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Equality For All - OMB Instructs Agencies To Ignore GAO And Give Equal Consideration To Three SBA Programs

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 07.23.09

On July 10, 2009, OMB instructed agencies to continue to adhere to the SBA's "parity" regulations despite two recent GAO decisions-Mission Critical Solutions, 2009 CPD ¶ 93, and Int'l Program Group, Inc., 2008 CPD ¶ 172-that required agencies to prioritize Historically Underutilized Business Zone ("HUBZone") small businesses over 8(a) Program participants and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses in satisfying the agencies' acquisition requirements. OMB explained that the GAO decisions were not binding and instead instructed agencies to consider multiple small business programs pursuant to their existing contracting practices and the SBA's "parity" policies.

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Client Alert | 7 min read | 10.27.26

New Developments in DOJ Whistleblower Policies and HHS Disclosures: Key Takeaways for General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, and Boards

On October 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division announced a new whistleblower rewards initiative, the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP). Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald issued a directive earlier this month directing Division leadership to design and implement policies and programs that incentivize whistleblowers to bring forward credible information pertaining to fraud. The new WHIP incentive pays awards of $10,000 to $30,000 for qualifying tips at or around the time criminal charges are filed or unsealed, rather than years later at case resolution....