The U.S. government is the single largest buyer of goods and services in the world, and is a particularly steady source of business opportunities in both difficult economic times and in periods of strong economic expansion. State and local governments also purchase a wide array of services, construction and goods, particularly when spending allocated federal grant funds. Not surprisingly, the federal government, and virtually every state and local government, have established complex contracting and dispute-resolution regulations to serve the dual purposes of obtaining needed goods and services and protecting taxpayer funds. Alston & Bird’s government contracts attorneys are seasoned counselors and litigators who know and understand the complexities and challenges of doing business with federal, state and municipal governments. We provide strategic advice and counseling at every stage—and are successful because we have been on both sides—of the government/contractor relationship. We know what makes public agencies tick, which is crucial knowledge for a company trying to win or retain a public contract or trying to resolve disputes arising in connection with a government contract.

• Successfully represented a national health care company in a protest and suit concerning the improper award of an approximately $25 million public-employee health care contract. After a hearing before the court, the court reversed the improper award, granted each alleged ground for the appeal raised by counsel, and ordered the city to re-issue the RFP.
• Recently represented four co-defendants in a qui tam (False Claims Act) lawsuit alleging illegal sales of products to the federal government that do not comply with certain domestic source restrictions applicable to such sales. Obtained dismissal before filing an answer by successfully arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction under the so-called public disclosure and first-to-file bars, among other things. The relator subsequently waived his right to appeal in exchange for a waiver of costs.
  • Our expertise in domestic source requirements is unmatched. Just in this area, we have authored widely circulated articles, conducted internal investigations of manufacturing clients’ supply chains to address Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act compliance issues, conducted seminars and trainings of sales staff and senior executives, traveled with clients on customer sales visits where ARRA and Buy American restrictions were a key issue and defended False Claims Act investigations and lawsuits alleging noncompliance.
• Representing a national health insurer/administrator in litigation concerning the procurement of a multibillion-dollar set of state employee health benefits contracts.
• Represented a major telecommunications company in a Department of Labor Investigation into a Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage investigation arising out of a Recovery Act funded project.
• Recently represented a leading construction equipment supplier in the protest of a Virginia Department of Transportation award of a contract worth $25 million, which protest resulted in a reversal of the original award and a new award of the contract to the client.
• Represented an international construction firm in a claim arising out of the construction of a forensic laboratory for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Obtained a multimillion-dollar payment from the government in a settlement on the eve of trial.
• Serving as national coordinating counsel for one of the nation’s largest health care insurers, on state bid protests and open records litigation matters. Our role includes advising on pending RFPs, preparing for bid protests (as awardee/intervenor or as an unsuccessful offeror), addressing the protection of trade secrets and acting as lead counsel on government contracts-related litigation.
• Jeff Belkin recently served as a testifying expert on government contract issues in a criminal trial in New York City concerning a government contractor’s alleged fraud and misrepresentations in the pursuit of numerous government contracts. Mr. Belkin was qualified by the U.S. district judge as an expert in the field of government contracts, without objection, particularly on the areas of qualifications for Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) status. Both the prosecution and the defense quoted Mr. Belkin’s expert testimony in their closing statements.  

Please follow the links provided for additional detail on our expertise in: 

Bid Protests & Public Contract Award-Related Representations 
Advice to Contractors & Grant Recipients 
Public Contract Litigation 
Government Contract-Related Investigations and the False Claims Act 
Information Technology, IP and Research in the Government World 
Public Health Care Contracts
Public Construction 
State, Regional and Local Government Contracts 
P3 Matters