You Can Be Disqualified for a Conflict You Don’t Have: The Appearance Standard
In federal contracting, the appearance of a conflict can cost you an award even without actual bias. Why optics are a compliance issue — and…
4 min read
Government Contracting News & Insights
Contracting intelligence for small and minority-owned businesses, from the TIKC advisory team.
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Page 14 of 24 · Newest first
When Your Partners Cost You Your Size: SBA Affiliation as a Hidden Conflict
SBA’s affiliation rules can combine your firm with its partners for size purposes — quietly making you ‘other than small.’ The relationships that help you…
4 min read
The Zero-Tolerance Clause in Every Contract: Combating Trafficking in Persons
Every federal contract bars trafficking, forced labor, and recruitment-fee abuses — and the duties flow down your whole supply chain. What FAR 52.222-50 requires.
3 min read
Defective Pricing: The Cost-Data Duty That Turns a Good Deal Into a Refund
On negotiated contracts, the Truth in Negotiations Act requires accurate, complete, and current cost data. Get it wrong and the government claws back the overpayment…
3 min read
The Rule That Can Cost You the Whole Contract: Size and Status Fraud’s Presumed-Loss Trap
Willfully misrepresenting your small-business size or status can trigger a presumed loss equal to the full contract value — and FCA treble damages — even…
4 min read
The Whistleblower Engine Survives: What the Zafirov Ruling Means for FCA Enforcement
On September 1, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit upheld the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions in Zafirov — but the constitutional fight isn’t over. What…
3 min read
DEI as a False Claims Act Trap: Inside DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative
DOJ is using the False Claims Act to pursue contractors whose DEI practices allegedly conflict with civil-rights certifications — with two settlements already: IBM and…
4 min read
The Employee You Can’t Retaliate Against: Contractor Whistleblower Protections
Federal law protects contractor employees who report waste, fraud, or law violations — and punishes retaliation. With whistleblower suits at a record, this matters.
4 min read
The Gift That Becomes a Federal Crime: Kickbacks and Gratuities in Government Contracting
The Anti-Kickback Act and the FAR gratuities rules criminalize improper payments up and down the supply chain. What counts, and how to keep your team…
4 min read
The Certification That Can Sink You: Section 889, the 1260H List, and Your Supply Chain
Section 889 bars covered Chinese telecom and surveillance gear — and a false representation is FCA exposure. Now the 1260H List adds new deadlines. How…
4 min read
Your SPRS Score Is Now a Legal Liability: DOJ’s Cyber-Fraud Initiative Comes for Self-Assessments
A June 2026 settlement shows DOJ using the False Claims Act against a contractor’s cybersecurity self-assessment — surfaced by a government audit, not a whistleblower.
4 min read
Foreign Influence Screening Just Went Mainstream: The New FOCI Rule for Unclassified Contracts
A proposed DoD rule would extend foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) disclosure and mitigation to unclassified contracts over $5M — reaching ~37,700 firms.
4 min read
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The Briefing
The Briefing is the TIKC weekly federal contracting newsletter covering policy changes, opportunities and practical next steps for small businesses.
- Policy changes worth knowing about
- Opportunities for small and minority-owned firms
- Practical next steps you can act on
