The 2025 overhaul of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 introduces major changes to how federal agencies conduct market research, with significant implications for contractors. The updated rules emphasize flexibility, innovation, and the adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to inform procurement decisions. Increased Flexibility in Market Research Approaches The revised FAR Part... Read More
Category: Contracting Strategies and Tactics
Court Forces About-Face by GSA Affecting Polaris and OASIS+
By Gloria Larkin There was recently tumult in the Court of Federal Claims when it affected two huge government-wide acquisition contracts ― Polaris and OASIS+ ― that are controlled by the General Services Administration (GSA). When it ruled that GSA’s interpretation of Section 876 of the 2018 Defense Authorization was too broad as applied to... Read More
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
MRAS: Marketing Research as a Service In a recent presentation to the federal contracting community, a contracting officer shared this challenge: The contracting office in which he works used to employ over 150 people. Today, 43 people remain, who are tasked with larger spending budget responsibilities and increased pressure to turn around acquisitions quicker, with... Read More
Inflationary Impacts on Contracting
Feds Addressing Inflationary Impacts, Possible Actions By Gloria Larkin Who remembers what the acronym WIN meant back in the 1970s? Those of you who recall that the letters stood for Whip Inflation Now, a grassroots effort that was supported by President Gerald Ford, can go straight to the trivia bonus round. While that effort was... Read More