Welcome to the Government Contracts Insights Blog

Morrison Foerster’s Government Contracts Insights blog provides an in-depth analysis of news, developments, and trends impacting government contracting and procurement. Through Insights, attorneys from our nationally recognized Government Contracts and Public Procurement practice will offer a real-time assessment of the statutory, regulatory, legal, and business-related developments that are shaping the industry. This blog will also examine a full array of U.S. and non-U.S. public procurement issues, mindful that our clients compete in a global marketplace.

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March 27, 2020 - Coronavirus
Contractor Relief Unclear Under the CARES Act
By: J. Alex Ward
On Wednesday, the Senate passed a $2 trillion relief package – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act – intended to relieve some of the worst economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to sweeping relief measures for individuals and
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March 25, 2020 - Coronavirus
Federal Antitrust Agencies Encourage Appropriate Competitor Collaboration to Address the COVID-19 Crisis
The U.S. antitrust agencies – the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – have recognized a need for “unprecedented cooperation between federal, state, and local governments and among private businesses to protect Americans’ health and safety” during the
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March 24, 2020 - Coronavirus
A Summary of the Defense Production Act
By: J. Alex Ward
Last week, the President announced that he was invoking a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 4501 et seq ., to ensure the Nation is able to acquire the “health and medical resources needed to respond to the
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March 24, 2020 - Labor & Employment, Coronavirus
Practical Considerations for Requiring Employees to Report to Work in Light of COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders
By: Andrew R. Turnbull and Victoria Dalcourt Angle
As the number of reported cases of COVID-19 continues to increase dramatically, several states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Louisiana, have issued public health orders requiring over one-fourth of Americans to stay at home. More states are
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March 23, 2020 - Coronavirus, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
Cyber Preparedness for Government Contractors: Opportunistic Hackers and the COVID-19 Pandemic
By: Tina D. Reynolds and Sandeep N. Nandivada
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted operations across the globe as government agencies and corporations grapple with the implications of remote work, workforce and workplace limitations, and employee health and safety. But while this worldwide crisis has introduced new complexities and challenges, it also has
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March 23, 2020 - Coronavirus
The Defense Production Act: a Little Known Statute that May Soon Be Running Your Company
By: J. Alex Ward
Last week, the President invoked a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 4501 et seq ., to acquire much-needed medical supplies and equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although a handful of provisions of the DPA – such as
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March 20, 2020 - Federal Procurement, Compliance, Coronavirus
Update: COVID-19/Coronavirus Webinar Series: Concerns for Government Contractors (MATERIALS)
By: J. Alex Ward
Updated to add final materials, which can be accessed here. Replays of the webinar can be accessed here. Please join Morrison & Foerster Government Contracts + Public Procurement practice co-chair Alex Ward , and partner Dan Chudd for a webinar concerning what government contractors
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March 20, 2020 - Labor & Employment, Coronavirus
OFCCP Issues National Interest Exemption for New Coronavirus Relief Contracts
By: Andrew R. Turnbull and Victoria Dalcourt Angle
On March 17, 2020, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP” or the “Agency”) issued a National Interest Exemption memorandum providing a limited, three-month exemption to new supply and service and construction contracts entered into specifically to provide Coronavirus relief. The exemption waives
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March 20, 2020 - Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update: New California Order and DHS Critical Infrastructure Guidance
As we noted in an earlier post , various states and localities are issuing rapidly evolving directives on the extent to which businesses may continue ordinary operations in their jurisdictions and which businesses are exempt from those directives (or subject to less restrictive obligations).
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March 19, 2020 - Coronavirus
Coronavirus Update: The Defense Production Act Is Not a Contractor’s Shield Against Local Shutdown Orders
The President is invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 4501 et seq. , to acquire much needed medical supplies and equipment. Meanwhile, contractors that already are performing DX or DO rated orders under the DPA are asking if the Act can
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Welcome to the Government Contracts Insights Blog

Contractor Relief Unclear Under the CARES Act

By: J. Alex Ward

Federal Antitrust Agencies Encourage Appropriate Competitor Collaboration to Address the COVID-19 Crisis

A Summary of the Defense Production Act

By: J. Alex Ward

Practical Considerations for Requiring Employees to Report to Work in Light of COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders

By: Andrew R. Turnbull and Victoria Dalcourt Angle

Cyber Preparedness for Government Contractors: Opportunistic Hackers and the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Tina D. Reynolds and Sandeep N. Nandivada

The Defense Production Act: a Little Known Statute that May Soon Be Running Your Company

By: J. Alex Ward

Update: COVID-19/Coronavirus Webinar Series: Concerns for Government Contractors (MATERIALS)

By: J. Alex Ward

OFCCP Issues National Interest Exemption for New Coronavirus Relief Contracts

By: Andrew R. Turnbull and Victoria Dalcourt Angle

COVID-19 Update: New California Order and DHS Critical Infrastructure Guidance

Coronavirus Update: The Defense Production Act Is Not a Contractor’s Shield Against Local Shutdown Orders