In 2008, under FAR 52.203-13, “Contractor Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and Conduct” – the clause promulgated that appears in all Federal prime contracts that exceed $5 million and have a period of performance of 120 days or more and is required to be included in subcontracts of that dollar… Read more »
Theodore P. Watson, Esq.Watson & Associates, LLC professionals often serve as government contractor defense attorneys. when the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Office of Inspector General ( OIG) comes knocking on your door. The importance of having a strong legal defense early in the investigation stage means having legal… Read more »
The Federal Government Has Increased Oversight and is Cracking Down on Federal Procurement Integrity Act violations under FAR 3.104. In Addition to Criminal Defense Law You Should Also Understand the Procurement Process – The End Result Depends on It. What is the Procurement Integrity Act? The Procurement Integrity Act prohibits… Read more »
Avoid costly legal mistakes with prime contractor subcontractor in privity of contract relationships in federal procurement. As a subcontractor to federal government procurement, you may often find yourself wondering what is the lack of privity of contract rule for government relationships with subcontractors and why the Contracting Officer, or even… Read more »
More and More federal government contractors are facing either suspension and debarment actions for ethics violations in government contracting or criminal liability for what can be arguable a failure to conduct self-policing or create the proper internal control procedures, contractor ethics and compliance audits. The objectives of internal control are… Read more »
Appealing government contract claims is commonplace when you have performed work and for some reason the contracting officer denies your claim for payment. A substantial amount of claims and disputes arise because of technical problems at the preparation and submission stage. Even though there is no question that you performed the… Read more »
Wire fraud is a crime that involves the use of electronic communications, such as email or text messages, fax machines and telephone line to commit illicit acts such as payment of government contract invoices, federal contract awards, or traditional crimes such as identity theft or money laundering. Avoiding charges of… Read more »
For Government Contractors: Navigating Procurement Fraud Grand Jury Indictments Does Indictment Always Mean Jail Time? No, It Does Not The term “indictment” by a grand jury for a federal government contractor often brings about images of handcuffs, courtrooms, and jail cells. It’s a word that carries a heavy weight and… Read more »
Theodore P. Watson. In the world of government contracting, Trade Agreements Act TAA compliance is of utmost importance. Understanding the requirements, implications, and potential penalties of TAA non-compliance is crucial for businesses seeking to participate in government contracts. Recent high-value settlements have highlighted the significant liability that medical device manufacturers… Read more »
The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) applies to GSA Schedule Contracts, requiring that all products listed on the contract be manufactured or “substantially transformed” in either the United States or a TAA-compliant “designated country”. The designated TAA Compliant Countries List encompass: 1. Countries under the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement…. Read more »