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What the New $15,000 Micro-Purchase Threshold Means for EdTech and School Supply Vendors
In a move that’s already shaking up school procurement, the federal government officially raised the micro-purchase threshold to $15,000 as of October 1, 2025. If you're in the EdTech, curriculum, or classroom supply business, this seemingly simple change is your wake-up call, and a major opportunity. Here's what you need to know, why it matters, and how to get in position before your competitors do.
SLED Contracting Isn’t Just Bidding, It’s Navigating Red Tape and Building Trust
If you’re a small business owner used to the federal space, competing for SLED (state, local, and education) contracts can feel like entering a parallel universe. The money’s there, the opportunities are real, but the rules? They vary wildly. Welcome to the land of state-specific compliance checklists, local bonding requirements, diversity documentation that rivals a federal proposal, and a whole lot of unspoken rules about who knows you and who trusts you.
FAR’s Plain-Language Overhaul Is Here: What Small Contractors Need to Know Now
The federal government just dropped a sweeping rewrite of four key parts of the FAR, and while it won’t shake the ground under your feet, it does shift the terrain. The changes are designed to streamline language, not add new rules. But if you’re a small business working in federal procurement, it’s time to update your playbooks.
FAR vs. Agency Supplements: What Changes, What Doesn’t, And Why It Matters for Small Contractors
If you're navigating the federal procurement maze, you’ve probably heard of the FAR, the Federal Acquisition Regulation. It's the government-wide playbook for how federal agencies buy goods and services. But what many small businesses don’t realize until it’s too late is that the FAR isn’t the only rulebook. Agency-specific supplements, like the DFARS for the Department of Defense or the GSAR, which is part of the broader GSAM for GSA, can and do change the rules.
FAR Overhaul & Mandatory EFT Payments: Two Federal Contracting Shifts You Can’t Ignore
If you’re a federal contractor—or trying to become one—two big changes just landed on your plate: the long-awaited Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul and a new mandate requiring all federal payments to move to electronic funds transfer (EFT) by September 30, 2025. Neither is optional, and both will impact how you win contracts, get paid, and keep your business in compliance.
GSA’s Procurement Power Grab: What Small Contractors Need to Know Now
Something big just happened in federal procurement—and if you’re a small business, you can’t afford to ignore it. The General Services Administration (GSA) just finalized a major expansion of its consolidated procurement authority, backed by new laws, executive orders, and upcoming changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). In plain English: GSA is becoming the government’s central buyer, and if you’re not on a GSA contract, your access to government work could shrink—fast.
The Rule of Two May Be on the Chopping Block—Here’s What Small Contractors Need to Know
In a June 2025 update, legal powerhouse PilieroMazza dropped a bombshell that every small federal contractor should be paying attention to: the FAR Council is weighing a rollback of the long-standing “Rule of Two.” This foundational policy requires agencies to set aside contracts for small businesses when at least two qualified firms can bid at a fair market price. If the rollback proceeds, it could dramatically reduce the number of set-aside opportunities in the federal marketplace.
Cyber Rules Are Tightening—Here’s What Small Contractors Need to Know Now
If you're a small business in federal contracting, heads up: cybersecurity and supply-chain rules are tightening fast. New executive orders, FAR/DFARS clauses, and NDAA provisions are raising the bar—and if you're not keeping up, you could find yourself shut out of major contracting opportunities in FY2025 and beyond. But here’s the good news: with the right prep, these mandates can actually give you a leg up.