Off the Shelf

Luke Levasseur and Keeley McCarty, partners at Fox Rothschild, join host Roger Waldron on this week's Off the Shelf for an in-depth discussion of the current government contracts compliance, bid protest, and regulatory environment.
Levasseur and McCarty discuss the interplay between the Civil False Claims Act and the Trump administration’s focus on DEI, including the potential impact of the new DEI clause.
They also talk about current bid protest trends and the “loser pays” provision in the FY2026 NDAA.
Finally, Levasseur and McCarty share some initial impressions regarding the RFO.

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This week Alex Canizares, partner at Vinson & Elkins and co-head of the firm’s Government Contracts Practice Group joins Off the Shelf for a wide-ranging and informative discussion of the key trends in government contracts compliance, oversight, and enforcement.
Canizares gives an update on Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil False Claims Act enforcement priorities, and provides a quick primer on the FCA’s key statutory language and overall framework.
He also shares his insights and analysis of the new DEI clause requirements and the Department of Justice’s enforcement priorities.
Finally, Canizares gives his thoughts on the recently created Fraud Enforcement Division at DOJ.
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This week on Off the Shelf, Alan Thomas, founder of Alpha Tango Strategies, discusses the recently announced reorganization of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).
As a former FAS Commissioner, Thomas shares his insights regarding FAS operations and outlines the market and management considerations driving the FAS reorganization.
During the discussion Thomas gives his take on the roles and responsibilities of the five new offices resulting from the reorganization.
Shifting topics, Thomas talks about the recent executive order focusing on firm-fixed pricing for contracts, and he shares his thoughts on contract consolidation.
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Tim Brennan, president of the Center for Procurement Advocacy, joins Off the Shelf for an update on the Hill.
Brennan discusses the Hill’s focus on acquisition policy and outlines the key procurement priorities for this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
In particular, he addresses the growing split between the Department of War’s acquisition authorities and civilian agency acquisition authorities and sees an opportunity this year to narrow the gap.
Brennan also shares his thoughts on the Congressional calendar with insights regarding the timing of key legislative actions, including potential reconciliation and the timing for the NDAA.
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This week on Off the Shelf, Jeff Koses, senior procurement executive at the General Services Administration (GSA) shares the vision and goals for the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (RFO).
As an introduction to the discussion, Koses explains the role the FAR Council plays in the rule-making process, including how, OMB, GSA, DoW, and NASA work together to draft FAR rules consistent with statutes and executive orders.
He then explains how the FAR Council used deviations to meet the ambitious timelines set forth by the administration.
In addition, Koses highlights the shift to reliance on guidance documents like the Practitioner’s Albums to support the acquisition workforce.
Finally, Koses discusses the RFO changes and the significant regulatory changes that streamline the process and reduce burdens for government and industry.
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