Protection of Contractor Rights

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On January 8, 2015 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a decision in United States v. Triple Canopy, which broadened the reach of the False Claims Act (FCA) by embracing the theory of implied certification. While it is too early to speculate about the impact of the decision, it certainly could…

Over the last few years the world of federal contracting has seen an increased focus on the False Claims Act, the prevention of fraud, and the strengthening of fraud-related penalties. 2015 will certainly be no different. However, the new year brings with it a slightly different take on fraud prevention, one aimed…

Several months ago, we told you about Ambuild Company v. LLC v. U.S., a very important case pending before the Court of Federal Claims (“COFC”).  The AmBuild case was of particular interest to our firm because it concerned the interpretation of a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (“VA”) regulation, which the VA revised following an…

There is no question that documentation is an important part in the resolution of any construction dispute. Particularly contemporaneous documents – documents that are created at the time that events occur. Quality control reports, daily logs, and timely letters all fall into the “contemporaneous” category. Another type, however, has an instantaneous characteristic that not only…

By: Edward T. DeLisle, Kayleen Egan & Maria L. Panichelli

Is the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) minority business development program, also known as the “8(a) Program”  unconstitutional?   The legality of the program has been a hot topic of debate over the year, most recently due to a significant DC District Court case.  That case,…

Federal contractors and subcontractors will soon be subject to new regulations, which increase those contractors’ obligations to hire both veterans and individuals with disabilities (“IWDs”). On March 24, 2014, two final rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (“OFCCP”) will go into effect. The veterans rule updates the…

There is no doubt that the government has the right, and even the responsibility, to terminate a contract completely or partially for default “if the contractor fails to (a) make delivery of the supplies or perform the services within the time specified in the contract, (b) perform any other provision of the contract, or (c)…

By: Edward T. DeLisle & Robert Ruggieri

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will review an important Circuit Court case, which focuses on the enforceability of forum selection clauses.  These contract clauses identify where parties must litigate claims in the event of a dispute.  Contractors, especially federal contractors who perform work for…

By: Edward T. DeLisle

If a government agency terminates a construction contractor for default, it cannot then sit on its hands. The agency must re-procure and complete that project within some reasonable amount of time. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of any subsequent claim for excess costs to reprocure and finish…