ANNOUNCEMENT: Christine Fries Joins PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group
PilieroMazza is pleased to welcome Christine Fries as an Associate in its Government Contracts Group . Christine represents commercial businesses in a wide variety of government contracting matters. “Christine’s dedication to developing nuanced business solutions for clients is a strong addition to the PilieroMazza team. We’re glad to have her on board,” said Tony Franco , Chair of the Government Contracts Group. Christine counsels clients on maintaining compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and small business regulations. This includes issues related to eligibility for and participation in . . . Read More
Tony Franco Comments on SBA’s Procurement Scorecard for Law360
The annual dollar value of federal contracts awarded to small businesses broke a record in 2019 for the third year in a row, but the positive numbers obscure the continuing decline in the number of small businesses that participate in government deals. . . . The drop can be at least partially attributed to federal agencies consolidating their contractual needs into fewer and larger procurements. While this may be efficient, it also cuts against other government goals like maximizing competition . . . Read More
ANNOUNCEMENT: Jackie Unger Elevated to Counsel in PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group
PilieroMazza is pleased to announce that Jackie Unger has been elevated to Counsel in the Firm’s Government Contracts Group effective September 1, 2020. The Group’s Practice Chair, Tony Franco , said: “Jackie is one of our most talented government contracts attorneys. She possesses a keen understanding of complex concepts and is adept at spotting very nuanced legal issues for our clients. Jackie is a key member of our team and well-deserving of this promotion.” Jackie represents clients in a wide variety of government contracting and general business issues. She . . . Read More
FAR Council Issues New Interim Rule on Section 889 Prohibitions on Using Chinese Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Equipment
If you have not viewed PilieroMazza’s prior client alert and webinar on the implications of the new prohibition on the use of certain Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance equipment, we highly recommend you do so before reading this article as it will provide helpful background and information which we will not rehash in this article. You can find that content here and here , respectively. The FAR Council released a new interim rule , effective October 26, 2020, allowing federal contractors who already certified in . . . Read More
Certain SBA Loan Review Decisions Under Paycheck Protection Program Appealable
Millions of small businesses applied for and received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was a temporary program established under the CARES Act enacted by Congress to provide relief to America’s small businesses due to the devastating effects of COVID-19. But some businesses were denied loans and others are seeking forgiveness, only to find that they were deemed ineligible for full or partial forgiveness. A new rule may provide small businesses with options to appeal these decisions. An . . . Read More
BLOG: 5 Tips for Employers Managing a Remote Workforce During COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to transition to remote work environments with little, if any, notice. In the face of ongoing remote work, you should provide employees with clear guidance on expectations and obligations. For this reason, it is advisable to revisit your remote employment policies and agreements. The following is a list of best practices for employers managing a remote workforce. Define the Employment Relationship Defining the terms of an employment relationship is necessary to protect employees, assure . . . Read More
BLOG: When FAR Procurements Combine, Is a Debriefing Required?
PilieroMazza attorneys are frequently contacted by government contractors soon after they learn that their proposal was not selected for award, with the contractor considering whether or not to file a bid protest. If the contractor wants to pursue its post-award protest before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an important question that needs to be answered is whether a debriefing is required? Determining whether a debriefing is required is imperative to determining whether or not the contractor can rely upon the . . . Read More
DOD Receives Section 889 Waiver from Director of National Intelligence
On August 12, 2020, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe issued a memorandum to the Department of Defense (DOD) that waives DOD’s requirements under Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The Federal Register published an interim rule on July 14, 2020, that implemented Section 889, which prohibits agencies from procuring telecommunications equipment and services from Huawei Technologies Company, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, Hytera Communications Company, Dahua Technology Company, and ZTE Corporation. The DOD originally released a . . . Read More
Prohibitions on Use of Some Chinese Telecommunications Equipment by Government Contractors Effective August 13, 2020
Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019—prohibiting government agencies and government contractors they work with from using certain covered telecommunications equipment or services from China—goes into effect on August 13, 2020. The FAR Council issued an interim rule implementing Section 889(a)(1)(B) by making a number of changes to 48 CFR Parts 1, 4, 13, 39, and 52. While the interim rule will be effective as of August 13, comments to the . . . Read More
BLOG: 10 Questions to Ask for a Successful Government Contracts Novation
Government contractor acquisitions present unique regulatory hurdles, and one major challenge is the preparation, submission, and execution of a novation package with the U.S. government. While the novation package itself is a hurdle, there are additional factors that impact its success. Below are ten questions government contractors should ask, which can spell the difference between a successful and unsuccessful novation. Novation Package Documentation Novation is required for the transfer or assignment of a federal government contract from one entity to . . . Read More