Contract Insights

As a government contractor, you're likely familiar with the intricacies of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Among these, FAR clause 52.209-6, aptly titled "Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting With Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment," stands out as a critical requirement. It essentially mandates that prime contractors like you must take serious steps to avoid working with any entities that are excluded from federal contracting.

Now, in today's ever-evolving regulatory landscape, simply checking SAM.gov isn't enough. Competent contractors and legal teams understand that thorough due diligence now extends to verifying subcontractors against the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list as well.

That's where CobbleStone Contract Insight^® contract lifecycle management (CLM) software comes into play. Our comprehensive solution is specifically designed to help you effectively manage FAR 52.209-6 compliance by seamlessly integrating robust OFAC and SAM.gov debarred vendor verification directly into your subcontractor management processes.

According to Gartner®: “by 2027, the global legal technology market will double in size because of GenAI — and legal leaders face growing pressure to respond."^[1] This projection underscores the rapid evolution of legal operations due to tools such as generative AI and agentic AI. Legal technology is no longer a far-fetched concept but a presently integrated part of the modern legal operations landscape. The key drivers behind this transformation include the increased complexities of legal work, an increased demand for efficiency as contract volume grows, and increased client expectations. But what does legal technology look like in 2025? This blog post provides a comprehensive overview of legal tech's impact on present and future legal professionals.

In a critical ruling on September 19, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) banned the use of online price parity clauses. This decision significantly impacts the way businesses operate within the EU. The ruling, particularly affecting platforms like Booking.com, marks a pivotal moment in EU competition law. For organizations navigating this new regulatory change, CobbleStone Contract Insight^® contract lifecycle management (CLM) software serves as a vital tool for managing contracts and ensuring compliance.

Contracts are legally binding - and thus need to be executed properly.  Legal teams should equip themselves with a thorough understanding of the contract lifecycle management process.  The contract lifecycle is the process under which a contract is authored, reviewed, sent for signature, executed, and - potentially - renewed. 

The "lifecycle" is an archetype used to compartmentalize and understand a contract's complex evolution.  The lifecycle begins with contract requests and concludes when these requests are fulfilled - with the possibility of managing contract renewal.  Let's further explore the eight stages of the contract lifecycle below and how digital contract management software can help streamline your contracting processes.