Jackson Kelly PLLC

Government Contracts Monitor

Sometimes You Have to “Destroy” Your Company in Order to Sell It

As the Government’s interest in information security steadily grows, many contractors are learning to comply with a dizzying array of data security requirements.  Contractors expect to see even more data security rules and are gearing up to respond to the expected challenges.  But many contractors have not given much thought to how the Government’s information security requirements…

Hopewell Darneille to Speak at DyNet Conference

Jackson Kelly’s Hopewell Darneille will be speaking on June 4, 2015, at the Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Dynamic Networking (DyNet) for Small Business program in Erie, Pennsylvania.  His presentation, provided as a follow-on, stand-alone, presentation to an earlier presentation by Melissa Loder, a Business Opportunity Specialist in SBA’s West Virginia District…

The Silent Treatment: Agencies Don’t Have to Tell You When Your Price Is Too High

Earlier this year, we published an article warning our readers not to expect more from discussions concerning their proposals than agencies are required to provide.  Specifically, your price may be entirely reasonable but completely uncompetitive but, if so, the agency does not have to tell you a thing.  In short, the requirement that discussions be "meaningful" does not ensure you will obtain any…

Short Take: Employee Labor Rights Must Be Posted

In an opinion issued May 7, 2015 in Nat'l Ass'n of Mfrs. v. Perez, D.D.C., No. 1:13-cv-01998, the District Court for District of Columbia rejected various challenges to the Department of Labor (DOL) regulation requiring nearly all federal contracts to post workplace notices informing their employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)(the "Posting…

Good Faith And Fair Dealing -- The Government’s Implied Duty Is Alive and Well

Mansoor was awarded a contract to provide trucking services in Afghanistan.  Nine months into the performance period the Army terminated Mansoor’s contract for default.  Mansoor then submitted a certified claim for invoices the government had refused to pay.  The Army offered to pay Mansoor a portion of its claim but, following the exchange of several counteroffers, decided the…

Time Waits for No Contractor, but It Will Pause for an Agency

In its bid protest decisions, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) holds disappointed offerors to high standards of proof and routinely penalizes them for failing to raise issues or present proof in a timely manner.  In addition to making sure they know the applicable standards and timelines, savvy government contractors also keep in mind an essential truth of the bid protest process:…

What Price is the Government Paying? Federal Supply Schedule Pricing Procedures May Finally Be Changing

The comment period recently closed on a General Services Administration (GSA) proposed rule amending the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to require vendors to report transactional data from orders and prices paid by ordering activities.  Described as part of the ongoing move to improve federal purchasing through Government-wide category management (announced here and discussed here), the…

Confined Spaces Standard for the Construction Industry

On May 4, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration  released the long-awaited Confined Spaces Standard for the construction industry.  Please read Jackson Kelly's Occupational Safety & Health Practice Group's full alert on this standard.

Frivolous Suits: False Claims Act Retaliation Doesn’t Pay, It Costs

Terry Jacobs stole trade secrets from his prior employer, Lambda Research, and was ordered to pay $9.4 million in damages when Lambda sued him.  The story doesn’t end there. Two months later, Jacobs sued Lambda under the False Claims Act, alleging that his former employer had defrauded the Navy.  The timing is suspect, n’est-ce pas?  The trial court, understandably concerned…

Combating Human Trafficking: Do You Know What Your Employees Did Last Summer?

On March 2, 2015, the Department of Defense’s Final Rule, "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Ending Trafficking in Person," available here (the Rule), became effective.  Pursuant to the Rule, revised FAR 52.222-50, Combatting Trafficking in Persons, must be included in all contracts and solicitations.  Although the Rule implements previous mandates, contractors must be aware of notably…

 

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