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GovConDash Weekly · October 26, 2026

The week of October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026

What changed in government contracting this week. Every item links to its source: the memo, the Federal Register, eCFR or the decision itself.

This Week in GovCon

  • Binding now: 1 class deviation issued by Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DARS), covering FAR part 12.
  • DPCAP policy: 2 DPCAP policy memos from Contract Policy.
  • Executive orders: 2 executive orders published in the Federal Register.
  • Comment deadlines: 2 proposed rules open for comment. The next comment deadline is November 4, 2026 (in 9 days): General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; GSAR Implementation of Executive Order 14275....
  • GAO protests: GAO released 7 protest decisions: 4 denied, 2 dismissed in part. The most common grounds were best-value / source selection (3) and set-aside / small business (2).
  • Courts and boards: New decisions: Court of Federal Claims 2, ASBCA 10, CBCA 6.
  • Codified: 1 Cost Accounting Standards section changed on eCFR: 1 amended.
  • Enforcement: 2 False Claims Act releases, with $375,204 in stated recoveries. The largest: $295,204, Garrett Mechanical Inc. and Hey Brother, LLC.

FAR Overhaul and class deviations(1)

Binding the day they are issued. Each links to the memo itself.

Class Deviation 2026-O0028, Revision 1 - Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul Part 12, Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS) Part 212

Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DARS) · Deviation 2026-O0028, revision 1 · FAR part 12

Issued October 22, 2026 · Effective October 22, 2026

DPCAP policy memos(2)

Memoranda from the DoW Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy office, signed this week or newly posted to its Policy Vault. Each links to the memo itself.

Guidance on Implementing Unbiased Artificial Intelligence Principles in Procurements
Contract Policy

This memorandum provides guidance to ensure the Department of War acquires Artificial Intelligence (AI) that adheres to the principles of "Truth-seeking" and "Ideological Neutrality." This initiative is in direct support of Executive Order 14319, Preventing Woke AI in the...

USA001389-26-DPCAP · Signed October 20, 2026

Guidebook for Acquiring Commercial-First
Contract Policy

This memorandum announces the issuance of the “Guidebook for Acquiring Commercial-First” to promote the acquisition of commercial solutions whenever feasible. It features elements of the Deputy Secretary of War memorandum, Fostering One Strong Industrial Base, dated September...

USA000934-26-DPCAP · Signed October 19, 2026

Executive orders(2)

Orders the Federal Register published this week. Each links to the order on federalregister.gov, and orders that reach federal procurement lead.

Advancing Women's Health To Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life
Grants and cooperative agreements

Executive Order 14437 · 91 FR 66779 · Signed October 19, 2026 · Published October 22, 2026

Federal Register PDF
Implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
Tariffs and trade

Executive Order 14436 · 91 FR 66627 · Signed October 16, 2026 · Published October 21, 2026

Federal Register PDF

Proposed rules for every contractor(2)

Rules that would change the FAR, DFARS, the Cost Accounting Standards or the SBA contracting programs, soonest comment deadline first. Rules scoped to one industry are left out.

General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; GSAR Implementation of Executive Order 14275, Acquisition of Utility Services
GSAR (GSA), 48 CFR chapter 5

GSA is proposing to amend the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) part 541 which outlines procedures and guidance for the procurement of utility services. GSA guidance does not apply to agencies using their special authorities listed in Federal...

General Services Administration · Amends 48 CFR 541, 552 · Published October 5, 2026

Comments close November 4, 2026 (in 9 days)Submit a comment
Small Business Size Standards
Small business size standards, 13 CFR 121

On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or the Agency) published a notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of availability of Revised Size Standards Methodology in the Federal Register to solicit public comments on the revised methodology and proposed...

Small Business Administration · Amends 13 CFR 121 · Published September 24, 2026

Comments close November 20, 2026 (in 25 days)Submit a comment

Case law this week(25)

The most authoritative forum first: the Federal Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, GAO, the boards of contract appeals and SBA OHA. Within each, decisions that granted relief lead.

Court of Federal Claims (2 new)

GAO bid protests (7 new)

4 denied2 dismissed in part
  • CAKAR ULUSLARARASI NAKLIYAT SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETIDenied

    Decided October 19, 2026 · B-424435.3 · U.S. Transportation Command

    CAKAR also contends the agency ignored inconsistencies between the awardee's proposal and the information in the awardee's System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

    Technical EvaluationBest-Value / Source Selection
  • Prestique, Inc.Denied

    Decided October 19, 2026 · B-424724 · Department of the Air Force

    The protester contends that the Air Force unreasonably rejected the firm's bid after unreasonably determining that a draft warranty, which the IFB required bidders to include with their bids, did not meet the agency's requirements.

    Responsibility / Responsiveness
  • Hatalom CorporationDenied

    Decided October 16, 2026 · B-424681 · Department of the Navy

    Set-Aside / Small Business
  • Casey & Company LLCDenied

    Decided October 14, 2026 · B-424785 · National Park Service

    The protester contends that the agency improperly failed to consider its timely submitted quotation.

  • VMD Systems Integrators, LLC d/b/a VMD Corporation--Costs

    Decided October 13, 2026 · B-422384.7 · Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Set-Aside / Small Business
  • Integrity Management Consulting, Inc.Dismissed in part

    Decided October 1, 2026 · B-424613,B-424613.2 · Department of Homeland Security

    The protester argues that the solicitation was latently ambiguous, resulting in the agency's unreasonable evaluation of Integrity's corporate experience quotation.

    Best-Value / Source Selection
  • Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc.Dismissed in part

    Decided September 28, 2026 · B-424598,B-424598.2 · Forest Service

    Best-Value / Source Selection

ASBCA (10 new)

CBCA (6 new)

3 withdrawn2 settled1 dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

Regulation text changes(11)

FAR, DFARS and Cost Accounting Standards sections whose text changed on eCFR this week. Changes to agency supplements are summarized in one line.

ChapterAmendedAddedRemoved
Chapter 99, Cost Accounting Standards Board, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget100

Agency supplements: 10 sections across HSAR (DHS) (8), EDAR (Education) (2)

False Claims Act enforcement(2)

Department of Justice releases that involve federal procurement, largest recovery first.

Dover Contractor and Owners Pay $295,204 to Settle Postal Service Overbilling Claims
SettlementPostal Service

$295,204 · Garrett Mechanical Inc. and Hey Brother, LLC · Published October 19, 2026

Delaware Real-Estate Agent Agrees to Pay $80,000 to Resolve False-Claims-Act Allegations Involving HUD Home Purchase
SettlementHousing and Urban Development

$80,000 · Delaware Real-Estate Agent · Published October 22, 2026

October 19, 2026All issues