COVID-19 Survival: The $2 Trillion CARES Act and Your Business
Presented by Cy Alba , Nichole Atallah , and Dave Shafer. Click here to view the recorded session. A $2 trillion stimulus package is on the horizon. Meant to address the economic impact of COVID-19, the CARES Act would authorize emergency loans for distressed businesses and establish limits on requirements for employers to provide paid leave. With increased business closures and layoffs across the country, you need to know how the CARES Act can help your business survive. Join PilieroMazza ’s COVID-19 Client Response Team for a . . . Read More
BLOG: HUBZone Program Flexibility During the COVID-19 Outbreak
In a webinar on March 25, 2020, officials with SBA’s HUBZone Program showed that SBA understands the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak has created some unique challenges for HUBZone firms. Fortunately, SBA acted proactively to provide flexibilities to HUBZone firms that are struggling to maintain their principal office location and employees during this challenging time. Highlights from SBA’s webinar included: The new annual recertification process will be voluntary for the remainder of 2020, except for firms that are up for a three-year . . . Read More
Affiliation in the Context of SBA Loans, Guidance for Venture Capital Investors
In this guidance document published by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), “Affiliation in the Context of SBA Loans, Guidance for Venture Capital Investors,” PilieroMazza ’s Kathryn Hickey offers key takeaways for venture capital investors concerned about SBA affiliation rules in the context of SBA loans. To access the full article, please visit this link . Ms. Hickey is Chair of the Firm’s Business & Transactions Group , where she assists clients primarily in general business, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, and commercial contracting. . . . Read More
Teleworking in a COVID-19 Environment: Your Questions Answered
Presented by Nichole Atallah . Click here to view the recorded session. Many businesses and employees are adjusting to a full-time remote workforce in response to COVID-19. Even for a business accustomed to remote work, remote work during COVID-19 is not a typical situation. Join PilieroMazza ’s Nichole Atallah , Chair of the Firm’s Labor & Employment Group , for this brief webinar where she: examines how teleworking in the midst of COVID-19 is different from how we worked before and offers employers useful information to keep their teams . . . Read More
FFCRA Leave Effective April 1: DOL Issues Additional Guidance
DOL has issued additional guidance to assist employers in providing Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) emergency sick and family leave. We previously wrote on the FFCRA on March 18, 2020 ( link ). Below is important information to prepare for implementation this week. Will state or local isolation orders qualify an employee for FFCRA sick leave? It depends. Leave taken prior to April 1 regardless of the qualifying reason will not be eligible for FFCRA’s tax credit. However, if needed after April 1, . . . Read More
Jon Williams Comments on How Will COVID-19 Change How You Conduct Business?
In a March 27, 2020 blog, “How Will COVID-19 Change How You Conduct Business?” by Courtney Fairchild of Global Services, PilieroMazza ’s Jon Williams advises “all federal contractors to take time to fully understand their rights and obligations under their contracts, communicate with their agency customers, and document all of the impacts that they are facing as a result of COVID-19.” He goes on to say that “Contractors may be entitled to equitable adjustment and claims based on delays and increased costs of . . . Read More
The CARES Act and Leave Guide for Employers: Deciding Which Option is Best for You and Your Employees
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “Act” or the “CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020 in an effort to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on businesses and employees. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law any moment. Once signed, the CARES Act allows businesses to apply for loans to continue paying employees and maintaining operations, which may be forgiven, expands on provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Act ( FFCRA ), and . . . Read More
Contracting Officers Can Pay You Even If the Contract Is Shut Down!
Yesterday, we discussed the emergency loan programs and loan forgiveness opportunities for small businesses in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). However, it is critical to understand that there are other avenues for relief that do not have to wait for SBA or private lenders to start processing such loans. Specifically, OMB Memorandum M-20-18 gave Contracting Officers (“CO”) broad authority and specifically states that all contracting personnel should “feel fully empowered to use acquisition flexibilities.” Further, Section 3610 of the Act, entitled “Federal Contractor Authority,” specifically states that . . . Read More
BLOG: JEDI Update: Pentagon Files Voluntary Motion for Remand to Reconsider Microsoft Award
On March 12, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD) filed a motion for voluntary remand requesting that the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) remand the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract case for 120 days. This would allow DOD to reconsider certain aspects of its decision to award the JEDI contract to Microsoft. DOD’s re-evaluation could signify major flaws in the process. For background, in November of 2019 Amazon Web Services (AWS) filed a bid protest with the COFC protesting . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – March 27, 2020
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . CLIENT ALERT: The CARES Act and Leave Guide for Employers: Deciding Which Option is Best for You and Your Employees, March 27, 2020, Nichole Atallah , Sarah Nash , and Sara Nasseri . [ Read More ] COVID-19 CLIENT RESOURCE CENTER: To access more resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” WEBINAR: Teleworking in a COVID-19 Environment: Your Questions Answered, March 31, 2020, Nichole Atallah . [ Read More ] WEBINAR: COVID-19 Survival: . . . Read More