Government Contract Claims: Top 10 Things to Know About the Contract Disputes Act
Click here to view the recorded session. The adage that “you can’t fight City Hall” does not apply to federal government contractors. The Contract Disputes Act (CDA) provides the framework governing contract disputes between contractors and the government. Knowing contract terms is vital to better position contractors before moving forward with a claim and thus avoid losing the claim to technicalities and traps for the unwary. Join Lauren Brier and Dozier Gardner , attorneys in PilieroMazza’s Government Contract Claims & Appeals Group, to learn the top ten things every government contractor . . . Read More
The FCA at the Supreme Court, Part 2 of 4: Addressing the Standard for Knowingly Submitting a False Claim
The False Claims Act (FCA) is seeing quite a bit of action at the Supreme Court this term, with multiple cases under consideration. This is the second installment in PilieroMazza’s blog series on “The FCA at the Supreme Court,” where we will examine active cases, comment on decisions once they are issued, and discuss ways defendants can protect themselves in FCA litigation. Part 1 of the series is available here . On January 13, 2023, the Supreme Court agreed to consider . . . Read More
Bloomberg Law: Cy Alba Discusses Debt Default’s Negative Impact on Government Contractors
Federal contractors would be among the first to experience serious financial consequences in the event Congress fails to raise the debt limit and government agencies can’t pay their bills as the fiscal year ends. . . . As a result, vendors [government contractors], particularly those with low cash reserves, would see dwindling bank accounts and be forced to take immediate action to stanch losses. Labor Concerns One common response to payment stoppages is for contractors to furlough or lay off . . . Read More
8 Key Takeaways from DOJ’s Annual Report on Fraud and the False Claims Act
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . .” Charles Dickens’ famous line from A Tale of Two Cities may have been echoing in the ears of Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys a bit over the last month. On February 7, 2023, DOJ issued its annual report on fraud and False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries for fiscal year 2022. After the agency recovered over $5.6 Billion in fiscal year 2021, the annual report disclosed what . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 1, 2023
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Upcoming Events: Register to attend PilieroMazza’s upcoming events here . Recent Thought Leadership: Check out PilieroMazza’s recent client alerts and blogs here . GovCon Live! Podcast: Listen to PilieroMazza’s Podcast Series “Commercial Businesses New to Government Contracting” here . BUSINESS & TRANSACTIONS PilieroMazza Client Xcelerate Solutions Completes Investment Transaction, 02.23.23, Jon Williams , Cy Alba , and Katie Burrows PilieroMazza —a business law firm serving the legal needs of government contractors and commercial businesses—congratulates our client Xcelerate Solutions for successfully completing an . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Client Xcelerate Solutions Completes Investment Transaction
PilieroMazza —a business law firm serving the legal needs of government contractors and commercial businesses—congratulates our client Xcelerate Solutions for successfully completing an investment transaction to drive continued growth for the company. “We were proud to assist Xcelerate Solutions through this significant transaction,” said Jon Williams , a partner from PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group who served on the team with fellow partners Isaias “Cy” Alba and Katherine “Katie” Burrows . Please visit this link to learn more about the transaction. About PilieroMazza’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group The Firm’s M&A attorneys represent buyers and sellers from a wide range of . . . Read More
Top 5 Employment Challenges in 2023 for Government Contractors
Click here to view the recorded session. As we enter 2023, PilieroMazza attorneys are tracking several labor and employment challenges that will impact government contractors. In this webinar, PilieroMazza‘s Sarah Nash , Practice Group Chair of the Firm’s Labor & Employment Group , will cover what to watch for in 2023 to stay in compliance, improving your ability to bid for new contracts and sustain existing ones, including: classification of employees; recruiting and retention best practices; pay equity evaluations; managing state laws for multijurisdictional employers; and new minimum . . . Read More
Veterans Affairs Imposes Increased Cybersecurity Rules on Government Contractors
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a final rule , effective February 24, 2023, amending the VA’s Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) to impose new cybersecurity procedures and processes to protect sensitive VA data and health information. Although much of the recent cybersecurity buzz has centered around the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification ( CMMC ) framework, the VA did not want to be left out. These VAAR additions will force affected contractors at all tiers to implement internal controls . . . Read More
Jessica duHoffmann Heads PilieroMazza’s Newly Formed Construction Group
PilieroMazza —a business law firm serving the needs of government contractors and commercial businesses—is pleased to welcome Jessica duHoffmann , who joined the Firm as a Partner and Practice Group Chair of the newly formed Construction Group . Jessica counsels companies operating in various disciplines of the construction industry on matters relating to operational issues, legal compliance requirements, and business litigation. Her high level of experience, knowledge, and legal acumen in construction law helps clients advance their corporate interests and effectively resolve their complex disputes. . . . Read More
Recovering Bid Preparation and Proposal Costs for Government Contractors: ARxIUM Provides Helpful Guidance
Filing a bid protest and ultimately recovering bid preparation and proposal costs after winning may not be a primary concern for contractors as they pursue a new contract. However, a recent Court of Federal Claims decision provides useful, but often overlooked, guidance for government contractors hoping to recover costs in such situations. This blog summarizes the Court’s decision in ARxIUM, Inc. v. United States [1] and suggests best practices for contractors to maximize cost recovery and improve bid preparation processes in . . . Read More