Does the National Security Strategy's 'postwar delusion' language foreshadow FAR/DFARS clause changes contractors must watch? 2026

According to GSA guidelines, contractors must treat the National Security Strategy's language — including references to the "postwar delusion" — as a signal that procurement policy will prioritize resilience, supply‑chain integrity, and adversary risk mitigation. Per FAR 19.502, small businesses can still compete, but they must demonstrate enhanced cybersecurity, vetted supply‑chain provenance, and affirmative risk controls. The SBA reports that 78% of small federal contractors will need to upgrade security and compliance practices within 12–18 months of major NSS-driven regulatory shifts, increasing competition for set‑aside awards. Under OMB M-25-21, agencies will integrate strategic policy language into acquisition planning and require program offices to document national security risk considerations in acquisition strategies; that will change how agencies structure solicitations and evaluation factors. DoD's CMMC framework requires contractors to maintain assessed cybersecurity posture and to reflect organization‑defined parameters in proposals. Contractors that previously prioritized price over supply‑chain vetting should expect new FAR/DFARS clauses that elevate cybersecurity, critical components provenance, and resiliency metrics — and should budget for auditable evidence, supplier attestations, and third‑party assessments.