempts to simplify the rules by anchoring size status at the master contract level, it creates significant . . . Read More
Key Changes in GSA Schedule Contracting: What You Need to Know
Click here to view the recorded session. These days, the pace of change in federal procurement can be dizzying. The General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program, a critical tool for many contractors doing business with the federal government, is no exception. Recently, there have been a number of key changes to GSA’s MAS program, including Refresh 29, the shift to transactional data reporting, the re-write of FAR Part 8, joint ventures, and more. With the expected surge in . . . Read More
DOT Ends Race- and Sex-Based Presumptions of Disadvantage in DBE and ACDBE Programs
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a major change to the eligibility criteria for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE) Programs. Through an interim final rule (IFR) taking effect on October 3, 2025, DOT is removing the use of the race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage for establishing DBE and ACDBE eligibility. The IFR will have an immediate impact on all current DBE/ACDBE firms and future applicants as all firms will be required . . . Read More