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GAO Blasts Faulty Past Performance Evaluation

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 06.24.08

In sustaining the protest in DRS C3 Systems, LLC, (Feb. 26, 2008, http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/310825.pdf), GAO found that the agency broke nearly every conceivable rule in the past performance evaluation by disregarding the awardee's "extremely adverse" past performance, departing from the stated evaluation criteria, failing to weigh the relevance of available past performance data, and incorporating "various inaccuracies" in the evaluation report. In arriving at its decision, the GAO also highlighted the agency's evolving litigation positions and rejected the agency's "no prejudice" defense when GAO could not "determine that [the awardee's] proposal would remain technically superior overall."

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Client Alert | 2 min read | 05.14.26

Proposed DFARS Rule Could Require Disclosures and Mitigation Related to Foreign Ownership, Control, and Influence (FOCI) on Certain Unclassified Contracts

On May 7, 2026, the Department of War issued the long-awaited Proposed Rule to implement Section 847 of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) regarding Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) requirements for contractors. The proposed rule would expand the applicability of FOCI reviews, requiring contractors and subcontractors on unclassified “covered contracts” — defense contracts and subcontracts valued in excess of $5 million that are not for commercial products and services — to submit FOCI disclosures to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) for FOCI risk assessment (and as applicable, mitigation) as part of contract award. This would effectively require DCSA assessment and adjudication of FOCI considerations prior to contract award. Thus, both cleared and uncleared defense contractors would be subject to the rigorous DCSA disclosure requirements, scrutiny, and FOCI mitigation. Crowell discussed the Section 847 requirements in a prior alert....