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Unicor Banned From Competing In Small Business Set Asides For Services

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 02.14.05

On February 3, 2005, in response to two protests filed by small business contractors challenging the award of a contract to UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries or "FPI") under a total small business set-aside procurement, the SBA determined that UNICOR is other than small under the applicable size standard. UNICOR contended that, irrespective of its size, "it is eligible to compete for this procurement because recent changes in the law [specifically, March 26, 2004, amendments to the FAR] now define small business set asides as including FPI," but the SBA held that those requirements are not mandatory if the solicitation involves "acquiring services," as opposed to purchasing items listed on FPI's schedule.

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Client Alert | 5 min read | 07.20.26

DOJ and DHS Issue Interim Final Rule on State and Local Counter-Drone Authority Under the SAFER SKIES Act

On July 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) setting up a new federal framework that allows state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement and correctional agencies to detect, track, and, in some cases, disable or seize drones. The rule directly affects SLTT agencies looking to stand up counter-drone programs, as well as drone and counter-drone technology companies whose products will be subject to federal review and approval. Although the IFR bypassed the Administrative Procedure Act’s standard notice-and-comment process on good cause grounds — citing the statutory 180-day deadline and urgent public safety needs — the rule is already legally binding and effective as of July 1, 2026. The Departments are nonetheless accepting post-promulgation comments through September 4, 2026....