Insights

Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan, a Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts partner, discusses with Bloomberg Law an amendment authored by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) that was intended to prevent contract awards from being given to firms suspected or convicted of wrongdoing. Industry representatives are considering the amendment unnecessary given the existing suspension and debarment system. O'Sullivan stated she believes the existing process works well because it allows a contractor and the government to negotiate an agreement "as opposed to having the sort of automatic consequences” called for within the Grayson amendment.

Crowell & Moring's Ounce of Prevention Seminar, hosted by the firm's Government Contracts Group, is featured in a BNA article discussing compliance measures for federal contractors. George Washington University law professor Steven Schooner, who spoke at the conference, discussed key compliance cases to highlight the importance of risk avoidance for contractors.

Law360 highlights the firm's Government Contracts Group and the recent webinar the Group conducted titled, "What Will the New Year Bring for Government Contractors?" This article details the five issues federal contractors should pay attention to in 2015, as forecasted by Crowell & Moring attorneys in their preview of the year ahead.

Beginning December 26 there will be a new clause added to contracts requiring prime contractors that receive accelerated payments from the government to make similar payments to their small business subcontractors. Amy L. O'Sullivan, a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and Government Contracts Group, tells BNA why she believes the new rule is too vague, "Although well intended as part of overall efforts to accelerate payments to small businesses, because the rule lacks specifics (including defining 'accelerated' payments) and enforcement mechanisms, I doubt that it will have much impact." According to BNA, The clause, contained in a final rule published in the Nov. 25 Federal Register, will require accelerated payments to small business subcontractors, to the maximum extent practicable, after receipt of proper invoices and documentation.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts partner Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan comments on some of the implications a new U.S. Small Business Administration rule may have on contractors reporting deviations on their small business subcontracting proposals. She explains, "At the end of the day, I think contracting officers are going to be so inundated with paper [that] I don't think you'll actually see a lot of contractors being called on for failing to follow through on their subcontracting proposals."

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan is featured throughout this article for her insight on how federal agencies are handling contracting corrections. She notes, "Agencies are taking corrective action more quickly and with greater frequency, but with mixed results in terms of speeding up the process or changing the ultimate award decision."

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan was profiled in Government Contracts Law360 as a "Rising Star."

Government Contracts Group attorneys, including Washington, D.C.-based chair Angela B. Styles, and partners Daniel R. Forman and Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan, speak to Law360 about the Group's numerous victories in 2011, as well as the very important, yet confidential, work the firm does for its clients behind the scenes.