Supply Chain Security

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“Ding ding.” – Apollo Creed,
Rocky III

September 30. All (most?) federal years end the same way, at least on paper—like a prizefight, with the clock ticking down; an agitated, uncertain crowd; a lot of money on the table; and a ref capable of stopping the match at any moment. This year will be at once both no different and a completely different beast. With ever-recent uncertainty surrounding appropriations, continuing-resolution (CR) risk, evolving Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) language, the tightening screws of cyber attestations, industry supply-chain and acquisition changes, and grant closeouts that always take longer than you’d think, September is not a month for contractor improvisation. It’s a month when a dedicated corner team, a game plan, and crisp execution all are paramount.Continue Reading And in This Corner … the Sweet Science of Federal Contracting’s Year-End

On June 6, 2025, President Trump issued a new executive order, “Sustaining Select Efforts to Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Amending Executive Order 13694 and Executive Order 14144” (EO), signaling the construction of a fortified cyber defense across federal operations. This directive updates the nation’s digital stronghold, modernizing risk management, defending against quantum and artificial intelligence (AI) threats, and drawing sharper lines in the battle against foreign cyber adversaries. For technology companies and federal suppliers, this is a clarion call to reinforce their digital walls and sharpen their defenses. Agencies will soon build these secure-by-design principles into every contract and procurement decision. In this era of fortress-building, failing to meet these standards not only will leave your gates unguarded but also could bar you from the entire federal marketplace. The EO may read like ordinary policy, but don’t be misled: It’s a direct command for companies to strengthen their cyber defenses or be locked out of federal opportunities altogether.Continue Reading Building the Cyber Fortress: New Cybersecurity Executive Order Targets Quantum, AI, and Supply Chain Security

If you happen to be a government contractor and are contemplating additions to your Summer reading list, consider adding the FAR Council’s May 3, 2024 advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (“ANPR”) to the mix. The ANPR, which was issued in furtherance of implementing Section 5949 of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”), contemplates various forthcoming changes to the FAR, all of which focus on banning agencies from purchasing certain products or services that contain or otherwise utilize semiconductors that are produced, designed, or provided by three Chinese entities and their subsidiaries, affiliates, or successors: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (“SMIC”), ChangXin Memory Technologies (“CXMT”), and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (“YMTC”). In addition, the FAR will likely be amended to prohibit the acquisition of semiconductor products or services from any entity that is owned, controlled by, or otherwise connected to China, North Korea, Iran, Russia and any other “foreign country of concern” – a designation to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Continue Reading Supply Chain Checkup: FAR Council Announces New Rulemaking Focused on Prohibiting Certain Semiconductor Acquisitions

On June 2, 2023, the FAR Council issued an Interim Rule to implement the prohibition on having or using TikTok or any successor application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Limited (covered application). Importantly, the prohibition applies not only to Government-issued devices but encompasses contractor and contractor employee-owned devices (e.g., employee devices used as part of a bring-your-own-device program) as well. The Interim Rule took immediate effect and requires new FAR clause FAR 52.204-27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application, to be included in solicitations issued on or after June 2, 2023. In addition, solicitations issued before the effective date were required to be amended by July 3, 2023, provided that award of the resulting contract(s) occurs on or after the effective date. Existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts were required to be modified to include the new clause by July 3, 2023, to apply to future orders. Finally, if exercising an option or modifying an existing contract to extend the period of performance, contracting officers must include the clause. In short, this clause will soon be in most if not all Federal government contracts. Contractors should take action now to ensure that they are prepared to comply with these requirements and that employees are familiar with and trained regarding the prohibition.Continue Reading TikTok Dances Off of Contractor IT Devices—Interim Rule Prohibits ByteDance Limited Applications