The FAR and Beyond

In this episode, we explore how the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) applies directly to military officers deployed alongside foreign coalition partners, breaking down how defense articles, technical data, and "deemed exports" are strictly regulated under federal law. The hosts examine high-risk operational platforms like unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-drone jammers, detail legal sharing pathways such as Foreign Military Sales and AUKUS, and outline a practical four-step battle drill for military personnel navigating export compliance downrange.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we analyze how the overhaul of FAR Part 18, emergency acquisitions by condensing FAR Part 18 and relocating general acquisition flexibilities to a centralized reference at acquisition.gov. Listeners will learn how the updated RFO framework eliminates redundant non-statutory language while retaining critical higher spending thresholds, local contracting preferences, and key statutory emergency authorities.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we analyze the overhaul of FAR Part 17, highlighting key
additions such as the explicit codification of reverse auctions and the
removal of the default five-year ceiling on option periods. We also
discuss structural streamlining across the subparts, the relocation of
procedural best practices to the non-regulatory FAR Companion, and
the broader policy shift toward judgment-based procurement practices.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast
page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show
includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our
four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law
Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR
and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg”
(Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate
General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at
https://tjaglcs.army.mil/

In this episode, we explore the major shift in FAR Part 16 from a restrictive to a permissive regulatory philosophy, as well as the new agency justification requirements for non-fixed-price contracts introduced under Executive Order. We also break down key structural reorganizations across the subparts and highlight new acquisition flexibilities, including establishing BPAs under IDIQ contracts and the formal codification of vendor on-ramps and off-ramps.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we unpack the massive revamp of FAR Part 13, which completely strips out commercial clutter to focus strictly on simplified procedures for non-commercial acquisitions. We discuss operational updates for contracting officers, including the migration of payment clauses to Part 32, the transition to a dynamic online list of inapplicable laws, and the strict new legal distinction between canceling an unaccepted purchase order versus terminating an accepted one.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we examine FAR Part 9, explaining how major sections—including pre-award surveys and contractor team arrangements—have been removed from codified regulation and relocated to the non-regulatory FAR Companion Guide. We also detail core retained statutory standards updated for plain language, along with critical new administrative rules that make non-compliance a direct trigger for suspension or debarment proceedings.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we break down the mandatory priority ladder for federal procurement, guiding contracting professionals through the essential "rules of the road" for sourcing supplies and services. They also highlight crucial updates on using the Spend Under Management tiers, the relocation of Federal Supply Schedule procedures to the GSAM, and the streamlined three-day explanation process for unsuccessful quoters.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we unpack two proposed rules from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that could qualify companies with up to half a billion dollars in annual revenue as small businesses. The hosting team breaks down the five major proposed shifts—including massive NAICS code consolidation, a preference for headcount-based standards, and the "hold harmless" policy—detailing exactly how these changes will reshape the "rule of two" and the competitive landscape for federal contractors.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we dive into the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) to explain
how FAR Part 8 has been completely restructured, consolidating three FAR
parts into one and moving Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) ordering procedures
out of the FAR and into the GSAM. We detail essential shifts for acquisition
professionals, including the new required-use contract hierarchy, defense-specific deviations, and the strict three-day timeline for providing brief
explanations to unsuccessful quoters.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast
page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show
includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our
four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law
Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR
and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg”
(Administrative & Civil Law Department).

In this episode, we examine the transition from prescriptive checklists to a dynamic acquisition planning process that moves procedural "how-tos" into the non-regulatory FAR Companion Guide. The discussion highlights the unification of consolidation and bundling into a single framework, alongside new transparency requirements designed to protect small business incumbents.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we explore the historical roots of sealed bidding and its modern transformation under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), which reorganizes FAR Part 14 into a more accessible, lifecycle-based structure,. The discussion highlights the transition of non-regulatory best practices to the new FAR Companion, the removal of outdated procedures like facsimile bids, and the consolidation of two-step sealed bidding to create a leaner, more organized rulebook.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we explore the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) of Part 19, which reorganizes small business regulations into acquisition life cycle stages while moving non-regulatory best practices to the FAR Companion. The discussion highlights critical updates for practitioners, such as the mandatory Rule of Two at the master contract level and a new, efficient process for automatically releasing requirements from the 8(a) program.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we discuss navigating the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO)
using updated tools on acquisition.gov, including practitioner albums for
change summaries and the new FAR Companion. The panel outlines how to
locate agency-specific supplements like the AFARS and DFARS, while
providing strategies for researching primary sources such as National Defense
Authorization Acts (NDAAs) and GAO case law. Finally, the episode introduces
the newly renamed Acquisition Attorney’s Deskbook and explores the evolving
role of closed and open AI tools in conducting streamlined legal analysis.

Resources Links
Deskbooks:
Attorney’s Acquisition Deskbook: tjaglcs.army.mil/publications
Fiscal Law Deskbook: tjaglcs.army.mil/publications

Primary Sources:
FAR: www.acquisition.gov/
RFO: www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul
RFO Practitioner Albums: www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/practitioner
albums
FAR Companion:
www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/page_file_uploads/far-companion.pdf
AFARS Link: www.army.mil/armycontracting#org-afars
DFARS: www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html and
https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars_far_overhaul_class_deviations.html
U.S. Code and Statutes: uscode.house.gov/
Congress: www.congress.gov/
DoD History & Library Directorate: whs
mil.libguides.com/dodappropriationslaws
GAO: www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests/search
Court of Federal Claims (COFC): www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA): www.asbca.mil/

Secondary Sources:
Congressional Research Reports: www.congress.gov/quick-search/crs
products?qs_expand=true
WIFCON.com: www.wifcon.com
Small Gov Con: www.smallgov.com
StanHinton: www.stanhinton.com
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast
page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show
includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our
four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law
Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR
and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg”
(Administrative & Civil Law Department).

In this episode, we explores the 75-year history of the Small Business
Administration, tracing its origins from World War II defense advocacy to its
modern role in managing government-wide contracting goals. The discussion
also covers essential topics for practitioners, including the "Rule of Two,"
recent legal shifts in the 8(a) program, and upcoming acquisition reforms in the
FY26 NDAA.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast
page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show
includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our
four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law
Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR
and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg”
(Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we analyze the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul FAR Part 12, which streamlines commercial acquisitions by reorganizing the part into lifecycle-based subparts and cutting approximately 30% of associated provisions and clauses. The discussion explores key updates such as the inclusion of construction as a commercial service, a new emphasis on mandatory priority sources, and the shift from a rigid "late is late" rule to a "good business judgment" standard for late offers. Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we examine how the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) replaces rigid market research checklists with professional judgment and modular acquisition strategies designed to reduce risk. The discussion highlights the shift toward outcome-based contracting and new DFARS requirements for documenting research efforts, such as analyzing capabilities and determining if tiered evaluations are appropriate.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we analyze the comprehensive restructuring of DFARS Part 227, which organizes intellectual property into commercial and non-commercial "hemispheres" and introduces a new unified "super clause" for technical data and software. The episode also highlights critical substantive updates, including the extension of the validation timeline to six years and a new strategic emphasis on resolving validity questions prior to award.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, discuss the Department of War's transition from traditional, siloed acquisition systems to an agile, portfolio-centric model designed to keep pace with modern warfare. They explore the groundbreaking role of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) established in the FY26 NDAA, which integrates requirements, budgeting, and execution into a single node to provide the speed and flexibility needed on the battlefield.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we dissect the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, focusing on how the Speed and Forge Acts are driving a massive legislative pivot toward streamlined defense acquisition reform. We explore critical updates including the new statutory definition of "best value," significant threshold increases for mandatory cost data and Cost Accounting Standards, and the strategic push to eliminate supply chain reliance on covered nations.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.

In this episode, we analyze the chronological restructuring of FAR Part 33 and the new addition of a "designated purpose" for the bid protest system intended to deter improper filings. We dive into substantive updates to agency-level protests, including the mandatory disclosure of redacted Source Selection Decision documents (SSDD) to protesters and the streamlined approval levels for overrides of regulatory stays.
Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/.