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No Past Performance = Neutral, Not Negative

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 03.11.05

In The MIL Corp. (Dec. 30, 2004), GAO sustained a challenge to the agency's elimination of its proposal, finding that the agency improperly penalized the protester under the past performance factor for a lack of relevant experience, when the FAR requires no worse than a neutral rating in such circumstances. GAO also determined that the agency failed to give meaningful consideration to proposed prices, and it rejected the agency's argument that it was unnecessary in the context of a contract where the selected vendors will have to compete in the future for individual task orders.

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Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...