Category Archives: Federal Governement Contracting

Trump’s Overhaul of Federal Contracting and GSA’s Pivotal Role

In a March 20 executive order, President Trump directed federal agencies to submit plans to consolidate procurement for “common goods and services” under the General Services Administration, which puts the agency in charge of contracts in 10 broad market categories that were worth $495 Billion in fiscal 2024. Together, these contracts represented 64% of total […]

11 predictions for public contractors under Trump 2.0

The massive changes coming from the Trump administration have disrupted global markets and caused many businesses to put a pause on major decisions. Officials at the state and local levels are either following the federal government’s lead with similar changes and disruptions, or they are just waiting to see what comes next. More

How 2016 NDAA transformed OTAs into key defense contracting tool

OTAs have been around since the beginnings of NASA and the Advanced Research Project Agency. But it is the 2016 defense policy bill that allowed the widespread adoption of OTAs. The proliferation of OTAs allowed the Defense Department and other agencies to buy products and services outside of the constraints of the cumbersome and lengthy […]

Reducing the Negative Impacts of a Government Shutdown for Federal Contractors

On top of the uncertainty introduced through the Trump administration’s shifting priorities and rapid-fire executive orders, government contractors are now confronted with an impending shutdown as the federal government is set to run out of funding on March 14. Although the House of Representatives passed a six-month continuing resolution that would keep funding at current […]

Why not to be the lowest bidder

How does your construction business win work today? If you’re like the hundreds of typical contractors, you’re probably getting on bid lists, bidding work, following up (maybe!) and being awarded projects as the “lowest qualified bidder.” It works, right? Your ability to secure competitive pricing from vendors and subs, and your confidence in operations to […]

SBA resets some small business goals for 2025

Agencies have some new small business contracting goals for fiscal 2025 and they are more in line with traditional targets. The Small Business Administration specifically reset the small disadvantaged business goals, requiring agencies to at least award 5% of all contracts to these firms. The SBA updated these goals on Jan. 24 assigning every agency the same […]

Trump’s Executive Order on IIJA and IRA Contracts: Maximizing Cost Recovery for Government Contractors

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order entitled “Unleashing American Energy” (the Executive Order) aimed at reversing many of the Biden Administration’s clean energy and climate-related actions.  The Executive Order will have significant impacts on many contracts (as well as grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other awards) that are funded by either […]

Trump’s Executive Order Shuts Down Federal DEI Programs: Key Steps for Federal Contractors to Improve Cost Recovery

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (DEI Executive Order), putting an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government. Given the DEI Executive Order and the potential impact it may have on current federal contracts, PilieroMazza put together […]

Despite Trump’s orders, DBE not dead yet

The president’s move to revoke a ban on discrimination in federal contracting could have a chilling effect, but it will take an act of Congress to dismantle current programs. Programs that carve out participation goals for traditionally underrepresented workers on federal construction contracts may be under fire, but they’re not dead yet. That was the […]

Disaster recovery contractors poised to take on LA wildfire damage

Construction firms such as Jacobs, AECOM and Quanta Services could play key roles in the rebuilding efforts, according to financial services company Baird. The most recent Southern California wildfires, which have killed at least 25 people and displaced tens of thousands, will increase demand for contractors specializing in disaster recovery and electrical grid restoration in […]