FEDCON says 2026 federal procurement changes create new openings for small contractors

FEDCON says two 2026 procurement reforms are making federal contracting faster and more flexible for small and mid-size businesses. The consulting firm is steering clients toward higher-threshold work, new buying vehicles and updated registrations as agencies shift how they buy.

Why it matters: - Federal buyers are moving toward faster, more flexible purchasing rules in 2026. - Higher dollar thresholds and new buying vehicles could make more work reachable for small and mid-size contractors. - Contractors that update registrations, certifications and proposals early may have a better shot at competing for that work.

What happened: - FEDCON, a federal contracting consulting firm, said it is helping small and mid-size businesses prepare for a procurement environment that is changing in 2026. - The company pointed to two reforms driving the shift: the FAR Overhaul under Executive Order 14275 and the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. - Executive Order 14275, titled “Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement,” was issued April 15, 2025. - The FY2026 NDAA was signed Dec. 18, 2025. - Brad Egbert, founder and CEO of FEDCON, said buyers are moving toward speed and flexibility and that FEDCON’s job is to get clients positioned before the work opens up.

The details: - The FAR Overhaul is described as the most comprehensive rewrite of the Federal Acquisition Regulation in more than 40 years. - The rewrite returns the regulation to its statutory roots and moves much of the buying guidance into non-regulatory guides outside the FAR. - Implementation is happening in two phases, with the first DFARS class deviations taking effect Feb. 1, 2026 and more changes rolling out on a continuing basis. - The FY2026 NDAA raises several dollar thresholds for contracts awarded after June 30, 2026. - The threshold for certified cost or pricing data under the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act, still widely known as TINA, rises to $10 million for contracts entered into after June 30, 2026, from $2.5 million set last fall. - Cost Accounting Standards thresholds also rise on that date, with the per-contract mandatory trigger moving to $35 million and full-coverage applicability moving to $100 million in collective annual awards. - FEDCON says agencies are buying more through Other Transaction agreements and grant vehicles outside the traditional FAR process. - FEDCON’s government contracting database matches those opportunities against each client’s capabilities. - FEDCON’s bids and proposals team then helps clients pursue the opportunities worth chasing. - FEDCON helps companies register in SAM.gov and qualify, where eligible, for programs including WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB and 8(a). - FEDCON also builds capability statements and proposals for clients seeking federal work. - The FAR Overhaul is renumbering and consolidating clauses across the regulation. - FEDCON says companies that leave their registrations and capability statements tied to the old structure can fall out of step as the rules change. - FEDCON says it helps keep SAM.gov registrations and capability statements current. - The company is offering a Free Market Assessment, described as a video screen sharing session with a senior advisor that maps the company’s current position and available openings. - The assessment can be booked at fedcon.com.

Between the lines: - The combination of higher thresholds and nontraditional buying paths appears to favor firms that can move quickly and document their capabilities well. - Smaller contractors may benefit most if they can identify the right opportunities before larger competitors focus on them. - The regulatory rewrite also creates a maintenance problem for companies that do not keep procurement records and capability materials aligned with the new structure.

What’s next: - More DFARS class deviations are expected to roll out on a continuing basis as the FAR Overhaul implementation advances. - New threshold levels will take effect for contracts entered into after June 30, 2026. - FEDCON is urging contractors to start with its Free Market Assessment to gauge readiness for the changed market.