Public Contracting Institute Blog
The Public Contracting Institute blog supplement our govcon training offerings with insightful articles written by leading professionals across the government contracts industry. Our professionals publish articles on topics on government contracts administration, accounting, bids/proposals, disputes, claims, and much more. For more inforamation about our blog, reach out to seminars@publiccontractinginstitute.com.
Additionally, look for the PCI Practical Matters Podcast, coming soon! It will cover the latest news in our industry, along with insightful commentary on the most important topics in Government Contracting.
When Jacob’s Ladder Did Not Go To Heaven: The Case of the Contractor Who Kept On Negotiating A Final Decision
Jacob Construction LLC was awarded a contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for kitchen renovation work in a VA building. Three months later, the VA suspended the project for eight months. When the suspension was lifted, Jacob filed a claim for an...
If Budget Sequestration Trims Your Contract: What Contractors Need to Know About Partial Terminations and Deductive Changes
If Budget Sequestration Trims Your Contract: What Contractors Need to Know About Partial Terminations and Deductive Changes: Guest Authors: Neil H. O’Donnell and Dennis J. Callahan, Rogers Jospeh O'Donnell, PC, writes: By definition, budget sequestration is a...
The Toilet Paper Case: The Clay Group Decision Serves as Lesson in What Not to Do
Guest Author: Kym Nucci, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP, writes: The GAO decision in The Clay Group, LLC, B-406647; B-406647.2, July 30, 2012, provides a tutorial for agencies on how not to conduct a procurement and respond to a disappointed offeror’s protest. The case...
Eliminate Price Proposals?
Eliminate Price Proposals by Darrell Oyer, Darrell J. Oyer & Company: A recent article in the Federal Times suggests that DOD "should-cost" reviews be used as an alternative to contractor price proposals. The rationale is that because should-cost review teams...
Agency Must Consider Price in All Best Value Selections
In any type of best value selection, the GAO has again made clear that the Agency must consider price. Glotech, Inc., B-406761, Aug. 21, 2012. In Glotech, the US Agency for International Development (“AID”) competed a Blanket Purchase Agreement (“BPA”) worth up to...
Will the Government Pay for Your Lawyer, Accountant or Consultant Costs
Recently, in Tip Top Const., Inc. v. Donahoe, Postmaster Gen., (Fed. Cir. No. 2011-1509, Sept. 19, 2012), the Federal Circuit reiterated its earlier position that although professional fees incurred in connection with prosecution of a Contract Disputes Act (“CDA”)...
GSA Schedule Contract Disputes: Which Contracting Officer Decides?
The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals recently addressed the question of which contracting officer must decide disputes concerning GSA schedule contracts--the GSA CO or the Ordering Office CO. FAR 8.406 says both. It gives the CO from the Ordering Office (in this...
Afterthoughts: FAPIIS
Following each Nash & Schooner Hot Topics Webinar event, we interview Professor Ralph Nash to get his thoughts on the topic following the panel discussion. On September 27, Professors Ralph Nash and Steven Schooner hosted special guest James McCullough, Fried...
Department of Defense has an Active Suspension and Debarment Process
The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) recently issued a report finding that the Department of Defense (“DOD”) had effective processes to refer contractors for potential suspension or debarment, but that DOD was not reporting a small number of discretionary...
Sequestration: Preparing for the Inevitable
Guest Author: Elizabeth A. Ferrell, McKenna Long & Aldridge. Last August, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011. This law authorized raising the debt ceiling, established caps on discretionary spending, and put a process in place to reduce the federal...
