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Price Realism Requirement Must Be Stated to Allow Unacceptability Finding

Client Alert | 1 min read | 11.25.15

In W.P. Tax & Accounting Group (Nov. 13, 2015), GAO reminded agencies that, in fixed-price procurements, below-cost pricing is not inherently improper and cannot serve as the basis for a technical unacceptability finding when the solicitation does not provide for a price realism evaluation. Because the solicitation in W.P. said nothing about a price realism evaluation, GAO overturned the agency's rejection of the low-priced vendor's quotation as technically unacceptable and recommended that the agency either reevaluate the vendor's quotation against the stated evaluation criteria or amend the solicitation to provide for a price realism evaluation.


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Client Alert | 4 min read | 02.20.26

SCOTUS Holds IEEPA Tariffs Unlawful

On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a pivotal ruling in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, negating the President’s ability to impose tariffs under IEEPA. The case stemmed from President Trump’s invocation of IEEPA to levy tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, China, and other countries, citing national emergencies. Challengers argued—and the Court agreed—that IEEPA does not delegate tariff authority to the President. The power to tariff is vested in Congress by the Constitution and cannot be delegated to the President absent express authority from Congress....