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DoD White Paper Takes Aim at IR&D Costs

Client Alert | 1 min read | 09.01.15

While DOD's August 26 white paper "Enhancing the Effectiveness of Independent Research and Development" explains that the intent of new requirements it announced is "not to reduce the independence of IR&D investment selection, nor to establish a bureaucratic requirement for government approval prior to initiating an IR&D project," contactors have good reason to doubt that assertion. Most significantly for contractors, there will be a new DFARS rule under which, "beginning in FY 2017, DoD will require contractors to record the name of the government party with whom, and date when, a technical interchange took place prior to IR&D project initiation and to provide this information as part of the required IR&D submissions made to [DTIC]," and DCMA and DCAA "will use these DTIC inputs when making allowability determinations for IR&D costs."


Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...