Government Contracts
Preeminent Choice for Government Contracts
Government contractors have a unique set of legal needs that require an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the bidding process, claims and government investigations, to name only a few. For more than 45 years, Watt Tieder’s Government Contracts practice has provided comprehensive government contracts legal counseling and litigation services to clients from a broad range of industries of all sizes.
Watt Tieder has a deep bench of lawyers with government contracts experience that regularly help companies navigate the challenges associated with work from federal, state and local governments, and municipalities. Watt Tieder’s clients receive one-on-one attention and efficient legal expertise—saving time and money, and securing results.
At the heart of the federal government
Based in the Washington, DC area, Watt Tieder is just steps away from the heart of the federal government. Our five offices in the United States and international resources mean that a Watt Tieder lawyer is never far away.
We work with companies of all sizes—from Fortune 500 to small businesses. Our goal is always the same: to help ensure our clients’ success.
What We Do
We partner with our clients to provide a broad range of services related to government contracts:
Contract Formation and Bid Protests
We advise clients with regard to the FAR state and local procurement regulations and interpretation of the terms and conditions of solicitations. We also assist in the negotiation and contents of teaming agreements, subcontracts, joint venture agreements, and license terms and conditions.
We represent clients in bid protests in all bid protest forums, including advice on agency level protests and representation of protesters and awardees before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Dispute Resolution, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on all manner of procurements and across all industries.
We represent clients pursuing protests or claims against various state and local entities, including the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) and the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA).
Contract administration and performance issues
Claims and Disputes
We work with clients to avert disputes with all project participants – the government, joint venture partners and subcontractors – by providing reasonable and objective advice, oftentimes as the project is ongoing. When claims and disputes occur, we represent our clients in all aspects of the preparation, presentation and negotiation of appropriate and comprehensive change orders requests, claims, and terminations for convenience proposals.
We have represented clients in litigation before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the United States Court of Federal Claims. We also regularly provide advice on resolution of prime-subcontractor disputes and represent clients on these disputes in federal and state courts and in ADR proceedings.
Compliance and Enforcement
We provide advice regarding the development and update of government compliance programs, as well as the self-disclosure decisions and processes. Watt Tieder attorneys frequently assess corporate compliance programs and offer a wide array of in-house seminars to assist in training employees engaged in administering government contracts. We have assisted clients responding to government investigations, including false claims, false statements, program fraud and special pleas in qui tam lawsuits.
Newsletters and Client Alerts
Watt Tieder helps clients stay at the forefront of government contracts developments that impact their business. Watt Tieder regularly publishes a newsletter that provides in-depth insight and analysis on regulatory changes and board and court decisions that are significant to the government contracting community. Our lawyers regularly provide individualized client alerts based on their subject matter expertise and recent developments.