Government Contracts

Featured Publication:

Back Again: U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers [Alert]

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts Rule is back in effect and will apply to all new SCA-covered solicitations and contracts issued after February 12, 2024.

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Contracting with the government — whether it be federal, state, or local government — presents a unique set of complexities. Navigating those complexities often requires counsel experienced in the full life cycle of a government contract. Cozen O’Connor has an interdisciplinary team of Government Contracts attorneys ready to assist clients in all phases of the process.  

Our team includes lawyers who have held high-level positions and handled procurement throughout government, including former senior lawyers in offices of state attorneys general; those who have served in federal administrative agencies; the former Chief Operating Officer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and senior vice president and general counsel of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Our Government Contracts attorneys have experience with a wide range of industries and related state and federal agencies, including construction, professional services, defense, health care, engineering, technology, maritime, aviation, and transportation. We regularly work with lawyers in our Construction, Transportation and Trade, and White Collar Defense & Investigations groups and leverage lawyers in these practices when government contracts issues arise that would require their unique skillsets.

Our services include the following:

  • analyzing procurement schemes and solicitations;
  • assisting with developing capture strategies;
  • preparing proposals and bids;
  • assessing requirements imposed by labor standards statutes (such as the Davis-Bacon Act and Service Contract Act) as well as Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) obligations;
  • conducting negotiations with contracting agencies;
  • protesting deficiencies or ambiguities in government solicitations before bids or best and final offers;
  • protesting or defending the award process;
  • conducting due diligence for M&A transactions;
  • novating contracts;
  • negotiating change orders;
  • assessing a wide range of government compliance issues, including the effect of relevant statutes or actions by government agencies on contract performance;
  • handling contract disputes arising during performance; and
  • defending clients facing suspension, debarment or other punitive measures.

Throughout our decades of experience, we have successfully represented clients in bid protests before the General Accountability Office (GAO) and contract disputes before contracting officers, boards of contract appeals, and various state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. For example, the GAO sustained a protest we brought that challenged certain technical restrictions in a U.S. Forest Service solicitation for aerial firefighting services. Our attorneys recently successfully resolved a matter at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) involving a multimillion-dollar termination for convenience claim. One of our attorneys also recently resolved, with no adverse findings to the client, a DOL Wage & Hour Service Contract Act compliance audit involving thousands of employees with the potential risk of millions of dollars of back wages. We also have substantial experience with debarment and suspension proceedings, including representing a very large Philadelphia-based company in proceedings with the General Services Administration, as well as experience handling high-stakes investigations alleging violations of federal procurement statutes including the False Claims Act.

Our team also helps clients cut through the tangle of red tape that can make the government contracting process seem unnavigable, from the initial decision to pursue a contract, to crafting the proposal, to bid protests and beyond. With respect to new procurements, our Government Contracts attorneys work alongside Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies professionals to help clients identify opportunities at every level of government. We know which members have discretionary funds to allocate, what legislative or executive decisions will ultimately lead to new funding, and when programs are likely to be renewed. Our strength lies in understanding the procurement process, pulling all the pieces together, and developing short- and long-term strategies that benefit our clients every step of the way.

 

The firm has notable experience across the government contracts space, including guiding clients through protests and compliance matters. It has particular strength acting for construction clients.
Chambers USA 2024
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Experience

Publications

Thompson May Give Defendants New Tools to Fight False Claims Act Charges [Alert]

June 24, 2025

Arthur Fritzinger, James Mahady, and Calli Padilla discuss the recent Thompson Supreme Court ruling, which may help resolve the circuit split on the Anti-Kickback Statute.

U.S. Court of International Trade Enjoins IEEPA Tariffs, But Federal Circuit Stays the Injunctions [Alert]

May 30, 2025

Micah Myers and Brett Crow discuss the recent updates and decisions regarding Trump-era tariffs imposed under the IEEPA.

DOJ Establishes Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Targeting Corporate DEI Programs and Antisemitism [Alert]

May 21, 2025

The White Collar team discusses the DOJ's new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which leverages the False Claims Act to combat discrimination by federal fund recipients.

The End of the Small Business Set Aside Programs? DOT Issues New Guidance Letter [Alert]

May 12, 2025

Larry Prosen, Eric Leonard, and Adam Poliner discuss the DOT's notice to grant recipients about new interpretations of DEI policies and potential consequences for failure to comply.

And Here We Go – Reformation of the FAR Directed by Executive Order [Alert]

April 17, 2025

Larry Prosen and Eric Leonard discuss President Trump's Executive Order to streamline the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

ABSCA: $1.1 Million Reduction Appropriate For Unapproved Foreign-Flag Vessel Use [Alert]

April 07, 2025

Geof Ferrer and Matthew Howell discuss a decision by the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals penalizing a contractor for failure to use a U.S.-flag vessel in Bahrain.

FedRAMP Update – New Approach(es) to Authorization on the Way [Alert]

April 02, 2025

Eric Leonard, with the assistance of Kristina Zaslavskaya, discusses the General Services Administration launch of FedRAMP 20x, which is a new initiative designed to create a new framework for the authorization and assessment of cloud services for the federal government.

An Executive Order that Makes Sense (sort of) [Alert]

March 24, 2025

Prosen and Leonard discuss President Trump's Executive Order No. 14240 titled “Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement.”

Government Contractors: It’s Time to Get Comfortable With Change [HR Dive]

March 19, 2025

Eric Leonard and Rachel Schwartz contributed an article to HR Dive discussing the need for government contractors to be prepared for robust changes to federal contracting requirements during the current administration.

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In The News

Ten Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 03, 2025

Seven attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and three were named Rising Stars, a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

The Undoing of Biden’s Wage-Hour Legacy Has Begun

May 14, 2025

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the Trump administration’s decision to no longer enforce the Biden-era rule that raised the minimum wage for federal contractors.

Josephine Bahn 2025 Leadership in Law Honoree Profile

April 16, 2025

Josephine Bahn was featured in a Daily Record Leaders in Law Awards honoree profile discussing her legal career.

Federal Contract Issues May Lead to W&H Suits, Lawyer Says

March 26, 2025

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was interviewed in a Law360 article discussing what the rescission of Executive Order 14026 means for contractors and their wage obligations.

Josephine M. Bahn: A Big Dreamer and A Strong Mother

March 26, 2025

Josephine Bahn was featured in a Girl Power Talk article discussing her journey in the legal industry.

Trump Revokes Fed. Contractor Wage Order That Led To Suits

March 19, 2025

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing President Donald Trump’s recission of Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14026, which increases the federal wage for federal contract workers.

Limits On Biden's Contracting Power Could Also Hinder Trump

January 23, 2025

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing President Donald Trump’s executive order to revoke an Equal Employment Opportunity executive order and mandate that DEI requirements be removed from federal procurement programs.

Gov't Contracts Cases To Watch In 2025

January 01, 2025

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.’s (ABC) challenge to a U.S. Department of Labor regulation changing how prevailing wages paid under federally funded construction projects are calculated under the Davis-Bacon Act.

Top Gov't Contracts Cases Of 2024

December 23, 2024

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ attempt to resolicit Maximus Federal Services Inc.’s deal to insert an LHA clause.

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Contacts

Eric Leonard

Co-Chair, Government Contracts

eleonard@cozen.com

(202) 280-6536

People

Awards

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Larry Prosen Named to Law360's 2022 Construction Editorial Advisory Board

April 07, 2022

Larry Prosen, member of the firm's Construction Law Group, has been named to Law360’s 2022 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

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