Recent developments in government contracting highlight the administration’s evolving approach to artificial intelligence, continued scrutiny of DEI initiatives, and ongoing implementation of Executive Order 14398. The latest updates include a new national security policy memorandum on AI adoption, a proposed Small Business Administration rule affecting 8(a) eligibility, an Office of Management and Budget directive concerning federal funding of certain nonprofit organizations, and litigation challenging the administration’s DEI-related contractor requirements.
Morgan Lewis Government Contractor Guidebook
YOUR GUIDE TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS
The White House’s recent executive order on federal contracting could significantly reshape how agencies structure procurements and allocate performance risk. Executive Order 14402, Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting, directs executive agencies to default to fixed-price contracts unless they can justify and obtain approval for another contract type.
Recent developments in government contracting include a major Department of Commerce initiative to fund domestic quantum computing capabilities, continued implementation of the administration’s fixed-price contracting directive, and legislative efforts to codify the small business “Rule of Two” into statute. Together, these developments reflect continued emphasis on industrial policy, procurement reform, and preservation of longstanding small business contracting requirements.