The American Bar Association Public Contract Law Section (PCLS) will be hosting the 2020 Public Procurement Symposium from Wednesday, November 18 to Friday, November 20, 2020....more
11/13/2020
/ American Bar Association (ABA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cyber Threats ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Federal Contractors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Investigations ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Public Contracts ,
Supply Chain ,
Symposium
At their best, the mentor-protégé programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) are programs whereby large business mentors may partner with small business protégés—providing the small business with...more
On August 3, 2020, the president issued Executive Order No. 13940 on Aligning Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices with the Interests of American Workers....more
While some rules may seem basic enough to overlook, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision sustaining the protest in Avionic Instruments LLC (Avionic), B-418604, B-418604.2 (June 30, 2020) reminds us of a...more
A lie may be a lie, but false representations and certifications on SAM may not necessarily be a proper protest ground. As the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision in Phoenix Environmental Design, Inc....more
Government contractors should consider all contract performance vitally important because they can’t always control which past performance is considered by agency evaluators. ...more
In addition to providing relief to individuals, employees, small and non-small businesses, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act also mobilizes government and government contractors to address the...more
Not being included, or being purposely excluded, may remind some of adolescence, and may remind others of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) simplified acquisition procedures....more
A cornerstone of the Small Business Administration (SBA) size regulations is that a business’s size is determined by measuring its size in addition to the size of its affiliates....more
2/28/2020
/ Affiliates ,
Appeals ,
Bid Protests ,
Family Members ,
Federal Contractors ,
Identity of Interest ,
Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Reasonableness Factors ,
SBA ,
Small Business
Discussions with an agency prior to submitting a final proposal can lead to a more well-informed submission by an offeror; however, such is not always the case. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision in Quality...more
Putting your best foot, or best personnel, forward seems like “Winning the Contract Award 101.” But a refresher course never hurts. Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision in Deloitte Consulting, LLC...more
1/17/2020
/ Bid Protests ,
Bid Solicitation ,
Bids ,
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) ,
Competitive Bidding ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GAO ,
Information Technology ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Professional Services Contract ,
Purchase Agreement
It’s not unusual for defeated protesters to feel as though the explanation for their defeat short changes their arguments. Indeed, this might be the case for every defeated protester (or intervenor, or agency)....more
12/20/2019
/ Bid Protests ,
Bid Solicitation ,
Certification Requirements ,
Competition ,
Competitive Bidding ,
Federal Contractors ,
GAO ,
Information Technology ,
Motion for Reconsideration ,
Public Bidding ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Request for Proposals ,
Social Security Administration (SSA)
On December 12, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a former civilian employee of the U.S. Army is being prosecuted by the DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section....more
12/13/2019
/ Army ,
Bribery ,
Competitive Bidding ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Fraudulent Wire Transfers ,
Illegal Gratuities ,
Kickbacks ,
Kuwait ,
Public Works ,
Wire Transfers
It’s not always clear where the applicability of one law or rule should stop and the applicability of another should begin. Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision in Becton, Dickinson and Company,...more
12/5/2019
/ Bid Protests ,
Buy America ,
Competitive Bidding ,
Construction Industry ,
Department of Veterans Affairs ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
GAO ,
HUBZone ,
Public Procurement Policies ,
Purchase Agreement ,
SBA ,
SDVOSB ,
Set-Asides ,
Small Business ,
Trade Agreements Act ,
VOSB
Lovers of consistency, rejoice! After a few years of administering two separate, yet substantially similar mentor-protégé programs, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed a rulemaking to consolidate the 8(a)...more
11/22/2019
/ Business Development ,
Comment Period ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) ,
Joint Venture ,
Mentor-Protege Program ,
Multiple Award Contracts ,
NAICS ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Revenue ,
Rulemaking Process ,
SBA ,
Small Business