The Procurement Playbook

The termination for convenience clause arose at the end of the Civil War so the government could terminate construction contracts made during wartime once peace ensued, and not be liable for the contractor’s loss of anticipated profits.  The War (now Defense) Department continued to use this clause throughout the 19th […]

It is a common principle of contract interpretation that a court will not set aside the clear intent of the parties particularly when it comes to assignments or releases of claims. However, the unique legislative history of the Contract Disputes Act (“CDA”) grants the agency boards of contract appeals the […]

A recent case makes clear the importance of focusing on the fundamentals, such as knowing the rules on who the government is required to pay on a government contract.  In The Hanover Insurance v. United States, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently found that a surety’s letter to the […]

When a government contractor is terminated for reasons other than default, the response from the contractor is often to evaluate the contracting officer’s decision and rationale for the termination and determine if an appeal is warranted.  Government contractors sometimes appeal a contracting officer’s decision to terminate their contract by alleging […]

The nonmanufacturer rule is one of the more complicated small business rules.  Under 13 CFR § 121.406(b), a small business may qualify as a nonmanufacturer if it 1) does not exceed 500 employees; 2) is primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of item […]