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SBA Cannot Replace Agency Responsibility Findings with Its Own

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 09.30.11

In Spiral Solutions & Techs., Inc., the Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (“OHA”) reversed a size decision finding a violation of the ostensible subcontractor rule because the SBA Area Office improperly made findings on matters of responsibility--matters reserved for the contracting officer.  Additionally, OHA explained that Spiral’s hiring of its subcontractor’s incumbent, non-management personnel is no longer indicative of “undue reliance” in light of Executive Order 13,495, which encourages companies to offer a right of first refusal of employment to qualified employees performing under a predecessor contract for similar services at a particular location.

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Client Alert | 2 min read | 04.16.26

Federal Circuit Holds Challengers to CICA Stay Overrides Need Not Satisfy Four-Factor Injunctive Relief Test

In a significant decision for government contractors, on April 15, 2026, in Life Science Logistics, LLC v. United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that bid protesters challenging an agency’s override of an automatic stay of contract performance under the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) need not satisfy the demanding four-factor test traditionally required for preliminary injunctive relief.  In so doing, the Federal Circuit clarified that CICA stay override challenges need only demonstrate that the override decision was arbitrary and capricious—nothing more....