Government Contracts

Government contractors often face complex legal concerns and added scrutiny on their operations. Phelps supports service providers before and after the bid, guiding them through agency interactions, employment issues and vendor and subcontractor partnerships. Our team navigates procurements, regulations and disputes to help clients stay competitive and compliant.

When agencies turn to private industry to fill operational gaps, clients rely on Phelps to steer them through highly regulated bid processes. We connect civilian professionals and government agencies to secure competitive contracts. Our firm grasp on contracting officer goals and protocols helps to cut through the red tape and build successful bids. We also protect clients’ interests – including intellectual property rights – through carefully drafted agreements.

Contract Management and Compliance

Federal and state contracts also bring added compliance risks. We partner with defense contractors, aviation and aerospace leaders, and other government service providers to keep them up to date on precise performance and reporting requirements. Our team also includes employment lawyers who are well-versed in handling workplace issues specific to government contractors.

We also negotiate power purchase agreements between agencies and innovative energy suppliers. We manage these ongoing relationships to secure infrastructure investments and project approvals, including for renewable power plans.

Agency Actions and Disputes

Our team brings deep experience resolving disputes stemming from these contracts–whether between contractors and regulators or among competitors and subcontractors. We pursue and defend claims in state and federal court and administrative hearings to safeguard fair bid processes and contract administration.

Services

Bid protests and disputes
Business development
Contract and funding procurement
Cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs)
Government relations and public-private partnerships
Employment issues
Energy supply agreements
False Claims Act and procurement fraud claims
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliance
Government claims and terminations
Government contract formation, negotiation and disputes
Intellectual property protection
Intercompany issues pre- and post-bid
Subcontractor negotiations and disputes
Teaming agreements

Experience

$90M

Contract Disputes

Secured defense verdict for government contractor and its principals in trial stemming from $90 million contract award by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Obtained an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, some of which were recouped through plaintiff’s post-trial bankruptcy.

Bid Protest Hearings

Prosecuted bid protest before the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings for one of the largest emergency fuel providers against the Florida Department of Transportation, resulting in rejection of all bids prior to final hearing.

Competitor Challenges

Achieved dismissal of defense contractor in trade secret misappropriation action filed after a competitor submitted rival bids for the U.S. Air Force’s Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) and Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) program.

Federal actions

Classified Defense Contracts

Served as defense counsel in federal white collar criminal prosecution over claims of defense contracting fraud, resulting in favorable plea. Maintained active security clearance for purposes of representation.

Regulatory Approvals

Represented a major utility in various rate proceedings before state regulatory commission, including rate cases, tariff filings, power purchase approvals and territorial disputes.