GSA Schedule Contracts: Opportunities and Legal Risks
Complying With Complex Federal Regulations and Avoiding False Claims Act Violations
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A
Conducted on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Recorded event now available
This CLE webinar will provide guidance for counsel to companies pursuing or engaged in General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contracts on the complex rules and requirements governing GSA contracting. The panel will offer best practices for developing internal controls to ensure and monitor contract compliance.
Description
The federal government, through its General Services Administration (GSA), spends billions of dollars annually contracting with commercial suppliers and service providers for the purchase of goods and services. Companies seeking to enter the federal marketplace often pursue GSA Schedule contracts.
GSA Schedule contracts can be lucrative for companies. However, there are risks due to complex legal and regulatory requirements and ongoing governmental scrutiny. Noncompliance with contracting rules has triggered a number of False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuits.
By carefully analyzing the potential risks prior to the contract award and establishing compliance processes and controls, companies can minimize the risk of noncompliance with GSA Schedule contract requirements and avoid FCA violations.
Listen as our panel of government contracts attorneys discusses recent legal developments in GSA Schedule contracting, explains the unique requirements and legal risks of entering into GSA Schedule contracts, and provides best practices for ensuring contract compliance and mitigating risk.
Outline
- GSA Schedule contracting process
- Proposal process
- Prerequisites for obtaining GSA Schedule contract
- Pre-award audits
- Extension process
- Areas with high risk for non-compliance and recommended compliance strategies
- Commercial sales practices (CSP) disclosures
- Price reductions clause (PRC)
- Trade Agreements Act (TAA)
- Unapproved item sales
- Employee qualifications
- GSA Schedule contracting — recent developments
- Post-award audits
- Contractor assistance audits
- False Claims Act allegations
- Aggressive federal investigations
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- What are the key advantages of pursuing GSA Schedule contracts?
- What are the potential legal pitfalls in GSA Schedule contracting?
- What lessons can be learned from recent False Claims Act cases filed against or settled by GSA Schedule contractors?
- How can GSA Schedule contractors and their counsel ensure compliance with the various relevant regulatory requirements and minimize legal risks?
Faculty
J. Catherine Kunz,
Partner
Crowell & Moring, Washington, D.C.
Her practice involves both counseling and litigating on behalf of clients in a range of government contract law areas, including GSA Schedule contracting, contract claims and disputes, fraud and abuse, cost accounting issues, purchasing and subcontracting, and federal healthcare contracting. She speaks and writes frequently on government contracts topics.
Holly A. Roth,
Partner
Manatt Phelps & Phillips, Washington, D.C.
She advises clients on a broad range of federal, state, and local government contract, subcontract, federal assistance, grant, and related regulatory compliance issues. She has extensive experience with GSA Schedule contracts, commercial contracts, firm fixed-price contracts, and cost-plus contracts with the federal government as well as commercial domestic and international commercial contracts.
Kevin J. Maynard,
Partner
Wiley Rein, Washington, D.C.
He represents clients in federal, state and local procurement matters, including contract claims and disputes, bid protests, government investigations and audits, civil false claims act actions and compliance issues. He has expertise on issues relating to the government's acquisition of commercial products and services under FAR Part 12, as well as issues relating to GSA Schedule contracts.
Ordering
Online CLE - Audio Recording
Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).
CLE:
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Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, GA, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
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(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)
Online CLE Audio $297.00
Available 24 hours after the live event
Recorded Event
Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).
CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, GA, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)
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Available three business days after the live event
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plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event
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Available 24 hours after the live event
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Available ten business days after the live event
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