Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – February 4, 2021

If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . WEBINAR: Risk Prevention Strategies: Avoiding Costly FLSA Missteps, February 24, 2021, Nichole Atallah  and  Matt Feinberg . Read more here . COVID-19 Client Resource Center: To access resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” Contact covid19@pilieromazza.com for immediate assistance. Native American Law & Tribal Advocacy The First 100 Days: President Biden Signs Memo on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships, February 4, 2021, Tony Franco Last week, President Biden signed a  Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships . In the . . . Read More

The First 100 Days: President Biden Signs Memo on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships

Last week, President Biden signed a Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships . In the memorandum, President Biden says “It is a priority of my Administration to make respect for Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, commitment to fulfilling Federal trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, and regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal Nations cornerstones of Federal Indian policy.” The memo also reaffirms Executive Order 13175 , which “charges all executive departments and agencies with engaging in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal officials in the development of . . . Read More

COVID-19 Relief in 2021: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Click here to view the recorded session. The recent $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package is delivering long-overdue help to businesses and individuals. The related legislation, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, provided more than $300 billion in aid for small businesses. It also ensured tax deductibility for business expenses paid with forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, provided fresh PPP funding, and offers businesses facing severe revenue reductions the opportunity to apply for a second loan. However, it did not renew Families . . . Read More

How Government Contractors Should Prepare for Biden’s Mask-Wearing Mandate

On his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing (EO), which requires federal agencies to issue guidance that complies with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended public health measures for combatting COVID-19, such as physical distancing and mask-wearing. On January 24, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in accordance with the EO, issued a memorandum to assist agencies in preparing their COVID-19 workplace safety plans, and they will have until January 29, 2021, to submit their drafts to . . . Read More

Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – January 27, 2021

If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . WEBINAR: COVID-19 Relief in 2021: What Small Businesses Need to Know, February 2, 2021,  Cy AlbaNichole Atallah , and Kathryn Hickey. Read more  here . WEBINAR: Risk Prevention Strategies: Avoiding Costly FLSA Missteps, February 24, 2021, Nichole Atallah  and  Matt Feinberg . Read more here . COVID-19 Client Resource Center: To access resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” Contact covid19@pilieromazza.com for immediate assistance. LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION DOJ Announces FY 2020 Fraud and . . . Read More

Law360 Quotes Matt Feinberg on Anticipated Surge in FCA Litigation for 2021

False Claims Act recoveries were modest overall in 2020, but the relatively calm year seeded the clouds for a stormy 2021 by generating tremendous government spending on pandemic relief, a record number of new cases and a potentially game-changing decision in a closely watched area of Medicare fraud litigation. . . . Even if FCA settlements took longer to finalize because DOJ attorneys were working from home, it doesn’t mean they were twiddling their thumbs while waiting to hear back . . . Read More

Healthcare Blog Series: CMS and HHS-OIG Issue Final Rules Updating the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law

***This is an update to the second installment of the blog series, which detailed proposed revisions to the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law.*** On November 20, 2020, over one year after releasing proposed changes to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two final rules, revising the AKS and Stark Law safe . . . Read More

Top Bases for REAs and Claims Arising Under COVID-19

COVID-19 has increased costs for government contractors in almost every sector. Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs) and claims are available to contractors seeking compensation. But when should you submit an REA or claim? Below are top bases for filing REAs or claims that government contractors should look for when facing cost increases due to COVID-19. Delays Delays in contract performance are a common driver of increased costs and/or the need to extend a contract’s period of performance for government contractors. . . . Read More

DOJ Announces FY 2020 Fraud and FCA Recovery Statistics: What They Mean for 2021

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it recovered more than $2.2 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and the False Claims Act (FCA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (ending September 30, 2020). DOJ’s FY 2020 fraud and FCA recovery statistics report accompanied the announcement. With a global pandemic that often delayed proceedings, the $2.2 billion in recoveries was DOJ’s lowest haul since 2008. Although the announcement and report revealed a significant decline in recoveries . . . Read More

Weekly Update for Government Contractors and Commercial Businesses – January 20, 2021

If you have questions concerning the content below, please visit this link . COVID-19 Client Resource Center: To access resources for businesses navigating the COVID-19 crisis, we invite you to visit PilieroMazza’s “ COVID-19 Client Resource Center .” Contact covid19@pilieromazza.com for immediate assistance. WEBINAR: COVID-19 Relief in 2021: What Small Businesses Need to Know, February 2, 2021,  Cy AlbaNichole Atallah , and Kathryn Hickey. Read more  here . LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 2021 Labor and Employment Spotlight: A List of Key Legal Updates for Employers, January 13, 2021, Nichole Atallah , Sara Nasseri , and Sarah Nash Undeniably, 2020 was . . . Read More