Government Contracts & Construction

Kaufman & Canoles’ Government Contracts & Construction attorneys help clients – ship repair providers, technology firms, manufacturers, service contractors, construction companies, small and disadvantaged businesses, and other contractors – successfully navigate the federal, state, and local government contracting process. We also represent construction contractors and subcontractors across the full range of legal and business matters in private projects – from bids to contracts to performance, compliance, and dispute resolution.

For nearly 40 years, we have helped government contractors achieve their business, financial, and strategic objectives. We guide clients through bid preparation, including preparing and negotiating bid documents, contract formation and drafting, and performance and compliance issues. We protect their rights in disputes – including over claims and allegations related to performance, compliance, ethics, fraud, breaches-of-contract, billing challenges, and other issues – through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Notably, our government contracts lawyers have particular strength in protesting and filing bid protests under tight deadlines to challenge federal contract awards or conditions. We are experienced negotiators and assist in executing mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactions between government contractors.

We also regularly advise construction contractors and subcontractors on noteworthy private and public projects, including power plants, bridges, stadiums, hospitals, prisons, wastewater treatment plants, airport terminals, and military installations. In addition, clients turn to us for advice when they’re engaged in construction for courthouses, parking garages, high-rise office buildings, condominiums and more.

Our Government Contracts & Construction team advises on a broad range of construction and government contracts for private and publicly traded construction companies and government contractors, as well as their contracting entities. We have considerable experience in the following industries and sectors:

• Assisted Living
• Construction
• Defense
• Information Technology
• School Districts
• Ship Repair
• State and Local Governments and Municipalities

• Represented contractor in Government Accountability Office protest and subsequent United States Court of Federal Claims bid protest action involving Department of Army distance learning procurement
• Represented general contractor in state and federal court litigation regarding construction of trash-to-steam energy plant
• Represented owner of a continuing care retirement community in claims against architect and general contractor
• Represented County in state court bid protest action regarding courthouse construction project
• Represented contractor before Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals on termination for convenience settlement claim regarding a ship repair contract
• Drafted and negotiated construction and design contracts for various commercial projects
• Represented parties in numerous mechanics’ lien actions in state court including several Virginia Supreme Court cases
• Advised school district on multiple school construction project including development of RFP, design, construction manager and construction contracts
• Defended government contractors in procurement fraud proceedings in state and federal court
• Represented developer and general contractor in Chinese Drywall claims
• Represented contractors and sureties in payment and performance bond claims

• Infrastructure & Transportation

• DOJ Civil Cyber Fraud Initiative and Cyber Incident Response and Reporting
• ESOP Client Alert – Game Changer: 100% ESOP-Owned Government Contractors Eligible for Sole Source Awards on Follow-On Contracts
• Government Contracts & Defense Industries Team Client Alert – The Government Contractor Mandate
• Acquiring a Federal Contractor: Doing Your Due Diligence
• Annotated Due Diligence Checklist: Acquisition of a Federal Contractor
• Government Contracts Client Alert – January 2019
• Government Contracts Client Alert – October 2018
• Kaufman & Canoles Named to 2018 Edition of US News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
• Due Diligence Checklist: Acquisition of a Government Contractor
• Government Contracts Update – New Paid Sick Leave Regulations
• Government Contracts Small Business Set-Aside Programs
• The Effective Use of Jury Instructions in Construction Cases
• Past Performance Questionnaires Discussed at Local SBA
• Government Contracts Update – SBA Proposes to Liberalize Subcontracting and Joint Venture Rules on Set-Aside Contracts
• Virginia’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Laws – 2014 Reform and Beyond
• Government Contracts Update – DoD Shortens Time for Contractor Comments to Past Performance Evaluations
• Government Contracts Update – January 7, 2014
• Government Contacts Update – Teaming Agreement Ruled an Unenforceable “Agreement to Agree” by Virginia Federal Court
• Create a Winning Team: How to Negotiate a Successful Subcontract
• Government Contracts Update – Final Rule Implementing Executive Order Regarding Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts Become Effective January 18, 2013
• Create a Winning Team: How to Negotiate a Successful Teaming Agreement
• Government Contracts Update – Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Changing to New System – System For Award Management (SAM)
• Get on the Joint Venture Train – Small Business Joint Ventures for Government Contractors
• Learn the Rules of the Federal Contracting Game for Small Business
• Government Contracts Update – New Regulations Allow Public Access to Sensitive Government Contractor Information
• Government Contracts & Construction Update – New Virginia Laws Affecting the Construction Industry
• A Contractor’s License: Who Needs One and Why
• Government Contracts Update – SBA Issues Final Rule on Limitation on Subcontracting