The current COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the federal government to take drastic measures. It has altered many aspects of federal contracting for contractors and agencies alike. During these trying times, agencies also have the authority to streamline some contracting procedures. Let’s take a look.
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Did the FAR Plan For COVID-19? Yes, Sort of
There are not many people or organizations that can say they anticipated the spread of this pandemic disease that is confining million to their homes as part of stay in place orders and self quarantines.
Though the FAR Council did not foresee that the coronavirus and COVID-19 would trap contractors in their homes, it did anticipate that from time to time events completely out of the control of contractors may conspire to affect the performance of contracts—though perhaps not to this magnitude.
Continue readingOMB Offers Guidance to Agencies about Managing Contractors during COVID-19
Late last week, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo providing direction to agencies on how to best coordinate with and manage contractors as the nation presses through the disruption caused by COVID-19.
Below are some of the salient points.
Continue readingUncle Sam’s Strong Arm: Contracting Under the Defense Production Act
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to stretch Americans’ medical resources incredibly thin. From disposable face masks to respirators, there is real concern that current supplies will be insufficient to treat the anticipated influx of COVID-19 patients.
To address this problem, many have pointed to the Defense Production Act as a way to increase production of this essential equipment. This is largely because the Defense Production Act substantially modifies some of the core government contracting principals articulated in the FAR.
From a legal standpoint the Defense Production Act provides some extraordinary powers to the President to increase domestic production in time of crisis, powers that drastically differ from the procedures of the FAR. Importantly, these changes would only impact procurements conducted directly under Defense Production Act authority. For those businesses subject to its provisions, though, the differences could be quite stark.
Continue readingThe Coronavirus Stimulus Package Could do More for Small Business Contractors
Congress is expected to pass a huge coronavirus stimulus package in the coming days. While lobbyists and congressional staffers wrestle over the last bits and pieces to find their way in to the bill, there seems to be a pretty important group left out—small business federal contractors.
Continue readingAnnouncing the COVID-19 Contractors’ Toolkit
To address the unique challenges facing federal contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic, SmallGovCon is launching the COVID-19 Contractors’ Toolkit. The goal is to provide relevant and useful information for government contractors about contract requirements, best practices, and advocacy options.
While every business will have its own unique challenges, it’s our hope to offer general information to guide decision making for federal contractors in these unprecedented times.
Continue readingPreparing for the Worst
The hot topic of late—for good reason—is the coronavirus (or COVID-19), and its incredible impact on people and the world’s economy. It’s inescapable, and turning on the evening news can be downright scary.
We’re all concerned with how to protect our loved ones from the impact of this outbreak. But for business owners—particularly small business owners—those concerns are compounded by the fear of potential economic hardships that are almost certain to come.
In this post, we’ll discuss suggestions as to how a federal government contractor might prepare for disruptions caused by the coronavirus (or other calamities).
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