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"Meaningful Consideration" of Procurement's Primary Activity Required in Size Standard Determinations

Client Alert | 1 min read | 10.16.14

In RLB Contracting, Inc. v. U.S. (Oct. 3, 2014), the Court of Federal Claims enjoined the USDA from moving forward with a small business set-aside procurement for a shoreline and marsh restoration project issued under a NAICS code for "Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction," to which both the USDA and SBA found the code’s smaller size standard exception for "contracts which are comprised primarily of dredging and surface clean up" inapplicable. Concluding that the size standard decision by the USDA (which was affirmed by the SBA) was "flawed because the [administrative] record does not show that they gave proper consideration to whether dredging constitutes the primary activity involved," the CFC deemed the size standard determination "irrational."


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Client Alert | 4 min read | 02.20.26

SCOTUS Holds IEEPA Tariffs Unlawful

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a pivotal ruling in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, negating the President’s ability to impose tariffs under IEEPA. The case stemmed from President Trump’s invocation of IEEPA to levy tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China, and other countries, citing national emergencies. Challengers argued—and the Court agreed—that IEEPA does not delegate tariff authority to the President. The power to tariff is vested in Congress by the Constitution and cannot be delegated to the President absent express authority from Congress....

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