BLOG: New DoL Rule Clarifies Joint Employer Status Under FLSA
On January 16, 2020, the Department of Labor’s (DoL) Wage and Hour Division will publish a final rule clarifying joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), adopting a four-factor test to determine joint employer status. The rule simplifies and narrows the interpretation of a joint employer from the interpretation implemented by the Obama administration. This final rule will benefit companies establishing cooperative business arrangements as they seek assurances as to whether they will be responsible for ensuring . . . Read More
BLOG: The FCA Continues to Pay (For the Government): Key Takeaways from DOJ’s FY 2019 Fraud Statistics
On January 9, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it recovered more than $3 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and the False Claims Act (FCA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, which ended September 30, 2019. Along with the announcement, the government issued its annual fraud statistics report for the fiscal year. The government’s announcement and report confirmed trends in FCA litigation and other fraud cases that government contractors should look out for in 2020 . . . Read More
Ex Rel. Radio – False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – January 14, 2020
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . PODCAST: Ex Rel. Radio – False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors “False Claims Act: The Risks to Small Business Government Contractors” is the fifth episode of “Ex Rel. Radio,” our multi-part series on the False Claims Act (FCA). In this episode, Firm Counsel Michelle Litteken joins our host, Jon Williams , to discuss how the FCA relates to small business programs, potential risks these companies face, . . . Read More
ANNOUNCEMENT: Jason Blindauer Joins PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group
PilieroMazza is pleased to announce that Jason Blindauer has joined the Firm as an Associate in its Government Contracts Group . Mr. Blindauer provides practical, detail-oriented counsel on a wide array of government contracting matters. Tony Franco , Chair of the Government Contracts Group, remarked “Jay has an impressive body of work in the government contracts sector. Our clients will certainly benefit from his years of experience.” Mr. Blindauer represents clients in bid protests, small business issues that include size and status protests, requests for equitable adjustment, claims, . . . Read More
BLOG: DoD’s Upcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): Still on Target?
PilieroMazza has been blogging a lot over the past year about the Department of Defense’s (DoD) highly anticipated CMMC. And there has been a lot to say, from the early stages of CMMC as a new “overarching standard,” to its first public draft release, through its first major streamlining, and finally to its latest public draft release in early December 2019. The pace of developments is expected to increase in 2020 as DoD releases a compliance checklist, finalizes the certification standards, and . . . Read More
Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – January 10, 2020
If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . Join the HUBZone Council as They Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary On January 17, 2020, the HUBZone Contractors National Council will be hosting its first EVER HUBZone Industry Awards Gala in Baltimore, MD, at Morgan State University with a 1920s-themed party. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness for the HUBZone Program and highlight the social and economic impact the program is having throughout our nation’s most underdeveloped communities. Register here . PilieroMazza Celebrates Holiday . . . Read More
The Implications of SBA’s Proposed Rule Changes for Tribally Owned 8(a) Businesses
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently published a proposed rule that would merge its mentor-protégé programs and amend many of its rules governing the 8(a) program. Our Firm’s Managing Partner, Pamela Mazza , recently explained the rule’s significant implications for the government contracting community. In particular, SBA’s proposed rule would make a number of changes to the 8(a) program and regulations applicable to tribally owned 8(a) businesses. Pam and her partner Peter Ford will be attending a tribal consultation meeting in Oklahoma City on January 16, . . . Read More
PilieroMazza Celebrates Holiday Season with Contributions to Children’s Hospital Toy Drive
PilieroMazza celebrated the 2019 holiday season by supporting the “Holly Jolly Shoppe” toy drive sponsored by the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon, Georgia. The Firm’s contributions helped the Hospital donate over 300 toys to families with ailing children. “We are thrilled that our holiday giving went to such a good cause!,” said Pamela Mazza , PilieroMazza’s Managing Partner. For additional coverage on the Hospital’s “Holly Jolly Shoppe,” please visit this link .
BLOG: Open-Source Software in Federal Procurements: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part 1 – The Good
Open-source code is all the rage. With developers at Fortune 500 companies and hobbyists alike using it to make better products and cut development costs, it is ubiquitous in the commercial market, and government contractors are catching the buzz. Faced with ever-evolving software regulations, though, they need facts before dealing with a federal buyer. In this short blog series, we will walk through the key benefits, drawbacks, and risks associated with the use of open-source code in government contracting, especially . . . Read More