When a Letter From DOJ Lands: What a Civil Investigative Demand Really Means
One day an envelope arrives from the Department of Justice demanding your records. It is called a Civil Investigative Demand, and it usually means the…
4 min read
Government Contracting News & Insights
Contracting intelligence for small and minority-owned businesses, from the TIKC advisory team.
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Winning at a Loss: Why Buying In Can Turn Into a Fraud Problem
Bidding low to win your first contract feels like a smart way to break in. The government has a name for it, buying in, and…
4 min read
The Check You Cannot Write: Why Federal Contractors Are Banned From Political Donations
Here is a rule that surprises almost every new contractor. While you hold a federal contract, your company is banned from making federal political contributions…
4 min read
Contractor Pays $1 Million for Sourcing From China and Certifying Buy American
On October 8, the Justice Department announced a $1 million settlement with a hardware supplier and its owner accused of buying parts from China, selling…
4 min read
The Email That Becomes Evidence: Wire and Mail Fraud in Government Work
Two of the most powerful tools prosecutors have are also the simplest. If a scheme to cheat the government used the mail or any electronic…
4 min read
It Belongs to the Taxpayer: Theft and Misuse of Government Property and Funds
Government money and property that passes through your hands is not yours to borrow, keep, or quietly repurpose. A separate criminal law, 18 USC 641…
4 min read
When an Agreement Becomes a Crime: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
You do not have to pull off the fraud to be charged. Under the conspiracy law, simply agreeing with someone else to cheat the government…
4 min read
The Million-Dollar Fraud Statute: What Major Fraud Against the United States Means for You
Most contractors have heard of the False Claims Act. Fewer know about Major Fraud Against the United States, a criminal law aimed squarely at fraud…
4 min read
Honeywell Pays $2 Million Over Cybersecurity Promises. Here Is What It Means for Your Small Business
Honeywell Aerospace agreed to pay over $2 million to settle claims it billed the government while failing to meet required cybersecurity rules. A former employee…
4 min read
Getting Paid Means Paying Your Subs: The Prompt Payment Rules
When you win a prime contract and use subs, the money coming in is not all yours to sit on. Federal rules expect you to…
4 min read
Only One Person Can Say Yes: Authority and Unauthorized Commitments
A friendly official says start now and sort the paperwork later. The trap: only the contracting officer can bind the government. Do the work on…
4 min read
It Is Not Yours to Lose: Managing Government Property
When the government hands you its equipment, tools, or materials to do the job, it is still the government’s, and you are on the hook…
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
