Evan Williams

On April 13th, 2026, President Trump signed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which amends the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 14A). The Act reauthorizes the Small

Continue Reading SBIR/STTR Program Reauthorized Through 2031: What Small Business Contractors Need to Know

New revelations are emerging almost daily regarding procurement irregularities during the last 14 months at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among other things, former Secretary

Continue Reading Protecting Protest Rights When a Procurement Scandal Is Unfolding

On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (“GSA”) published a draft contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, “Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems,” that would establish binding requirements for contractors

Continue Reading What GSA’s New Draft AI Procurement Clause Could Mean for Your GSA Schedule Contract

When does a bidder’s failure to acknowledge an amendment to an Invitation for Bids (IFB) render the bidder nonresponsive? Generally, the FAR requires bidders to acknowledge receipt of material amendments

Continue Reading Acknowledging Amendments: When Is an Amendment Material to an Invitation for Bids?

A federal contractor whose contract award is challenged in a bid protest often faces a dilemma: whether to intervene and participate in the litigation. Intervention generally requires an awardee to

Continue Reading A Recent Federal Circuit Case Highlights the Perils of Not Intervening in a Bid Protest and Raises Issues Caused by a Party’s Failure To File a Redacted Pleading

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) timeliness rules are generally straightforward. But as a recent GAO decision shows, agency statements to disappointed offerors can sometimes blur application of the rules—often to

Continue Reading FAR Part 13: Can I Wait to Protest When the Agency Tells Me a Debriefing Will Be Provided?

As required by the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published its Annual Bid Protest Report to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.[1]

Continue Reading U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Fiscal Year 2025 Bid Protest Report to Congress: Protest Filings Fell While the Overall Effectiveness Rate Stayed Above 50%

Shortly after taking office in 2025, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to develop a missile defense shield for the United States. President Trump announced that the system would cost

Continue Reading Government Makes Initial Awards in ‘Golden Dome’ SHIELD Procurement: Flexible Contract Structure Creates a Complex Bid Protest Landscape

On the evening of November 9, the U.S. Senate agreed to a deal aimed at ending the government shutdown.  The deal is the first step toward reopening the federal government

Continue Reading How to Prepare for the End of the Government Shutdown

In 2025, the government has canceled or discontinued billions of dollars in federal grants. Entities seeking to challenge these terminations have faced uncertainty as to which forum is appropriate for

Continue Reading Should I Appeal My Terminated Grants in District Court or the Court of Federal Claims?