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Following GAO Recommendation Doesn't Insulate Agency's Action After Protest

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 08.18.11

The Federal Circuit in Turner Constr. Co. v. U.S. held that the Army should not have followed the recommendation of a GAO bid protest decision to disqualify an awardee based upon alleged organizational conflicts of interest ("OCIs") because the GAO decision failed to identify "hard facts" supporting the existence of an OCI and, therefore, "lacked a rational basis." Upholding the CFC decision and citing that court's authority to "award any relief that [it] considers proper," the Federal Circuit also let stand an order enjoining reprocurement and reinstating the awardee's contract, which the Army had terminated in response to the GAO decision.

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Client Alert | 2 min read | 07.15.26

CMMC Phase II Suspension Requires Reconsideration of Such Requirements in Solicitations

As discussed in more detail here, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) recently issued a memorandum (Memo 26-P-1023, dated July 13, 2026) directing the immediate suspension of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Phase II requirements (Level I and II self assessments are still permitted). Significantly, the memo directs that “all pending and future CMMC implementation milestones across DoW solicitations and contracts are held in abeyance until further notice.” Moreover, the DoW issued a memorandum on implementing these requirements (available here), directing agencies to issue amendments removing CMMC Level 2 and 3 requirements from active solicitations “as soon as practicable.” Contractors should monitor the government’s compliance with this requirement and should be prepared, if needed, to file a bid protest to protect their rights....