If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link.
|
Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here. Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here. Podcasts: Listen to PilieroMazza’s podcasts GovCon Live! here, Clocking in with PilieroMazza here, and Ex Rel. Radio here. |
The Rise of OTA in Defense Contracting, Part 1: Defense Acquisition Reform, PilieroMazza Blog, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV, Josie Farinelli
President Trump’s April 9, 2025, Executive Order Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation In the Defense Industrial Base (EO) is likely to have major implications for federal defense contractors. This blog, the first in a three-part series about Other Transactions Authority (OTA), discusses the EO and the Department of Defense’s (DOD) use of OTA in reforming defense acquisition. For government contractors eager to work with DOD under OTA—particularly small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors with an interest in research, development, and prototyping—the EO’s preference for OTs may present a significant opportunity. Read more here.
6 Effective Tactics to Help Government Contractors Overcome Unfavorable CPARS Evaluations, PilieroMazza Blog, Samuel S. Finnerty
In federal contracting, your reputation is currency, and few tools can shape that reputation more than the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). CPARS evaluations don’t just sit in a file, they’re pulled directly into award decisions and can make or break your ability to win future work. How you respond and engage during the CPARS process can directly impact your pipeline of new business. Here are 6 effective tactics every government contractor needs to know—and should consider—when facing a CPARS evaluation. Read more here.
Department of Defense (DOD) Memorandum: Continuing Elimination of Wasteful Spending at the DOD
On April 10, DOD issued a memorandum, effective immediately, directing the termination of four IT services contracts as indicative of non-essential spending on third-party consultants and eleven contracts for supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, climate, and COVID-19 response, which are deemed by DOD to be “non-essential.” The memorandum further directs the DOD CIO to prepare a plan for in-sourcing IT consulting and management services within the civilian workforce and negotiate more favorable rates on software and cloud services. An audit of DOD’s software licensing must be completed by April 18. The Defense Secretary believes these cuts will save the DOD $5.1 billion. The full memorandum is available here.
House Approves Bill to Restrict Nationwide Injunctions, Law360
The House voted 219-213 to approve a bill curbing nationwide injunctions, a move the Trump administration has thrown its support behind after district court judges paused or halted many of the administration’s initiatives over the last few months. Read more here (subscription required).
Trump Directs Review of All Major Defense Acquisition Programs, Bloomberg News
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to review the Pentagon’s weapons acquisition process, including assessments of top weapons programs that may be behind schedule and beset by cost overruns. Read more here (subscription required).
Defense Acquisition, Exports, and Shipbuilding Figure in Trio of New Executive Orders, Defense One
The White House released three defense-related executive orders: One to overhaul Pentagon acquisition, one to reform arms exports, and one to “restore American maritime dominance.” Read more here.
Upcoming Government Contract Presentations
WEBINAR: Small Business Contracting & Subcontracting, April 18, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
PM WEBINAR: Diversifying your Contract Pipeline by Maximizing Opportunities through the DOD’s Mentor-Protégé Program, April 18, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV, Kristine “Krissy” Crallé
TRAINING: Understanding and Avoiding Affiliation for Small Business Government Contractors, April 22, 2025, Emily A. Reid, Cole R. Fox
CONFERENCE: Changes, REAs, and Terminations, April 22, 2025, Isaias “Cy” Alba, IV
CONFERENCE: EOs, Regulations, and Judicial Updates for the Federal Marketplace, April 24, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
CONFERENCE: Federal Contracting Under the Trump Administration, April 24, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
CONFERENCE: Public Sector Legal Briefing: Contracts, Compliance & What’s New, April 29, 2025, Jon Williams
TRAINING: Teaming, Joint Ventures, & Mentor-Protégé, May 1, 2025, Meghan F. Leemon
PM WEBINAR: 2024-2025 Bid Protest Decisions with Far-Reaching Impacts for Government Contractors, May 8, 2025, Katherine B. Burrows, Eric Valle
TRAINING: Unlocking the Secrets of Debriefings, May 15, 2025, Ryan Boonstra, Kelly A. Kirchgasser
Clocking in with PilieroMazza: Latest Developments on DEI Executive Order and Action Items before April 21 Deadline, PilieroMazza Podcast, Sarah L. Nash, Nichole D. Atallah. Click here to access the podcast.
Department of Defense (DOD) News Release: DOD Task Force to Assess Progress of DEI Elimination
On April 4, DOD announced that a nine-member task force was established to evaluate the implementation of the Defense Secretary’s memorandum, “Restoring Americas Fighting Force”, which required the DOD to create a task force to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and initiatives. The task force previously issued guidance across the DOD to eliminate DEI, and the task force is now working to implement the guidance and is seeking feedback on the implementation. Read more here.
Appeals Court Frees Trump Administration to Resume Probationary Employee Firings, The Hill
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a lower court order blocking the Trump administration from firing probationary workers, freeing the White House to fire thousands of federal workers. Read more here.
Trump Administration Ends Union Dues Collection for Most Feds Without Notice, Government Executive
Unions at federal agencies targeted by the president’s executive order stripping them of their collective bargaining rights found out about the change when employees began receiving their most recent paychecks this week. Read more here.
Pentagon Welcomes Back Troops Discharged Over COVID-19 Vaccine, Offers Back Pay, Federal News Network
Former service members discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine will be expecting letters of apology from the Defense Department, along with instructions on how they can pursue returning to the service. Read more here.
Upcoming Labor & Employment Presentations
CONFERENCE: Industry Overview – GovCon in the New Administration, April 22, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
WEBINAR: GovCon: Need to Know – Employment, Health and Safety, April 29, 2025, Sarah L. Nash
PM WEBINAR: Multijurisdictional Employers, Part 1: Independent Contractors vs. Employees, Classifications Under Federal and State Laws, May 1, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah, Georgianne “Georgi” Kokenis
TRAINING: Labor Rules & Regulations: Federal Market Compliance, May 21, 2025, Nichole D. Atallah
White House Article: White House Releases New Policies on Federal Agency AI Use and Procurement
On April 7, the Trump Administration announced that its Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released two policies regarding Federal Agency Use of AI and Federal Procurement. These policies direct Federal agencies to accelerate the Federal use of AI by removing barriers to innovation, accelerating responsible AI adoption, and deploying trustworthy AI that is not at the expense of Americans. These policies further direct agencies to ensure a competitive marketplace for AI, manage AI risk, and engage expertise for AI acquisition. Read more here.
White House Presidential Action: Extending the TikTok Enforcement Delay
On April 5, President Trump issued an Executive Order extending the enforcement delay of EO 14166, Application of Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to TikTok, until June 19, 2025. The EO directs the Department of Justice to not take any action to enforce the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Read more here.
FALSE CLAIMS ACT / AUDITS & INVESTIGATIONS
Small Business Administration (SBA) News Release: SBA Highlights Range of New Measures to Stop Fraud
On April 10, SBA announced new verification measures for its loan applications under the guise of eliminating fraud. The new verification process requires citizenship verification and date of birth verification to ensure that certain immigrants cannot apply for and receive loans from the SBA. Read more here.
OIG Finds $1.8M of Potential ‘Overbillings” In VA Contract, Law360
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General said that a transportation services contractor may have overbilled the department by about $1.8 million over two years and recommended that VA contracting officials consider whether they could or should try to recover any money. Read more here (subscription required).