Blank Rome partner Justin A. Chiarodo, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice group, will serve as a panelist at the American Conference Institute’s (“ACI”) Government Contracting Forum on DOD Procurement, Compliance & Innovation, being held December 4 through 5, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland. Blank Rome is pleased to be a sponsor of the conference.
ABOUT THE FORUM
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (“RFO”) marks the most sweeping rewrite of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”) in over four decades. As a result, contractors and subcontractors are navigating the intensified focus on domestic sourcing requirements; multi-tiered sourcing provisions; and the heightened risk of stop-work orders, contract terminations, and settlement processes. However, with change comes opportunity. As the Department of Defense (“DOD”) moves to modernize, accelerate awards, streamline regulations, and implement preferences for commercial items, the defense industrial base is poised for transformation.
Justin’s session, “Delayering to Spur Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base: The Practical Impact of the New Focus on Commercial Items, Cost Competitiveness & Speed,” will take place on Thursday, December 4, from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.
ABOUT THE SESSION
The panel will discuss
- Remaining agile and profitable amid big policy shifts and regulatory change: adapting and remaining agile and profitable
- Modernizing acquisition for speed and innovation: impact of the increasing reliance on commercial solutions, other transaction authority (“OTA”) and updated regulatory approaches; focus on commercial acquisition practices
- Heightened enforcement around the use of competitive marketplace and commercial innovations
- Defaulting to commercial items, FAR Part 12, DFARS Part 212, and OTAs to streamline procurement and reduce regulatory barriers
- What it takes to drive efficiency and cost competitiveness: optimizing operations and competitive pricing, reducing overhead, and delivering streamlining acquisition processes
- Adapting to technological evolution and security needs; balancing adoption of cutting-edge technologies with the need for cybersecurity and industrial base stability
Panelists:
- Brian Baldrate, Vice President and Lead Counsel, BAE, ES
- Justin Chiarodo, Partner and Co-Chair, Government Contracts Practice, Blank Rome
- Kim Herrington, Vice President Government Finance, L3Harris Technologies
- Stephen Fitts, Vice President, Contracts & Pricing, HII
For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage.
