Center for Government Contracting News

So much to share. The excitement continues. Whether it's new to you or you just want another chance to look back over the past three months, here's the Update for you.

Overall, industry and government need to be educated on the flexibilities of OTAs and how they can operate if used correctly. Education should not be singularly directed to industry or government but to all on an acquisition team, which includes both buyers and sellers.

For decades, federal acquisition policy has been clear that fixed-price contracts are generally preferred when requirements are well-defined, consistent with long-standing guidance in FAR Part 16. That principle has remained largely stable across administrations and acquisition reform efforts. The Executive Order on Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting, published April 30, 2026, does not change that principle but, instead, drives how consistently it is applied across the enterprise. By increasing approval requirements and justification expectations for non-fixed-price contracts and directing agencies to reassess existing portfolios, the Executive Order signals a shift toward more deliberate and structured use of contract types. The practical implication is a move toward closer alignment between policy intent and acquisition behavior.

This webinar will focus on the top issues coming from the RFO rewrite that affect government buyers with perspective from OMB/OFPP and FAR Council leadership to offer clarity about intent behind some of the most impactful changes and how agencies should be interpreting them.

The rulebook that governs how federal agencies buy is changing and the implications for the government contracting industry will be historic and systemic.

The United States possesses extraordinary military firepower and the finest service members in the world. Yet history and current events remind us that American success in war has always depended on the strength of our industrial base. Similarly, the reliability and creativity of our industry hinge on information systems and supply chain security.

“In an era of constant change, America’s government and industry must collaborate like never before,” said Mike Derrios, executive director of the center. “The Baroni Center exists to make that collaboration possible.”

Federal acquisition is experiencing another wave of reform, aiming to boost speed, tap into commercial solutions, modernize regulations, and leverage digital tools. Both government agencies and industry want to remove obstacles and operate more efficiently. Yet one obstacle stands untouched by any rewrite of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): requirements development. This critical step happens before actual contracting, long before solicitations are published or proposals are submitted. When requirements are poorly defined, speeding up procurement only accelerates poor outcomes. While factors like funding, contract choices, and acquisition strategies play important roles, none can make up for unclear goals, ill-defined scopes, or flawed requirements. Many supposed “acquisition process” problems actually arise from upstream design errors.

Amid the flurry of Executive Orders and other initiatives that rocked federal acquisition in 2025, the General Services Administration (GSA) began signaling a major shift in federal procurement with a Request for Information (RFI) issued late summer that sought industry input on building a unified procurement ecosystem. This effort could lead to one of the most impactful modernization efforts in acquisition infrastructure seen in decades. The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting has analyzed what this entails and how it might affect the acquisition workforce, industry partners, and the future of federal procurement.

The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting is pleased to announce the naming of a new executive director, Mike Derrios, MBA ‘06, an accomplished chief procurement officer with 30 years of experience across U.S. military, federal government, and private sector organizations.