Practices

Government Contracts

Why Cooley

Practical, business-focused advice in a complex, highly regulated environment

Cooley’s government contracts team operates across a wide variety of industries, including the traditional areas of defense and civilian agency procurement (aerospace, electronics, military weapons and vehicles, shipbuilding, telecommunications, and computer hardware and software), as well as rapidly evolving disciplines like biodefense and cybersecurity. Armed with industry knowledge from prior in-house counsel experience and a practical understanding of the highly regulated environment in which their clients operate, Cooley government contracts practitioners can provide clients with actionable advice and efficient – yet highly effective – litigation services.

Areas of practice

Routine regulatory and contract counseling on:

  • Allocation of rights in intellectual property between government and contractor.
  • Cybersecurity requirements and data transfer restrictions applicable to contractors.
  • Patent rights and the Bayh-Dole Act regime.
  • Personnel security clearances (PCLs), facility security clearances (FCLs), and related requirements of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) and National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) regulations.
  • Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), consortia and other nontraditional contracting approaches designed to reduce regulatory burdens and accelerate the adoption of new technology by government agencies.
  • The Buy American Act (BAA), Trade Agreements Act (TAA), Section 889 prohibitions on certain Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance equipment, and other country of origin and supply chain restrictions.
  • The meaning and practical application of Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards and eligibility requirements for small businesses, service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), 8(a) participants, small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), HUBZone small businesses and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs).
  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program eligibility restrictions and the terms of related contracts and grants.
  • Prime contractor/subcontractor negotiations, including the meaning and operational effect of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) flowdowns.
  • Equal employment opportunity (EEO) requirements – including affirmative action plan (AAP) guidance and implementation, related reporting obligations and other matters under the jurisdiction of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Support for M&A, financing and other strategic transactions involving government contracts:

  • Before a transaction
    • Identify and summarize government contracts portfolio using federal procurement data and sophisticated software tools.
    • Assess a seller’s government business compliance processes and anticipate potential red flags.
  • During a transaction
    • Review terms and conditions of government contracts.
    • Draft and negotiate related representations in purchase agreements.
    • Advise on deal risks unique to government contracts – including impacts related to deal structure, buyer/investor nationality, continuing performance of small-business, set-aside contracts, classified information safeguarding and disclosure, and transfers of facility security clearances.
    • Coordinate and work closely with Cooley CFIUS and international trade colleagues to fully account for the national security implications of proposed transactions.
  • After a transaction
    • Advise on and assist with assembling contract novation requests, changed conditions packages, updates to federal database registrations and re-representations of size status.
    • Assist with post-closing integration and compliance process enhancement.

Internal investigations, bid protests, contract disputes and whistleblower/qui tam defense:

  • Internal investigations, counseling regarding the mandatory disclosure rule, suspension and debarment proceedings, and compliance program development and training.
  • Bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims, agency-specific forums and state government offices.
  • Contract disputes at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims.
  • Whistleblower claims and disputes, including qui tam actions filed under the False Claims Act and retaliation claims filed under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act.