If you’ve felt like the rules of federal contracting are shifting under your feet this year, you’re not imagining it. The government is in the middle of rewriting the FAR, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, which is basically the rulebook every contracting officer uses to buy goods and services. They’re calling it the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul, and it’s the biggest change to that rulebook in decades.
Here’s the short version. Back in 2025, an executive order told agencies to simplify federal buying rules and cut out anything that wasn’t legally required. Agencies have been rolling out changes ever since through something called class deviations, which just means a temporary update that takes effect right away while the official version of the rule catches up later. The biggest wave of these changes landed earlier this year and more keep coming part by part.
So, what does this mean if you’re a small business owner trying to win contracts? A few things worth knowing.
First, contracting officers now have more discretion. A lot of the rigid, check-the-box language is being replaced with guidance that lets contracting officers use their judgment. That’s a double-edged sword. It can mean less red tape, but it also means you need to read each solicitation carefully instead of assuming the old rules still apply.
Second, the FAR itself can look different depending on which agency you’re working with. Some agencies have adopted the new streamlined rules already. Others haven’t caught up yet. I know that sounds frustrating, and it is, but it’s exactly why I tell my clients to check the actual solicitation language every single time instead of relying on what worked last year.
Third, small business provisions are part of this rewrite too. FAR Part 19, which covers small business programs, has already been updated under this overhaul. The intent behind these changes is to make it easier for small businesses to participate, with less paperwork and clearer pathways. I’ll believe the easier part when I see it consistently in practice, but the direction is worth paying attention to.
My advice as someone who spent 25 years on the agency side watching rules like this roll out? Don’t panic, and don’t try to memorize every deviation. Just build the habit of reading each solicitation’s actual terms instead of going on autopilot. That habit alone will put you ahead of contractors who are still operating off old assumptions.
This overhaul isn’t slowing down, so I’ll keep tracking it and translating what actually matters for you.
GSA Proposal Maven Inc. is a government contract firm that has helped thousands of businesses increase their bottom line with the GSA MAS contract program, 8(a) Certification Program, VOSB Certification, SDVOSB Certification, and other federal agency contracts. Contact us at (877) 302-3773 or click here to schedule your FREE fifteen-minute consultation by clicking here.
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