Beyond the FAR

Latest Episodes:

U.S. Bid Protests — Progress and Reform Oct 01, 2025

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On September 9, 2025 GW Law School’s Government Procurement Law program hosted a free one-hour webinar on potential reforms to U.S. government bid protests. Our panelists discuss the en banc decision in Percipient.ai from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a key report on bid protests by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, revealing data on bid protests gathered by the ABA Public Contract Law Section, and a wide range of reform proposals being debated before Congress.
Learn more at: https://publicprocurementinternational.com/gw-law-webinar-u-s-bid-protests-progress-and-reform/

AI in Public Procurement: A Conversation with Professor Albert Sanchez-Graells Sep 24, 2025

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In this inaugural episode of Beyond the FAR, Associate Dean Jessica Tillipman speaks with Professor Albert Sanchez-Graells of the University of Bristol Law School, a leading scholar in public procurement and digital transformation. Their conversation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping procurement systems, the challenges of regulating AI use in government, and the risks of overreliance on generative models. Comparing U.S. and EU approaches, Sanchez-Graells highlights the tension between innovation, accountability, and public trust. This thoughtful exchange provides lawyers, law students, and practitioners with critical insight into the future of procurement law in the age of AI.

Open Contracting Around the Globe: Series Overview Jul 17, 2025

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Open contracting transforms government spending by making procurement data accessible and machine-readable, enabling better analysis and improved outcomes for citizens. This foundational webinar explores how data transparency and digital innovation are revolutionizing the world's largest marketplace through goal-driven, citizen-centered reforms.
• Public procurement represents 12% of global GDP, shaping essential services from infrastructure and healthcare to education
• Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing procurement, requiring new frameworks for oversight, IP rights, and supply chain transparency
• Ukraine's reformed procurement system saves $1 billion annually with 80% of contracts going to small businesses
• Bogotá transformed its school meals program through data-driven purchasing, improving quality while busting price-fixing
• Open contracting principles support environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and better value across government spending
• Upcoming regional webinars will showcase innovations from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas
• Data accessibility enables businesses, civil society organizations and governments to collaborate more effectively
Join us for our next sessions exploring regional innovations in open contracting from around the world. Register for the complete webinar series here: https://law-gwu-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C7gkrGdwRp2PMaAADKcyjA

Government Contractor Organizational Conflicts of Interest: Assessing the New Proposed Rule Feb 26, 2025

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On January 15, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) published its long-awaited Proposed Organizational Conflict of Interest Rule, as required by a 2022 statute - the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act (P.L. 117-324). This webinar featured a panel of experts who discussed current OCI challenges, the proposed changes, and the impact it may have on future procurements.
More information about the rule, as well as a video recording of the event, can be found here: https://blogs.gwu.edu/law-govpro/organizational-conflicts-of-interest-assessing-the-new-proposed-rule/

Protectionist Trade Policies in EU/US Public Procurement Feb 22, 2025

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A webinar about rising protectionism in public procurement in the United States and the European Union. The panel addressed potential new protectionism in the Trump administration and the Court of Justice for the European Union’s landmark Kolin decision on access to the EU public procurement market.

Combating Fraud in Procurement Dec 17, 2024

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Representatives from the government, whistleblower bar, and defense bar discussed recent developments in procurement fraud enforcement and compliance. For additional Program information, visit: https://blogs.gwu.edu/law-govpro/combating-fraud-in-government-procurement/PANELISTSCleveland Lawrence III, Partner & Co-Chair of the Whistleblower Rights practice, Mehri & Skalet, PLLCSara McLean, Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section), Civil Division, Department of JusticeDavid B. Robbins, Partner and Co-Chair of the Government Contracts practice, Jenner & BlockMODERATORJessica Tillipman, Assistant Dean for Government Procurement Law, The George Washington University Law School

Deterring Fraud, Waste & Abuse in COVID Stimulus Programs Dec 12, 2024

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Small Business Anti-Corruption & Compliance Dec 10, 2024

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On November 19, 2020, Jessica Tillipman was the featured speaker at the ABA International Anti-Corruption Committee's monthly meeting where she discussed her research into the causes and consequences of small business compliance challenges. Her presentation focused on the heightened risks of corruption and fraud for small companies, and the related impact on U.S. government and World Bank procurements. She also discussed her proposed solution to these issues, which is detailed in her recent, co-authored publication: "The Compliance Mentorship Program: Improving Ethics & Compliance in Small Government Contractors." Available on SSRN at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3559458.This video is an excerpt of her presentation.

Tackling Demand-Side Corruption Dec 04, 2024

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On March 31, 2022 the ABA International Anti-Corruption Committee, GW Law Government Procurement Law Program, and American University U.S. and International Anti-Corruption Law Program hosted a Virtual Roundtable Discussion: Tackling Demand-Side Corruption. The virtual roundtable discussion broadly addressed the issues surrounding demand side corruption: legislative initiatives that would allow the U.S. to prosecute corrupt foreign officials, transparency legislation that makes it harder to launder money in the United States, and new ideas on how to make it easier to forfeit the assets of oligarchs and kleptocrats and compensate their victims.Speakers: Paul Massaro*, U.S. Helsinki CommissionTom Firestone, Stroock & Stroock & LavanJessica Tillipman, The George Washington University Law SchoolScott Greytak, Transparency International, U.S. OfficeNancy Boswell, American University Washington College of Law*Paul Massaro serves on the staff of the U.S. Helsinki commission. The views expressed here are his own and do not represent an official position of the U.S. government.

A Tumultuous Year for Trade in Procurement Oct 10, 2024

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