Considered one of the few “must pass” pieces of legislation, Congress uses the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to shape federal procurement policy. Each year, the NDAA contains provisions prohibiting certain...more
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT -
Court Enjoins Vaccine Mandate Nationwide: The Practical Implications for Federal Contractors -
On December 7, 2021, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia (District Court)...more
12/17/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Employer Mandates ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Fraud ,
Popular ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
State False Claims Acts ,
Vaccinations
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released guidance on December 2, 2021, implementing Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government” (EO). The...more
Once again, the specter of a government shutdown looms over the federal contracting community. The House just passed a continuing resolution that would extend federal funding through February 18, 2022, and avoid a government...more
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a proposed rule that would change two size standard calculations. First, SBA is proposing to use a 24-month period, as opposed to the current 12-month period, for...more
As of this writing, and in the absence of a continuing resolution being enacted by Congress, there will be a shutdown of most government operations on October 1, 2021. It is not clear whether the House and the Senate will be...more
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION -
Watch Your Step: Avoiding False Claims Act Violations from Limitations in Subcontracting and Performance of Work Requirements -
Members of the government contracting community are...more
9/24/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Fraud ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
SBA ,
Small Business
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has once again updated its HUBZone FAQs—this time with welcome changes for HUBZone firms with principal offices located in Redesignated Areas and / or Qualified Disaster Areas (QDA)....more
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT -
What President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Means for Government Contractors and Private Employers -
Westlaw Today recently published an article by members of PilieroMazza’s Labor & Employment Group. The...more
8/20/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Federal Contractors ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Minimum Wage ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT -
OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Healthcare Workers from COVID-19 -
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will issue an emergency temporary...more
6/25/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Healthcare Workers ,
HUBZone ,
NASA ,
OSHA ,
SBA ,
Workplace Safety
The Small Business Administration (SBA) updated its Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) program in a final rule issued on November 26, 2019, at 84 FR 65,222. The Department of Defense, General Services...more
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS -
SBA Extends the HUBZone Map Freeze to June 30, 2023 -
Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a direct final rule extending the HUBZone map freeze from December 31, 2021, to June...more
5/7/2021
/ Amazon ,
Biden Administration ,
Consultants ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
FedRAMP ,
GAO ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Independent Contractors ,
Mentor-Protege Program ,
Microsoft ,
Minimum Wage ,
OSHA ,
Qui Tam ,
Relief Measures ,
Restaurant Industry ,
SBA
Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a direct final rule extending the HUBZone map freeze from December 31, 2021, to June 30, 2023. The direct final rule takes effect on June 21, 2021. This is the latest in...more
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS -
SBA Pivots to Say HUBZone Firms in Redesignated QDA Cannot Maintain 10-Year Principal Office Eligibility Through Long-Term Investment -
In January, we issued a client alert discussing how HUBZone...more
In January, we issued a client alert discussing how HUBZone firms in redesignated areas could plan to maintain their HUBZone status after the end of 2021. One of the primary strategies we discussed in the client alert was...more
PilieroMazza Reacts to the Rise in Violence Against the Asian-American Community -
In the past year, 3,800 acts of violence were perpetrated against the Asian-American community, with a disproportionate number of these...more
4/5/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Discrimination ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Race Discrimination ,
Retaliation ,
SBA ,
Tipped Employees ,
USAID ,
Wage and Hour ,
Whistleblowers
Last month, I had the privilege of being a panelist during the Federal Bar Association’s 2021 Qui Tam Conference. Referred to as “the Oscars for False Claims Act nerds,” this year’s conference included such speakers as...more
CYBERSECURITY & DATA PRIVACY -
Virginia Governor Signs Nation’s Second State Consumer Privacy Bill -
The Washington Post reported that Governor Ralph Northam signed data privacy legislation into law, making Virginia the...more
3/11/2021
/ Acquisitions ,
Back Pay ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Security ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Healthcare ,
Medical Equipment ,
Mergers ,
National Security ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Relief Measures
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION -
DOJ Announces FY 2020 Fraud and FCA Recovery Statistics: What They Mean for 2021 -
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it recovered more than $2.2 billion in settlements and...more
2021 is an important year for the many HUBZone firms located in redesignated areas that will lose HUBZone status after 12/31/21. For these firms, the time is now to plan for maintaining HUBZone status in 2022 and beyond....more
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS -
Key Provisions in the 2021 NDAA for Government Contractors -
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA, commonly referred to as “must pass”...more
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”). The NDAA, commonly referred to as “must pass” legislation, is a key legislative vehicle that Congress uses each year to address a wide...more
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements are coming, impacting DOD contractors big and small. This important new certification, if responded to proactively, will help...more
9/3/2020
/ Bid Protests ,
Certification Requirements ,
Cybersecurity ,
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ,
Data Protection ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Information Technology ,
Joint Venture ,
Native American Issues ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Subcontractors ,
Webinars
CYBERSECURITY & DATA PRIVACY -
CMMC Heads to the STARS: Important Cybersecurity Provisions in GSA's 8(a) STARS III RFP -
One of the hottest topics for government contractors is the General Services Administration’s...more
One of the hottest topics for government contractors is the General Services Administration’s (GSA) recent release of the updated 8(a) STARS III request for proposal (RFP). With proposals due by August 19, 2020, many...more