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Proposed Rule and Guidance Issued for Implementing "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces" Executive Order

Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.28.15

Today, the Obama Administration published the highly anticipated notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and guidance for implementing the "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order," starting the clock on a 60-day notice and comment period. The NPRM and related guidance (available by PDF here and here and explained in more detail on our government contracts blog) would add onerous labor compliance reporting requirements for contractors and subcontractors on contracts valued over $500,000 (and on non-COTS subcontracts valued over $500,000), inject subjectivity into the contract award process through the addition of "Agency Labor Compliance Advisors" advising the CO with respect to responsibility determinations, limit contractors' right to arbitrate certain employment disputes, and add new "paycheck transparency" requirements for contractors.


Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 07.10.26

Federal Circuit Clarifies Application of Blue & Gold: Proposal Submission Deadline, Not Award, is the Operative Time for Filing

In Utech, Inc. v. United States, No. 24-1586 (Fed. Cir. June 24, 2026), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit clarified that in most cases, a pre-award protest must be filed before the proposal submission deadline to avoid the Blue & Gold waiver rule.  This decision, while nonprecedential, is in line with U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) precedent, which has long held that pre-award protests must be filed before the proposal submission deadline....