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 DOW Procurement, Compliance & Innovation, being held December 8 through 9, 2026, in National Harbor, Maryland. Blank Rome is pleased to be a sponsor of the conference.

About the Forum

Federal procurement is evolving at an unprecedented pace. New acquisition priorities, emerging contracting models, advancing technologies, and increasing expectations for speed and efficiency are reshaping how government and industry do business. This conference brings together procurement, acquisition, and industry leaders to share real-world experiences, proven approaches, and actionable solutions for navigating today’s contracting, compliance, and procurement challenges.

Justin’s session, “Getting the Contract Awarded Under the New Section 847 Requirements and Oversight Expectations—What Uncleared Contractors Need to Know,” will take place on Wednesday, December 9, from 9:45 to 10:30 a.m.

About the Session

Previously limited to contractors and subcontractors performing classified work, Section 847 is expected to roll out in 2027 and will extend Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (“FOCI”) reviews to contracts of approximately five million dollars or more—covering both classified and unclassified awards, as well as pre-award stages, with the Pentagon estimating nearly 40,000 companies being affected by the rule. This shift will likely increase disclosure and oversight expectations, highlighting the need for clear guidance on Section 847 applicability, thresholds, and reporting requirements. The panel will discuss rollout timing and requirements, legal risks and improving defensibility, commerciality determinations and ownership transparency, and accelerating mitigation and award execution

Panelists:

  • Curtis H. Chappell, ISP®, Vice President, Security, Thales Defense & Security, Inc.
  • Justin Chiarodo, Partner and Co-Chair, Government Contracts Practice, Blank Rome LLP
  • Steven Koprince, Board Member, Delaware Nation Investments

For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage.