The multi-phased Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) is well underway and shifting how companies will interact with their government partners in future contracts. RFO Phase I focused on streamlining regulations through model class deviations based on statutory requirements, increasing acquisition flexibilities, and creating companion documents to guide implementation. Phase II in FY2026 focuses on formal rulemaking with clause language open to public comments. This panel will explore timely, relevant questions, such as what has been the single most significant FAR change to date? How are agency supplements aligning with FAR changes and ensuring consistency across the federal enterprise? How should companies think about companion guides? And how will the government and industry deal with the transition from legacy clauses and new FAR language—with minimal disturbance to mission effectiveness? 

If "efficiency" was the touchstone in 2025, then "delivery" and "innovation" are the key words for 2026. To accelerate the acquisition and fielding of innovative, cost-effective solutions, government officials increasingly turn to Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) tools, where available. What are these tools, and what are their appropriate uses (e.g., research, technology development, prototype projects, commercial solutions)? How can companies position themselves to offer effective use of an OT agreement or a CSO contract? Why is the government emphasizing the use of firm-fixed-price approaches? And what protections and opportunities vis-a-vis intellectual property and technical data rights exist in each tool? Learn more about contracting mechanisms to potentially grow your business.    

The federal acquisition environment is entering a period of significant transformation. Both government and industry are adapting to new expectations, authorities, and operating practices. These changes are reshaping how procurement is conducted and how contracting officers engage with industry partners. This panel brings together contracting officers and industry leaders to discuss how these reforms are affecting day-to-day procurement operations and the evolving contractor–government relationship. How are contracting officers implementing new flexibilities? What challenges do they face in balancing speed, risk, and accountability? What do they need from industry to execute acquisitions effectively? The conversation will explore how contractors can engage productively and ethically with contracting officers, align expectations early in the acquisition process, and help build stronger partnerships that improve acquisition outcomes and mission delivery during this period of regulatory change.