Podcast Show Notes

2025-02-14 Federal Market Insights Episode 1 — Session Overview

REAL ID Act
• Deadline: Starting May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license or ID will be required for domestic flights and access to certain federal facilities.
• Identification: REAL ID-compliant cards have a star in the upper right-hand corner.
• Documentation: To obtain a REAL ID, you must provide documents showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address, and lawful status.
• Alternatives: Passports or other acceptable forms of identification can be used if you don’t have a REAL ID.
• URL: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

VA Extends Deadline for Login Transition
• New Deadline: March 4 for veterans and beneficiaries to switch to Login.gov and ID.me for accessing healthcare and benefits.
• Current Credentials: DS Logon credentials will expire on September 30, after which ID.me must be used.

Department of Defense Class Deviation
• Class Deviation: Refers to deviations from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) affecting multiple contract actions, often used to address unique or urgent situations.
• Example: DoD issued a class deviation dropping project labor agreement requirements for certain military construction solicitations.
• URL: https://www.meritalk.com/articles/va-extends-deadline-to-switch-to-login-gov-id-me/

Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
• Definition: Pre-hire collective bargaining agreements with labor unions setting terms for specific construction projects.
• Key Points: Establish wage rates, benefits, prevent strikes, and apply to all contractors on the project.
• URL: https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA000250-25-DPCAP.pdf

Executive Order on DEI Programs
• Action: Contracting officers must cancel or amend solicitations and terminate contracts containing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) requirements.
• Deadline: Components must submit actions taken by February 21, 2025.
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/

Potential Cuts in U.S. Military Spending
• Announcement: President Donald Trump suggested cutting U.S. military spending by half, causing defense stocks to drop.
• Implications: Potential significant changes to defense budgets and priorities.
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstocks/trump-sends-shockwave-through-defense-stocks-says-military-spending-could-be-halved/ar-AA1z0lkK

OSHA Changes Under Trump Administration
• Potential Changes: OSHA may face paused rulemaking, workforce reductions, and a shift toward deregulation.
• Examples: Halting implementation of OSHA’s heat injury and illness standard, requiring agencies to repeal 10 regulations for every new one introduced.
• Full article: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/osha-abolish-zero-chance-trump-labor-changes/739641/

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
• CMMC is not fully implemented at this time. Companies should not wait for full implementation to begin their compliance efforts. The requirements take time, efforts and there are likely to be some costs. Cost will depend upon a number of factors. Companies can help to manage costs by becoming more knowledgeable of the requirements. WPI offers free technical assistance to assist with understanding what is needed and how to start the process.
• FAR 52.204-21: Outlines 15 basic safeguarding requirements for protecting contractor information systems, including access control, media sanitization, and protection from malicious code.
• DFARS 252.204-7012, 252.204-7019 and 252.204-7020 detail additional requirements for handling Controlled Unclassified Information under a DoD contract.
• Both FAR and DFARS clauses are available for not cost at: https://www.acquisition.gov/
• Companies will need to perform a self-assessment see:
https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/cyber/docs/safeguarding/NIST-SP-800-171-Assessment-Methodology-Version-1.2.1-6.24.2020.pdf
• Scores need to be loaded into SPRS; see: https://www.sprs.csd.disa.mil/
• WPI’s POC for Cyber Technical Assistance: Matt Frost

System for Award Management (SAM)
• Policy: Contractors must be registered in SAM to comply with annual representations and certifications requirements.
• Registrations must be reviewed and updated at least annually. Registrations must be accurate, complete and correct.
• Increase visibility of vendor sources (including their geographical locations) for specific supplies and services; and it establish a common source of vendor data for the Government. FAR 4.1100
• Contracting officers shall use the legal business name or “doing business as” name and physical address from the contractor’s SAM registration for the provided unique entity identifier to identify the contractor in section A
• Contractors are responsible for their responses. Selecting an answer out of convenience or with the thought that one answer is better than the others could have severe and negative effects.
• Exceptions: Certain contracts, such as those under the micro-purchase threshold or classified contracts, may be exempt.
• SAM registration is required for other requirements:
o Registration in WAWF – to be paid
o JCP Registration – access Export Controlled Information
o Register in PIEE – solicitation access, WAWF and JCP