GovBizConnect presented Cohen Seglias Partners Ed DeLisle and Maria Panichelli in a 4-part educational webinar series, GovCon Basics: Doing Business with the Federal Government in 2017.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 1 PM – 2 PM
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR TEAMING, JOINT VENTURING, AND MENTOR PROTÉGÉ RELATIONSHIPS:
In today’s Federal contracting market, a growing number of government contracts are set-aside for various types of small businesses. It’s no surprise that, in this highly competitive environment, cooperative contractor relationships – including teaming and joint-venturing – are increasingly popular among small and large businesses alike. However, when done incorrectly, these types of relationships can have disastrous consequences, even destroying your small business eligibility. In this webinar, we informed attendees the right way to team and JV. We covered the differences between teaming and joint venturing, avoiding common pitfalls and problems with teaming and joint venturing, and finally how to form a compliant team or JV. We also touched upon how to draft an enforceable teaming agreement. Finally, we discussed the SBA’s mentor protégé programs. Recent legal developments were also covered.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017 1 PM – 2 PM
HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY ASSERT AND DEFEND PROTESTS:
The source selection process is extremely competitive in today’s federal contracting market. As a result, many solicitations ultimately involve bid protests. These protests require complex legal analyses, under extremely short deadlines. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the protest process, including the legal issues commonly involved in that process, are vital to success. And a successful protest can mean the difference between getting a contract or losing that contract to a competitor. In this webinar, we covered all aspects of the protest process. Experienced Federal contracting attorneys Maria Panichelli and Ed DeLisle explained the differences between the various types of protests (Bid Protests, Size Protests, and Status Protests) and Size/Eligibility Investigations. Next, Maria and Ed walked attendees through the debriefing process, as well as the who, what, when, where, why & how of filing a protest. Next, we covered the other side of protests, teaching you how to defend against, or even avoid, protests filed by frustrated competitors. Lastly, we discussed size and status investigations, which address the size and eligibility of Small, 8(a), VO/SDVOSB, ED/WOSB, and HUBZone businesses. Recent developments in law were also addressed.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017 1 PM – 2 PM
KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN POST-AWARD COMPENSATION: REAS AND CLAIMS:
As any Federal contractor will tell you, the contract award is only the beginning — performance presents a whole new series of challenges. The FAR and its supplementary regulations impose a host of obligations on contractors and can impact the ways in which a contractor performs a contract. These rules and regulations also dictate the ways in which those contractors can seek compensation for unanticipated costs incurred on the job. In this webinar, experienced Federal Contracting attorneys Maria Panichelli and Ed DeLisle taught attendees about two key strategies for seeking compensation when something goes wrong post-award: Requests for Equitable Adjustments, and Claims. We discussed key differences between these two tools and discuss when to use which. We also walked through the Contract Disputes Act claims and appeals process, and provide strategies for learning how to maximize a contractor’s chances of success when making claims against the Federal government.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 1 PM – 2 PM
THE INS AND OUTS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TERMINATIONS:
Government agencies can terminate their contracts for convenience (“T for C”), or for default (“T for D”). While a T for C does not imply that there was any fault on the part of the contractor, T for D means the government believes that the contractor failed to perform by the provisions of the contract. This distinction has other important implications as well. If terminated for convenience, a contractor can seek payment for the work done, and for any preparations made for the terminated portion of the contract. In contrast, if defaulted, it is possible that a contractor will owe the government money in connection with reprocurement. Getting terminated for default can also negatively impact a contractor’s ability to get future contracts. This webinar covered the ins and outs of terminations. Attendees discovered all about T for Cs, the response process and seeking compensation. Attendees also learned about T for Ds, how to challenge them, how to convert them to T for Cs, and how to deal with reprocurement claims.