1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |CFC Judge Sides with VA in Preference Dispute over FSS Buys

CFC Judge Sides with VA in Preference Dispute over FSS Buys

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 12.07.12

In Kingdomware Techs., Inc. v. U.S., Judge Firestone of the Court of Federal Claims ruled that the Veterans Benefits Act of 2006, which requires VA to determine whether it can reasonably set aside its acquisitions for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses or Veteran Owned Small Businesses, does not apply to purchases from the Federal Supply Schedule. Before this ruling, VA had continued to defy GAO, which had ruled the opposite in a number of protests, and the same issue is currently before at least one other CFC judge.


Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 09.15.26

GAO Indicates Reasonable Conflict of Interest Investigation Must Include Inquiry of Involved Firm

The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent decision in Viderity Inc.—Costs, B-424422.5, Sept. 1, 2026, offers useful insight into what constitutes a legally sufficient conflict of interest investigation. The decision arose in an unusual procedural posture: Viderity initially protested, alleging that an agency evaluator had a personal conflict of interest. After the agency took corrective action, Viderity filed a cost entitlement claim requesting that GAO direct the agency to reimburse Viderity’s protest costs. In evaluating that claim, GAO assessed whether Viderity’s underlying protest ground was “clearly meritorious.”...