On February 25, the Obama Administration published a proposed rule implementing Executive Order 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors (previously discussed here). The proposed rule, which the Department of Labor estimates would impact 828,000 federal contractor employees (including approximately 436,700 employees who currently receive no paid sick leave and 391,400 employees who
Proposed Rule Would Nix Allowability of Congressional Investigation Costs
On February 17, the Federal Register published a proposed rule that would amend the FAR to implement section 857 of the National Defense Authorization Act, making unallowable any “costs incurred by a contractor in connection with a Congressional investigation or inquiry into an issue that is the subject of a proceeding resulting in a disposition
DoD’s Guerilla War on IR&D
In a notice published in the Federal Register on February 8 that will almost certainly be unpopular with contractors and their customers, DoD asked for comments on its consideration of adding a requirement to the DFARS that would “require offerors to describe in detail the nature and value of prospective IR&D projects on which the
New Guidance Allows Limited Role for DCAA Audit of Non-DOD Contracts
The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits the Defense Contract Audit Agency from providing “audit support” to any non-DOD agency until the Secretary of Defense certifies that DCAA has reduced its backlog of incurred cost audits to 18 months or less, a restriction that could cause some disruption for contractors when DOD contracts are not
For Whom Does the Appeal Clock Toll? Vitiation vs. Finality
In Guardian Angels Med. Serv. Dogs Inc. v. U.S. (Jan. 8, 2016), the Federal Circuit held that a CO’s request to evaluate additional information after a default termination “vitiated the finality” of the termination and reset the 12-month appeal clock, even though the CO neither received new information nor spent any time reconsidering her decision.
Not So Fast: Congress Gives DoL the Heisman on “Fair Pay” Funding
The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, passed on December 18, 2015, did not appropriate funds to establish an Office of Labor Compliance within the Department of Labor in order to implement the “Fair Play and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order, as requested by the Obama Administration. By declining to appropriate the requested funds, Congress pumped the
Save the Date: Final Rule for Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Set For April 2016
On Nov. 19, 2015, OMB released the fall 2015 regulatory agenda of regulations currently under development, listing April 2016 as the target for publication of the final rule implementing the “Fair Pay and Safe Work Places” executive order. The final rule, which is likely to be challenged in court by contractors and industry trade groups,
Claims Recovery Under Government Contracts
On Thursday, November 19, Crowell & Moring attorneys will discuss using contractor claims as a recovery mechanism under U.S. Government contracts on WFED radio. Listen in at 12:30 pm EST as these practitioners discuss how contractors can use claims as part of an overall strategy to ensure that both parties comply with contract terms and
ASBCA’s FY 2015 Report – A Look at the Numbers
On October 20, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals published its FY 2015 Report of Transactions and Proceedings. The report provides statistics regarding the adjudication of appeals between contractors and the Army, Navy, Air Force, Corps of Engineers, DLA, DCMA, other Defense agencies, CIA, NASA, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. This year’s
IG Report Whacks DCMA’s Oversight of Contractors’ Business Systems
On October 1, the DoD IG released a report titled “Evaluation of Defense Contract Management Agency Actions on Reported DoD Contractor Business System Deficiencies,” asserting that DCMA contracting officers “repeatedly” failed to comply with DFARS requirements involving reported business system deficiencies. The report, which is similar to a report issued on June 29, 2015 regarding