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 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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March 18, 2020 - Coronavirus
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Update: Evolving Local Orders that Affect Government Contractors
By: J. Alex Ward
As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop day by day, and even hour by hour, many jurisdictions are issuing guidance regarding quarantines and work restrictions that may affect the operations of government contractors. In this blog, we cover updates on the situation in California,
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March 17, 2020 - Labor & Employment, Coronavirus
Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Employers: Leaves, Furloughs, and the Warn Act
By: Andrew R. Turnbull
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic. As the ripple effects from COVID-19 continue to grow, employers are increasingly facing difficult questions about how to address temporary workplace closures as well
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March 16, 2020 - Artificial Intelligence + Robotics
Department of Defense Adopts AI Ethical Principles to Guide Its Expanded Use of AI
By: Tina D. Reynolds
Popular science fiction is replete with examples of artificial intelligence (AI) gone awry, from HAL, the killer AI of Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey , to the supercomputer bent on nuclear annihilation in WarGames , to the robot forces of 2004’s I,
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March 13, 2020 - Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Top 10 International Anti-Corruption Developments for February 2020
By: James M. Koukios and Charles E. Duross
In order to provide an overview for busy in-house counsel and compliance professionals, we summarize below some of the most important international anti-corruption developments from the past month, with links to primary resources. This month we ask: What did several federal courts have to
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March 11, 2020 - Grants, Health Care, Coronavirus
U.S. Government Announces New Federal Funding Opportunities Related to COVID-19
By: Tina D. Reynolds
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ), part of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, has modified an existing broad agency announcement (BAA) through which it will award government funding
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March 06, 2020 - Protests & Litigation
February 2020 Bid Protest Roundup (Law360 Spotlight)
By: Sandeep N. Nandivada
This installment of our monthly Law360 bid protest spotlight features three noteworthy decisions from the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) concerning reprocurement contracts, timeliness rules, and discussions. Steel Point Solutions, LLC addresses the proper scope of reprocurement contracts. Vizocom provides a cautionary tale for contractors
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Welcome to the Government Contracts Insights Blog

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

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Update: Evolving Local Orders that Affect Government Contractors

By: J. Alex Ward

Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Employers: Leaves, Furloughs, and the Warn Act

By: Andrew R. Turnbull

Department of Defense Adopts AI Ethical Principles to Guide Its Expanded Use of AI

By: Tina D. Reynolds

Top 10 International Anti-Corruption Developments for February 2020

By: James M. Koukios and Charles E. Duross

U.S. Government Announces New Federal Funding Opportunities Related to COVID-19

By: Tina D. Reynolds

February 2020 Bid Protest Roundup (Law360 Spotlight)

By: Sandeep N. Nandivada