FAR & Beyond Blog
Thank You to Our 2026 Fall Training Conference Sponsors!
The Coalition for Common Sense in Government Procurement (Coalition) extends its thanks to our 2026 Fall Training Conference sponsors for their generous support of The Acquisition Exchange! Their partnership plays an important role in making this event possible and supporting opportunities for education and collaboration across the federal procurement community.
The Coalition appreciates the continued partnership of our sponsors and their commitment to supporting the Coalition’s mission of advancing common sense in government procurement. Their contributions help us bring together government and industry stakeholders for meaningful discussions on the latest federal procurement issues, and we are grateful for their role in making this year’s conference a success.
Be sure to stop by our Platinum Sponsor tabletops during the conference, where representatives will be available to answer questions and showcase their products and services! Attendees are also encouraged to visit the sponsor pages in the conference mobile app to learn more about each of our sponsors and the products and services they offer.
Taking place November 18–19, 2026, at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia, the Fall Training Conference will bring together government and industry leaders for timely discussions on the latest developments in federal acquisition. Day One will focus on the future of interagency contracting, while Day Two will explore key developments and priorities in federal healthcare procurement.
Attendees can view the full Day One agenda and Day Two agenda.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with government and industry leaders at The Acquisition Exchange!
Register today to secure your spot at the 2026 Fall Training Conference!
Hear from GSA and VA Acquisition Leadership at the 2026 Fall Training Conference
The Coalition’s 2026 Fall Training Conference: The Acquisition Exchange, will bring together senior acquisition leaders from the General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for discussions on federal procurement priorities, policy developments, and agency initiatives. Join us November 18–19 at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, VA, to hear directly from government leadership.
GSA Leadership Panel – November 18
Day One will feature “The Nexus Between Policy & Operations,” with Jeff Koses, GSA Senior Procurement Executive, and Laura Stanton, Acting Commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). This session will explore the connection between federal acquisition policy and its implementation across procurement operations, offering insights into how policy priorities translate into practice.
VA Acquisition Leadership Panel – November 19
Day Two will feature the “VA Acquisition Leadership Panel,” with invited senior VA acquisition leaders, including Phillip Christy, Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) and Chief Acquisition Officer; Christopher Parker, Deputy Principal Executive Director, OALC and Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer; and Michael Logue, Senior Advisor to the Principal Executive Director and Chief Acquisition Officer, OALC. The panel will focus on VA’s acquisition priorities, ongoing initiatives, and the future direction of its procurement programs.
Don’t miss these opportunities to hear directly from GSA and VA leadership at the 2026 Fall Training Conference! View the full Day One Agenda and Day Two Agenda to explore all the sessions planned for this year’s event.
Register today for The Acquisition Exchange!
Start Connecting Before Fall Training Conference: The Acquisition Exchange!
Don’t wait until November 18 to start networking. Make connections through the mobile app TODAY!
The 2026 Fall Training Conference: The Acquisition Exchange is less than a month away, but the networking opportunities can start now!
Get a head start by updating your profile in the conference mobile app! Add your title, organization, and profile picture, and be sure to tag your industry or area of focus to help fellow attendees find and connect with you.
Once your profile is ready, visit the Attendees tab to explore who’s attending, connect with industry colleagues, and start conversations ahead of the conference. You can send direct messages to fellow attendees through the app to introduce yourself, reconnect with familiar faces, or coordinate meetups during the conference. It’s a great way to start building connections before arriving at the Fall Conference!
Haven’t Downloaded the Conference App Yet? Getting started is easy! Follow the instructions here to download the app and access The Acquisition Exchange.
For any questions about the mobile app, please contact Mady Whiting at Mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
Thank you to our Mobile App Sponsor, Veterans Healthcare Supply Solutions (VHSS)!
Explore GSA’s New AI Clause and More on November 17
Join us on November 17 at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia, for the AInAcquisition Exchange Forum: The Future is Now, featuring timely discussions on the latest AI developments impacting federal acquisition.
The Coalition extends its sincere appreciation to SAIC for sponsoring the
AInAcquisition Exchange Forum.
We’re pleased to announce that Jessica Tillipman, Associate Dean for Government Procurement Law Studies at The George Washington University Law School, will deliver the forum’s keynote address.
During her session, Jessica will explore the evolving AI landscape in federal acquisition, including GSA’s new AI clause and what it means for government and industry, agency approaches to transparency and disclosure surrounding AI use, and other emerging developments impacting the federal marketplace.
Also on the agenda:
- IT Management and the Role of AI: This panel will examine how federal agencies are incorporating AI into their broader IT strategies to support operations, improve efficiency, and advance mission objectives.
- The Evolving AI Acquisition Policy Landscape: The forum will conclude with a discussion of the latest acquisition policy developments and considerations shaping how the federal government acquires and adopts AI.
View the full agenda here.
Registration for the November 17 forum is complimentary for all Fall Training Conference registrants!
To register, click here.
For any questions about registration for the AInAcquisition Exchange Forum, please contact Mady Whiting at mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
GSA to Audit Federal Contracts with 689 Firms Suspended from SBA’s 8(a) Program
The General Services Administration (GSA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that GSA will audit federal contracts awarded to 689 firms following their suspension from SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. The audits follow an SBA review that identified hundreds of firms that had not demonstrated compliance with program requirements but had received federal contracting benefits and awards with a combined contract ceiling of $5.5 billion.
As part of the review, GSA will examine federal contracts awarded to the identified firms and refer cases involving suspected fraud to the agency’s Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice.
The 8(a) Business Development Program is designed to help eligible small, disadvantaged businesses compete for federal contracting opportunities. Participating firms must meet SBA eligibility requirements related to business size, financial qualifications, and other program criteria.
Army Reports Record Enterprise-Level Contracting Amid Acquisition Reforms
MeriTalk reports that the U.S. Army has awarded more enterprise-level contracts this year than ever before as part of its ongoing acquisition reform efforts. The Army is expanding portfolio-based acquisition management, delegating greater contracting authority to Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs), and increasing the use of enterprise-wide contracting strategies for software, components, and weapons systems. The service is also shifting toward shorter, outcome-based requirements that provide industry with greater flexibility to propose solutions.
According to Army officials, the reforms have significantly reduced acquisition timelines, with some requirement decisions now taking days rather than months. The Army also highlighted its use of Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) to address emerging operational needs, including awards made within seven days of identifying a requirement.
GSA Introduces Voluntary Domestic End Product Certification for FSS Contractors
GSA has introduced a new voluntary domestic end product certification for FSS contractors under Class Deviation CD-2026-04.
The new GSAR clause 552.238-130, Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Domestic End Product Certificate, allows contractors to identify qualifying U.S.-manufactured products that meet specified domestic component content requirements.
Contractors will be able to begin submitting certifications following the release of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #34. However, GSA will not display these certifications on GSA Advantage! or other systems until it receives approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
The voluntary certification does not replace or modify existing Trade Agreements Act (TAA) requirements. Contractors must continue to ensure that products offered under their MAS contracts comply with applicable TAA requirements.
NITAAC GWACs Set to Sunset October 29
The National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC) program is approaching its final sunset date of October 29, 2026.
As part of the federal government’s efforts to consolidate procurement, NITAAC’s CIO-SP3, CIO-SP3 Small Business, and CIO-CS government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) will permanently sunset next week.
The transition includes important considerations for federal agencies and contractors with existing orders. While orders awarded before June 8, 2026, generally retain their original periods of performance, all active Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) orders must terminate by December 31, 2028. Non-HHS orders extending beyond that date will transition to GSA for administration.
NITAAC and GSA will work with contracting officers to coordinate the transition of applicable orders.
View the timeline here.
Federal Appeals Court Clarifies Buy America Waiver Requirements
Federal News Network reports that a recent federal appeals court ruling provides important clarification on Buy America waiver requirements and the ability of domestic manufacturers to challenge agency waiver decisions.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in a case involving Alstom Transportation and a federally funded high-speed rail project connecting California and Nevada. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had issued a Buy America waiver allowing certain trains to be manufactured overseas because qualifying trains were not being produced domestically at the time of the waiver.
The court determined that agencies evaluating nonavailability waivers under the applicable Buy America statute must consider existing domestic manufacturing capabilities, rather than a company’s potential to manufacture qualifying products in the future. The court also found that Alstom had standing to challenge the waiver, providing additional clarification on when domestic manufacturers may contest agency decisions.
The ruling could have implications for future waiver challenges as the federal government places greater emphasis on domestic sourcing requirements. Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), proposed changes to FAR Part 25 would increase oversight and transparency of Buy American nonavailability waivers, including additional review and public posting requirements.
GAO Prioritizes AI Oversight in 2027–2032 Strategic Plan
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced its 2027–2032 Strategic Plan, outlining the agency’s priorities to help Congress address current issues including artificial intelligence (AI), fiscal pressures, and national security threats.
The plan outlines three goals focused on:
- Identifying federal savings;
- Combating fraud and waste, strengthening accountability and public safety; and
- Modernizing GAO’s workforce and technology, including AI and quantum computing, to help Congress and federal agencies understand associated risks and opportunities and use these tools effectively.
As part of its oversight priorities, GAO plans to evaluate federal AI policies, cybersecurity protections, and IT acquisition and management practices, including agencies’ adoption of emerging technologies.
GSA Transitions FPDS Contract Data Services to SAM.gov as Legacy ATOM Feed Support Ends October 31
GSA announced that effective October 31, 2026, maintenance, updates, and Federal Service Desk (FSD) support for the legacy FPDS ATOM Feed will permanently end. Users who rely on the feed to download federal contract award data should transition to the SAM.gov Contract Awards API.
In February 2026, GSA transitioned federal contract award searches from FPDS.gov (the Federal Procurement Data System), which tracked federal procurement contracts, data, and spending, to SAM.gov’s Contract Awards Search. The legacy FPDS ATOM Feed, which allowed users to automatically download large batches of raw contract award data, was replaced by the SAM.gov Contract Awards API, which offers more precise filtering, two-way interaction, and improved performance for software integrations. This system allows contractors, agencies, and the public to search publicly available federal procurement data by keyword, agency, or business name to support procurement research, policy analysis, and spending trend analysis.
VA to Host Webinar on FSS Catalog Expansion, Oct. 29
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Enterprise Procurement Office (EPO) will host an informational webinar on Thursday, October 29, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM (ET), to discuss the expansion of the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Catalog to include Non-Expendable Equipment.
During the webinar, VA senior leadership and FSS representatives will provide an overview of the initiative’s objectives, participation guidelines, and next steps. The event will also include an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance to FSSNEET@va.gov or Deborah.Zuckswerth@va.gov by Tuesday, October 27, at 1:00 PM (ET).
To register, click here.
Legal Corner: The Protest Clock May Start Sooner Than You Think in a FAR 8.4 Procurement: GAO Dismisses Untimely FSS Protest in Hendall Inc.
The Legal Corner provides the procurement community with an opportunity to share insights and comments on Legal issues of the day. The comments herein do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coalition for Common Sense in Government Procurement.
By Evan Williams & David O’Neill on October 8, 2026
GAO’s bid protest timeliness rules are strict. Even a strong protest can be dismissed if it is not filed within the deadline established by GAO regulations. In certain procurements, required debriefings can affect protest deadlines while voluntary debriefings or brief explanations in other types of procurements do not toll deadlines.
In Hendall Inc., B-423714.5 (Oct. 1, 2026), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) dismissed a bid protest as untimely because it was filed more than 10 days after the protester knew, or should have known, its grounds for protest. The protester argued that its protest was timely because it was filed within 10 days of the agency’s “brief explanation” of the award decision. GAO rejected that argument and ruled that the protest clock started earlier, when Hendall received notice of the award.
The decision is a reminder that a contractor cannot assume that a post-award explanation tolls the GAO deadline. The debriefing exception applies only when the procurement is conducted on the basis of competitive proposals and the debriefing is required. For a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) procurement, a requested brief explanation does not itself reset the clock. Below, we discuss the case and offer practical guidance for contractors who receive a notice of non-award.
Hendall Inc., B-423714.5 (Oct. 1, 2026)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for quotations (RFQ) under the General Services Administration’s (GSA) FSS program, using the streamlined ordering procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.4, for management of its Comprehensive Error Rate Testing program. The procurement had a long history of protests and corrective action.
After Hendall was excluded from the competitive range, it protested to GAO in August 2025. In that protest, Hendall argued the agency conducted an impermissible price realism analysis. CMS took corrective action and reopened discussions with Hendall. In November 2025, CMS selected Serco, Inc. for award. Hendall protested again on December 1, 2025, and GAO dismissed that protest after another vendor filed a related protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). CMS then took corrective action in the COFC protest and reevaluated the quotations. On May 28, 2026, CMS notified Hendall that it had not been selected for award. Hendall requested a brief explanation, which CMS provided on June 16. Hendall filed its protest with GAO on June 26, 2026.
GAO found Hendall’s protest untimely, applying the strict timeliness rules in its bid protest regulations. Under GAO’s bid protest regulations, protests not based on alleged improprieties in the solicitation itself must be filed within 10 days after the protester knew or should have known the basis for protest, whichever is earlier.[1] There is one important exception. For procurements conducted on the basis of competitive proposals where a debriefing is requested and required, such as FAR part 15 negotiated procurements and, in some cases, FAR subpart 16.5 task order competitions, a protest must be filed within 10 days after the debriefing is held.
Because CMS conducted the procurement under FAR subpart 8.4, the FAR part 15 debriefing requirements did not apply. In FSS procurements, the FAR requires agencies to provide only a “brief explanation of the basis” for the award decision, and only upon request. GAO explained that a brief explanation is not a required debriefing and is no different from any other source of information about the award for timeliness purposes. As a result, GAO held that Hendall’s protest clock began on May 28, 2026, when Hendall received notice that it had not been selected for award.
Hendall argued that it had no basis for a “knowledgeable or supportable” protest until it received the June 16 brief explanation. GAO disagreed, noting that a protester “need not await perfect knowledge” and may not delay filing until it can detail every possible protest ground. GAO further observed that Hendall already knew of both of its protest grounds—challenges to the agency’s price realism and tradeoff analyses—because it had raised them in its prior protests.
Key Takeaways for Contractors
GAO’s decision in Hendall underscores the importance of understanding the deadline for protest and whether a required debriefing can extend it. Contractors should keep the following points in mind:
- Consult counsel immediately after receiving a notice of non-award to assess timeliness, debriefing options, and potential protest grounds. Experienced counsel can review the timeline, including the award notice, which may have already started the protest clock. Counsel can then advise on whether to request a debriefing, key questions, protest options and forums, and help evaluate the strength of potential protest grounds early.
- Understand whether a debriefing is required. This distinction can determine whether a protest survives. In FAR part 15 procurements, and in some FAR subpart 16.5 task order competitions, a required debriefing that is timely requested can extend the GAO filing deadline to 10 days after the debriefing is held.[2] By contrast, voluntary debriefings, brief explanations, and other information provided by agencies do not extend protest deadlines.
- Do not wait for additional information if you already know your protest grounds. GAO does not require perfect knowledge before a protest is filed. If the award notice, or prior protests and corrective action, already reveal the basis for a challenge, the 10-day clock is likely already running
The bottom line is that contractors considering a protest should contact counsel immediately when an unfavorable award notice arrives. This is especially important in an FSS or other non-FAR part 15 procurement, where the protest clock has likely started and time is limited.
[1] 4 C.F.R. § 21.2(a)(2)
[2] The automatic Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) stay deadline is separate from GAO’s 10-day timeliness rule. In a post-award context, a GAO protest must generally be filed within 5 days after a required debriefing in order to trigger a CICA stay. 31 USC § 3553(d)(4).
Healthcare Spotlight: DHA ICD-10 Data Now Available to Members
The Coalition has received a new Defense Health Agency (DHA) data set covering ICD-10 diagnosis codes for calendar year 2025.
The data identifies whether services were performed through direct care at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) or through the contracted private-sector TRICARE network.
Note: The DHA data is provided in aggregate and does not identify individual Military Treatment Facilities.
Members can request a customized report by providing the ICD-10 codes most relevant to their business. The report will show the 2025 diagnosis volumes for each requested code, broken out between direct care MTFs and the private-sector TRICARE network.
If you are interested in requesting a report or learning more, please contact Michael Hanafin at mhanafin@thecgp.org.
IT/Services Committee Meeting: IOA MAS Contractor Assessments, November 4
Please join us for a meeting hosted by The Coalition’s IT/Services Committee, on November 4 at 10:00 AM (ET). GSA’s DeYon Francis, Acting Service Center Director and Han-Qing Zhao, Supervisory Contract Compliance Analyst, FAS, will meet with members to discuss IOA MAS Contractor Assessments, including initiatives to standardize assessments and how contractors can best prepare for the process.
To facilitate discussion, members are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time to Kayden Austin-Vaias at KAustin-Vaias@thecgp.org and Joseph Snyderwine at JSnyderwine@thecgp.org.
The meeting will be held in person at GDIT in Falls Church, VA (3150 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church VA, 22042). Virtual attendance will also be supported.
To register, click here. For any assistance with registration, please contact Mady Whiting at mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
Note: This is a members-only event. If you see a message that says “Registration Not Available” please log in using your member account.
Webinar: 2027 Public Law Pricing Update
Please join The Coalition for a webinar on Public Law Pricing on November 4 from 12:00PM – 1:00PM (ET).
Allison Pugsley of Hogan Lovells and Ted Karnezis of Karnezis Consulting will discuss the 2027 Public Law Pricing Update process for manufacturers of covered drugs with an existing Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract with VA, covering considerations and steps to prepare for the upcoming update cycle, including:
- The statutory calculation used to determine Federal Ceiling Prices (FCPs)
- VA’s published guidance on covered drug pricing updates, including Public Law timelines and potential disputes manufacturers may need to raise
- How to analyze pricing calculation data before submitting it to VA
- The process for modifying FSS contracts to incorporate 2027 covered drug pricing, including how to obtain price increases
To register, click here. For any assistance with registration, please contact Mady Whiting at mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
Imaging Equipment Committee Meeting with GSA’s Office of Acquisition Solutions Development, November 5
Please join us for a virtual meeting hosted by The Coalition’s Imaging Equipment Committee, on November 5 at 10:00 AM (ET).
Michael Burrell, Sr. Contracting Officer, GSA Office of Acquisition Solutions Development, will update members on the management of the Imaging Equipment sector following the recent reorganization, the pace of Economic Price Adjustments, and GSA’s plans to update the process for uploading highly configurable catalogs to the FAS Catalog Platform.
To facilitate discussion, members are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time to Joseph Snyderwine at JSnyderwine@thecgp.org.
To register, click here. For any assistance with registration, please contact Mady Whiting at mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
This is a members-only event. Please complete your registration by logging into your member account.
VA Pharmaceutical Industry Day, November 20
The VA Enterprise Procurement Office, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC), in collaboration with the Coalition, will host a Pharmaceutical Industry Day on the morning of Friday, November 20, at the same location where the Coalition’s Fall Training Conference is taking place, The Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, VA.
This one-day, in-person event will bring together government and industry leaders to discuss current developments, challenges, and opportunities in federal pharmaceutical procurement. Topics will include policy changes, emerging procurement priorities, and efforts to strengthen collaboration between VA and its pharmaceutical industry partners.
Registration is now open! Due to limited capacity, attendance is restricted to two representatives per company, and registrations will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested attendees are encouraged to register here.
Questions regarding the event’s subject matter may be submitted in advance to Regina McGregor, Director of Business Development & Small Business Technical Advisor, EPO, at Regina.McGregor@va.gov.
Coalition Holiday Reception, December 15
The holiday season will be here before we know it! Join us on December 15 at the Tower Club in Tysons Corner for our annual holiday reception from 5:00–8:00 PM (ET).
As we wrap up another event-filled year, we invite you to take a break to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together with your Coalition friends and colleagues. Enjoy an evening of food, beverages, and good company as we toast to the year ahead.
Thank You to Our Sponsor!
To register, click here. For any assistance with registration, please contact Mady Whiting at mady.whiting@thecgp.org.
Note: This is a member-only event. Registration is complimentary but required for food and beverage purposes.
Please Welcome New Premier Member
