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GAO Ups the Ante on Biased Ground Rules OCIs

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.15.10

In Energy Systems Group (Feb. 26, 2010), GAO found that the agency had acted reasonably in excluding the protester from the competition because of concerns about a biased ground rules organizational conflict of interest ("OCI") when protester had previously prepared a feasibility study in anticipation of a potential sole-source award upon which the agency relied to develop approximately 80% of the requirements for the competitive procurement at issue. GAO rejected protester's arguments that (i) at the time protester prepared the feasibility study, a competitive procurement was not anticipated and, therefore, the study could not affect an unanticipated competition; (ii) protester was unaware that the feasibility study might be incorporated into the requirements for the competitive procurement; and (iii) the feasibility study was released to all prospective offerors.

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 08.27.26

FCC Clarifies Covered List for Power Inverters and Advanced Robotic Devices

On July 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its Covered List — established through the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act — to include foreign-produced connected power inverters and advanced robotic devices, following an executive branch national security determination that they “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” Equipment on the Covered List is ineligible for FCC equipment authorization, effectively prohibiting the import, sale, or marketing of those products without an exception or approval....