How to Crack a Nut

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The UK Government hosted an AI Safety Summit on 1-2 November 2023. There seemed to be some recognition of the need for more State intervention through regulation, for more regulatory control of standard-setting, and for more attention to be paid to testing and evaluation in the procurement context.

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GovLoop

APRIL 26, 2023

That means evaluating the systems that are already in place and finding out who can access them. Red River helps agencies build security models that help them with threat-hunting, through adaptive thresholding, mathematical principles and ML, and dashboards highlighting potential malicious activity. “So,

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SmallGovCon

OCTOBER 31, 2023

Also, in moves that were likely aimed to increase participation, or at least interest among potential mentors, the DoD is proposing a reduction of the dollar threshold associated with mentor eligibility, and increasing the length of a mentor protégé agreement. Also, a DoD Mentor-Protégé Agreement would now last three years, rather than two.

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Government Contracts & Investigations

OCTOBER 11, 2023

On October 5, 2023, the FAR Council released an Interim Rule on “ Implementation of Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders.” In other words, there are no exceptions for purchases below the micro-purchase threshold or the simplified acquisition threshold.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

APRIL 4, 2024

On March 6, 2024, the Federal Circuit vacated the CBCA decision on the threshold jurisdictional issue. 2] In a recent size protest, quotes were submitted on August 31, 2023. 2] In a recent size protest, quotes were submitted on August 31, 2023. Stay tuned for round three.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

AUGUST 29, 2024

26, 2023, and the U.S. Further, confirming the broad applicability of CMMC, DOD confirmed that these requirements will be applicable to contracts below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (which currently sits at $250,000). There are two sets of rules that will be utilized when the CMMC program is fully formed. The CMMC 2.0

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SmallGovCon

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

The Gist On November 9, 2023, GAO issued its report regarding large business compliance with small business subcontracting plans. In any case, GAO recommends further training of contracting officers on evaluating large business compliance efforts. million for construction contracts). Let’s take a deeper look at these findings.

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Government Contracts Legal Forum

MAY 9, 2024

Both prohibitions will apply to all procurements, including commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items, and purchases below the micro-purchase threshold: Section 5949(a)(1)(A) ( Part A ) prohibits agencies from acquiring electronic products or services that include covered semiconductor products or services.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

APRIL 11, 2024

On March 6, 2024, the Federal Circuit vacated the CBCA decision on the threshold jurisdictional issue. 2] In a recent size protest, quotes were submitted on August 31, 2023. 2] In a recent size protest, quotes were submitted on August 31, 2023.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Using data collected between 2019 and 2023, this survey measures mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. 26, 2023, and the U.S. The only exceptions are for contracts solely for the purchase of Commercial Off-the-Shelf items or contracts under the $10,000 micro-purchase threshold.

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Federal Construction Contracting

JANUARY 16, 2024

On December 26, 2023, the U.S. The proposed rule applies to defense contractors and subcontractors that will process, store, or transmit FCI or CUI and is expected to be made a part of every DoD solicitation with a value above the micro-purchase threshold (currently, $10,000).

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

APRIL 25, 2024

The final rule saw several changes from its proposed form, including two particularly relevant to the concerns that Coalition members expressed in our comments : The rule specifies that the October 2023 Recommendations on Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels from the EPA control what is considered a sustainable product or service.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

JANUARY 11, 2024

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until February 26, 2023. These requirements are expected to be included in all DoD solicitations valued above the micro-purchase threshold, except for procurements that are exclusively for commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. Wolff, Michael G.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

OCTOBER 19, 2023

PAP 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing, is one such example. This PAP fundamentally alters the MAS negotiation process, establishing evaluation standards, requirements, and procedures not found in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR).

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Inter-American Development Bank

MAY 8, 2024

Machine learning techniques can strengthen macro-fiscal policy design by providing data-driven insights, accurate forecasting of economic indicators, evaluating impacts of proposed measures, identifying structural vulnerabilities, and enabling timely policy responses through continuous monitoring of real-time data. 5] Reyes-Tagle et-al 2023.

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Government Contracts Legal Forum

DECEMBER 27, 2023

On December 26, 2023, the Department of Defense (DoD) released the highly anticipated proposed rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program (CMMC), a cybersecurity regulatory program that will likely impact most of the government contractor community. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until February 26, 2023.

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Federal News Network

AUGUST 20, 2024

29, 2023 with a minimum viable capability release (MVCR) providing automated contract writing and the ability process requirements from inception to award, while incorporating flexibility to interface with other electronic systems,” Rodriguez said. million in 2023 and requested $6.5 ePS went live on Sept. The service received $5.9

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

AUGUST 15, 2024

On September 20, 2023, the Army awarded the follow-on production contract to Taylor Defense Products, LLC. billion in Part D gross covered prescription drug costs, or about 20% of total Part D gross covered prescription drug costs during 2023.” The proposed changes to the DFARS are primarily to: Add references to the CMMC 2.0

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Kluwer Arbitration

JUNE 20, 2024

Instead, it tries to highlight the most significant changes and additions to the draft that has been public since 31 August 2023. It therefore encompasses the publicly known generative AI as well as evaluative or discriminative AI. This article does not aim to go over the recently published Guidelines in their entirety.

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Government Contracts & Investigations

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

28] DCAA Audit Guidance Chapter 6 of the DCAM, Incurred Cost Audit Procedures, includes detailed guidance for evaluating the reasonableness of compensation costs. 42] Evaluation at the job class level reduces the risk that the DCAA will challenge the compensation paid to individual outliers.

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Government Contracts & Investigations

OCTOBER 11, 2023

The September 2023 Cost Corner concluded a three-part series on TINA. 1] The FAR defines cost analysis as “the review and evaluation of any of the separate cost elements and profit or fee in an offeror’s or contractor’s proposal as needed to determine a fair and reasonable price or to determine cost realism….” [2]

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How to Crack a Nut

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

On 30 October 2023, President Biden adopted the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (the ‘AI Executive Order’, see also its Factsheet ). The use of AI by the US Federal Government is an important focus of the AI Executive Order. Section 10.1(b) Section 10.1(b)

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Procurement Notes

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Inflation is generally down from 2021, but is still high in too many places, and is expected to persist in 2023. Altogether, “[u]nless supply disruptions and labor-market pressures subside[ ], the global core inflation rate, excluding energy, could stay at about 5% in 2023, nearly double the five-year average before the pandemic.”

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Government Contracts Legal Forum

JANUARY 5, 2024

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 , signed into law on December 22, 2023, makes numerous changes to acquisition policy. DODIG–2023–041). Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group discusses the most consequential changes for government contractors here.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

FAR & Beyond: Thoughts on “What is Fair and Reasonable? Federal Acquisition Policy and Procedure (PAP) 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing , sets forth “comprehensive guidance regarding the evaluation of pricing throughout the life of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program contract.” By Susan B.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

JANUARY 4, 2024

Potential Changes to FSS EPA Clauses As you know, one of the Coalition’s priorities in 2022 and 2023 was to increase flexibility in the application of Economic Price Adjustments (EPAs) in the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program during a time of historic inflation. The NDAA was signed into law on December 22, 2023. Wolff, Michael G.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

JUNE 6, 2024

Introducing the FY23 Federal Market Report As part of The Coalition for Government Procurement’s continuing effort to provide value to our members, we would like to present our Fiscal Year 2023 Federal Market Report. Thanks to the outstanding generosity of our sponsors and members, we raised $11,000 for this wonderful cause in 2023.

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Government Contracts & Investigations

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

On August 23, 2023, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) issued its notification of final guidance implementing Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) – the Build America, Buy America (“BABA”) Act.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

This language would require suppliers to adhere to specified actions that are “consistent with the Framework” (although the bills do not specify what these actions will be) and provide “appropriate access to data, models, and parameters…to enable sufficient test and evaluation, verification, and validation.” 2] 13 CFR 125.18(b)(2)(ii).

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

This language would require suppliers to adhere to specified actions that are “consistent with the Framework” (although the bills do not specify what these actions will be) and provide “appropriate access to data, models, and parameters…to enable sufficient test and evaluation, verification, and validation.” 2] 13 CFR 125.18(b)(2)(ii).

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

DECEMBER 14, 2023

As calendar year 2023 ends, the Coalition is looking ahead to 2024 and the policies, programs, and initiatives that will shape the federal procurement system and the delivery of customer agency mission support. The Coalition for Government Procurement would like to thank our members for making the 2023 holiday party an unforgettable occasion!

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AWS Public Sector

OCTOBER 13, 2023

In June 2023, StateRAMP updated their security baselines to align with 800-53 revision 5 (R5). First, AWS Config , a service that continually assesses, audits, and evaluates the configurations and relationships of your resources on AWS, on premises, and on other clouds, offers a conformance pack for NIST 800-53r5.

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

MARCH 7, 2024

On June 9, 2023, DoD published a proposed rule to amend the DFARS to implement the E.O. This increase aligns the DFARS domestic content threshold with that in the FAR. This “fallback threshold” will remain in effect under both the FAR and DFARS rules until 2030. The proposed rule addressed section 8 of the E.O.,

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Government Contracts & Investigations

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

On November 6, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the contract year 2025 proposed rule for Medicare Advantage (“MA”) organizations and Part D sponsors (the “Proposed Rule”). Please refer to our January 5, 2023 , November 4, 2022 and May 16, 2022 blog posts for more information.

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Procurement Notes

MARCH 16, 2023

1] The latest CPI-U numbers, which BLS published in its March 14, 2023 summary, stated that “[o]ver the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.0 5] CPI-U Month Increase/Decrease Over Previous 12 Months February 2023 +6.0% January 2023 +6.4% 5] CPI-U Month Increase/Decrease Over Previous 12 Months February 2023 +6.0%

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The Coalition for Government Procurement

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

FAS Commissioner Highlights Milestone Year for GSA On November 7, Sonny Hashmi, GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Commissioner, published a blog outlining some of FAS’s top impacts in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The comment period for both rules is currently open and is scheduled to close on December 4, 2023.

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