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Government Contracts Blog

Government Contract Fraud & Procurement Fraud FAQ 2026 — For CEOs and Contractors

You Got a CID. An Agent Called Your Lawyer. Or You Found Out There’s a Sealed Lawsuit With Your Company’s Name On It. What Happens Next? Watson & Associates, LLC | Former DOJ Prosecutors + Former Federal Contracting Officials | Nationwide Defense | 1.866.601.5518 |  24/7 If You’re Reading This,... Read more » The post Government Contract Fraud & Procurement Fraud FAQ 2026 — For CEOs and Contractors appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

When Speculation Sinks a Small Business Size Protest: Lessons from SBA OHA Joint Venture Size Appeals

A poorly developed size protest can do more than lose a procurement challenge. It can reinforce a competitor’s eligibility, expose weaknesses in the protestor’s legal strategy, and leave the agency record populated with sworn evidence that is difficult to overcome on appeal. That is the central lesson from Size Appeal... Read more » The post When Speculation Sinks a Small Business Size Protest: Lessons from SBA OHA Joint Venture Size Appeals appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

What Is a CID Hold When You Are Under Investigation for Fraud?

You did not expect this. A letter arrived — formal, government letterhead, demanding documents, emails, contracts, financial records, and possibly sworn testimony. At the top, it says: Civil Investigative Demand. Now your attorneys are using a phrase you have never heard before: CID hold. If you do not know exactly what... Read more » The post What Is a CID Hold When You Are Under Investigation for Fraud? appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

Totality of the Circumstances in SBA Size Protests: Lessons from Nisou Enterprises

If you handle federal set-aside work, the Nisou Enterprises decision is worth reading closely. In Size Appeal of Nisou Enterprises, Inc., SBA No. SIZ-6380 (2026), OHA did not say the challenged contractor was definitely small. What OHA did say is just as important: SBA’s Area Office made critical legal and... Read more » The post Totality of the Circumstances in SBA Size Protests: Lessons from Nisou Enterprises appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

Ten Ways Government Contractors Accidentally Make Their Case Worse After Receiving a Civil Investigative Demand (CID)

When a CID Arrives, the Real Risk Often Starts After You Open It For many federal government contractors, the shock is not just that a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) showed up. The bigger shock is how quickly well‑intentioned reactions inside the company can make the situation harder, more expensive, and... Read more » The post Ten Ways Government Contractors Accidentally Make Their Case Worse After Receiving a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

Hiring Foreign Workers in Government Contracts: Compliance, Fraud Risk, and Defense Strategies

Government contractors operating in the United States can lawfully employ foreign nationals in some circumstances, but the legal risk rises sharply when immigration compliance, labor practices, security restrictions, set-aside rules, billing representations, and procurement certifications do not line up. For executives facing a subpoena, CID, suspension threat, indictment, or federal... Read more » The post Hiring Foreign Workers in Government Contracts: Compliance, Fraud Risk, and Defense Strategies appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

HUBZone Fraud Defense: Protecting Your Business When the SBA Challenges Your Eligibility

A HUBZone problem rarely begins with the words “fraud investigation.” It usually starts with something smaller: an SBA program examination, a certification review, a competitor protest, an employee residency question, a principal office challenge, or a request for records that seems simple enough to answer. Then the issue expands. What... Read more » The post HUBZone Fraud Defense: Protecting Your Business When the SBA Challenges Your Eligibility appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

How to Respond to a Government Investigation Without Making It Worse

A government investigation can become much more dangerous when a company reacts too quickly, destroys or alters records, allows unmanaged employee communications, or tries to “cooperate” without a legal strategy.The right response is disciplined, documented, and directed by counsel so the business can protect its legal position while dealing credibly... Read more » The post How to Respond to a Government Investigation Without Making It Worse appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Fraud: Criminal Exposure and Defense Strategies

Federal SDVOSB fraud investigations can escalate quickly from an SBA or VA eligibility issue into a parallel criminal and civil enforcement matter involving the Department of Justice, the False Claims Act, and false-statement charges. Companies and veteran owners accused of SDVOSB misconduct need a defense strategy that addresses procurement rules,... Read more » The post Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Fraud: Criminal Exposure and Defense Strategies appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]

False Claims Act Penalties for Government Contractors in 2026

A False Claims Act investigation is not only a liability event. For a government contractor, it is a financial stress test. Once DOJ starts measuring exposure, the conversation often moves quickly from “what happened” to “how many claims were submitted, what was paid, what can be trebled, and how many... Read more » The post False Claims Act Penalties for Government Contractors in 2026 appeared first on Watson & Associates LLC Government Contracts Blog. [...]