By Carol L. O’Riordan On January 5, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, pretty much along party lines, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. This bill, if enacted into law, would dramatically change the way that federal regulation of industry operates. The vote was 237 to 187, with all...
Tag: Government Contracts
New SBA Mentor-Protégé Program Creates Opportunities for Small Business
On July 25, 2016, the federal Small Business Administration issued a final rule – effective August 24, 2016 – establishing a mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns. Although this new program resembles the existing mentor-protégé program for 8(a) firms, it is a distinct program that permits all small business concerns to participate in mentor-protégé...
Our Client, Dr. Kimberly Brown, Featured in Newspaper Profile
Our client, Dr. Kimberly Brown, who is president and CEO of Baltimore-based Amethyst Technologies, was featured in an article in the Baltimore Times on May 13, 2016. Dr. Brown founded the company in 2006, and it now has annual revenue of about $2 million and clients that include the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research,...
A Compliance Checklist for Federal Contractors — Part 1
We may not often think of them this way, but government contractors are perhaps the most heavily regulated sector of our economy. Any company that wishes to work steadily in the federal contracting field needs to be aware of dozens of statutes that govern its behavior. In fact, it will take more than one...
Government Contractors Must Beware of New DOJ Prosecution Guidelines
By Pamela J. Bethel We recently discussed the new emphasis that the U.S. Department of Justice is placing on the prosecution of individuals in white-collar crime cases. As we pointed out, the new guidelines, set forth in a speech last month by Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, represent a get-tough attitude toward corporate crime. It’s...
Deputy AG’s Speech Puts Focus on Prosecution of Individuals
By Pamela J. Bethel In a much-publicized speech on September 10 at the New York University School of Law, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates set forth what she said was a new Justice Department policy to go after “not just corporate entities, but also the individuals through which these corporations act.” The new guidelines,...
Plans Change: How Government Contractors Can Avoid a ‘Bait and Switch’
By Taimur Rabbani Government contracts are a major source of revenue for many companies. However, there are inherent risks throughout the contracting process, all the way from bid submission through the completion of a project. A recent GAO bid protest decision helps illustrate one concern for companies early in the contracting process. According to the...
Prospective Contractors and Subcontractors: Be Aware of TINA
By Taimur Rabbani Is your business pursuing a U.S. government contract, or seeking to subcontract for a U.S. government contractor? There are several legal and regulatory schemes that you should be aware of that are relevant to this process. Among the most significant of them are the regulations implementing the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA)....
O’Riordan to Speak on Procurement at Supply Management Event
Managing Partner Carol L. O’Riordan will be the featured speaker on the evening of November 18, 2014, at a meeting of the Institute for Supply Management, National Capital Area, Inc. Ms. O’Riordan will speak on the topic of “Supply Chain: Government Contracts and Procurement Concerns.” The event will take place from 4:45 to 6:15 pm....
Harold Charles of CEEPCO Receives 2014 Award From SBA
We are delighted to say that one of our clients, Harold Charles of CEEPCO, was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s D.C.-area office as the Small Business Person of the Year for Maryland. Here is the release announcing this honor. SBA’s Washington, DC District Office Selects CEEPCO President Harold Charles as Small Business Person of...