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
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
Proposed Ban on Non-Compete Agreements May Affect Government Contractors’ Ability to Win Recompetes
In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed rule to ban the use of non-compete clauses in employment agreements. The rule follows President Biden’s July 9, 2021, executive order encouraging the FTC to engage in rulemaking restricting the “unfair use of non-compete clauses and other clauses or agreements that may unfairly limit worker mobility.” The FTC invites the public to comment by March 20, 2023. In this blog, we discuss important considerations related to the FTC’s proposed nationwide ban . . . Read More
Have You Updated the Minimum Wage? Government Contractors Struggle with Minimum Wage Confusion
On January 1, 2023, the minimum wage for government contractors under Executive Order 14026 increased from $15.00 per hour to $16.20 per hour. We wrote about Executive Order 14026 and its requirements previously here . There continues to be confusion as to when and how Executive Order 14026 applies, so here are a few key components that government contractors should keep in mind. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages for Contractors Under Executive Order 14026 (distinguished from the former FAR . . . Read More
GSA Technology Contractors: 4 Requirements to Ensure Only Approved Software Is Used
Almost two years ago, Executive Order 14028 – Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (EO) was issued requiring a host of actions be taken by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), as well as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). NIST completed one of those actions, which required it to identify “practices that enhance the security of the software supply chain,” when it released guidance on a secure software development framework and software supply chain security. In a recent memo , OMB . . . Read More
The FCA at the Supreme Court, Part 1 of 4: The Government’s Right to Dismiss a Whistleblower Claim
The False Claim Act (FCA) is seeing quite a bit of action at the Supreme Court this term, with multiple cases under consideration. This is the first 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. On December 6, 2022, the Supreme Court heard arguments in United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, . . . Read More
Remedies for NLRA Violations Now Include Consequential Damages: Important Takeaways for Employers
Last year, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency tasked with enforcing employee rights to organize and discuss terms of employment, issued a number of decisions that impacted U.S. labor law. One decision stands out as fundamentally changing enforcement mechanisms under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). PilieroMazza discusses the decision and important takeaways for employers below. On December 13, 2022, the NLRB issued a decision in Thryv, Inc. and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1269. The decision . . . Read More
SBIR/STTR Reauthorization: Do’s and Don’ts of Program Eligibility for Small Business Contractors in Science and Technology
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering oversees the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In September, Congress reauthorized the programs through 2025, and President Biden signed the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 (Act). SBIR/STTR programs present an opportunity for small business contractors in science and technology to assist the government with unique research and development needs. Below, PilieroMazza discusses the do’s and don’ts of SBIR/STTR program eligibility. SBIR/STTR programs provide . . . Read More
Impact of Postal Service’s $9.6 Billion Sustainability Investment on the Future of Government Contracts
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced that it intends to procure over 60,000 new electric vehicles by 2028 in an effort to modernize its fleet and become more environmentally responsible. In this blog, PilieroMazza summarizes the USPS’s announcement and analyzes what impacts this acquisition may have on government contractors interested in sustainable procurements. The USPS Announcement On December 20, 2022, the USPS announced it was taking a major step towards becoming more environmentally conscious by investing $9.6 Billion over the . . . Read More
Congress Passes FY2023 NDAA and Implements Significant Changes to Federal Procurement Policy
Congress recently passed the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) , authorizing $858 billion in defense spending and implementing some significant changes to federal procurement policy. The bill will now be sent to President Biden to be signed into law, which we anticipate will happen any day. PilieroMazza examines key themes and provisions in the FY2023 NDAA that government contractors (small and large) should know to take advantage of contract opportunities and maintain compliance requirements. Background The NDAA is annual legislation that authorizes funding and programs for . . . Read More