Join us for lunch and take advantage of valuable networking opportunities with government and industry attendees. 

Acquisition reform efforts have moved quickly, from the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) and GSA’s OneGov Strategy to increased use of OTAs, CSOs, SBIR/STTR, commercial solutions, and other buying pathways. However, the hardest work oftentimes begins after policy is announced. This is when agencies (contracting personnel, program officials, etc.) and contractors (business development, program teams, corporate finance teams, contracting professionals, pricing professionals, etc.) must transform new guidance into sound decision-making and executable contracts. This panel will discuss ideas on how to navigate that period of adjusting to the new normal. How will agencies effectively inform and enforce these new practices? How should companies manage the transition from legacy clauses and business practices to new deviations, buying guides, tools, and implementation models etc.? Where are contractors seeing the greatest operational friction, e.g., in program execution, data rights, cybersecurity, small business strategy? How can both government and Industry reduce uncertainty, and ensure that reform leads to more effective and efficient mission outcomes while avoiding friction in the process?

If efficiency was the touchstone in 2025, then delivery and innovation are the key words for 2026. To accelerate the acquisition process, the fielding of innovative solutions, and the pursuit of cost-effective strategies, government officials are exploring a broader set of non-traditional contracting options. These include Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Other Transaction Authority (OTA), Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO), and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. What are these options, and what are their appropriate applications (e.g., research, technology maturation, prototyping, pilot projects, and commercialization)? How does the development of early-stage innovation lead to pre-competed/sole-sourced contracts? How do services apply to these non-traditional acquisition options? What protections and opportunities exist with respect to intellectual property and technical data rights in each model? Learn why the government added clarity to policy and requiring the acquisition community to familiarize themselves with these efficient contracting options. Discover more about the modern, streamlined contracting and innovation pathways the government is using to accelerate the acquisition process. 

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.

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?