# Federal Agencies Update Contracting Rules

A Q3 2026 government contracts review identifies a second wave of proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) overhaul rules, an Office of Management and Budget pause on its grant-regulation proposal through December 11, 2026, and revised Small Business Administration and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs requirements, several of which are already effective. For contractors, the changes affect small-business eligibility and set-aside competition, employment and supply-chain compliance, and potential Department of Defense financing for defense suppliers. The FAR rules remain proposals, not final requirements.

- Contractors should reassess small-business eligibility and set-aside positioning in light of the revised SBA requirements.
- Companies should update employment and supply-chain compliance practices for the SBA and OFCCP changes that are already effective.
- OMB’s grant-regulation proposal remains paused through December 11, 2026; the review does not describe a separate submission deadline.
- Defense suppliers can evaluate the DoD financing opportunities identified in the review; no specific program, amount, or application process is provided.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Policy
**Published:** November 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Federal Acquisition Regulation Council (FAR Council)
- Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

### Sources
- [Third Quarter 2026 Government Contracts Policy and Regulatory Review | Publications | Insights | Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP](https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2026/11/third-quarter-2026-government-contracts-policy-and-regulatory-review) - Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP