Contract Claims 101: The Fundamentals of Contract Administration Disputes
Maximizing Recovery: Tactics for Stop Work REAs and Termination Proposals
As we previewed in our prior alert, on May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget proposed an overhaul of 2 CFR 200 et seq., the “Uniform Guidance,” which governs federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other...more
On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), joined by more than 40 federal agencies, published a sweeping proposed rule that would revise the government-wide Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost...more
Contractors working with federal agencies are governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), which has its own body of case law that controls recovery for legal disputes separate from traditional theories. When...more
With almost 300 college coaches being paid more than $1,000,000 in annual compensation, it’s no wonder that when a divorce from their employer occurs, it makes the headlines. ...more
Even with diligent performance, government contractors frequently encounter issues related to contract changes, government-caused delays and unexpected terminations that can significantly impact a project's cost and schedule....more
The Contract Disputes Act (CDA) provides the framework governing contract disputes between contractors and the government. Understanding the claims process is vital to better position contractors before moving forward into...more
The Court of Appeal’s judgment in Zaha Hadid Limited v. The Zaha Hadid Foundation concerns the question of whether parties to a contract of indefinite term have a right of termination....more
On March 26, 2026, the Trump Administration issued a sweeping Executive Order targeting DEI policies, alongside DOJ’s plan to use the False Claims Act (FCA) to challenge such practices. The result: heightened scrutiny,...more
Last month, PilieroMazza’s REAs, Claims, and Appeals Group published the first blog in its “Contract Claims 101” series, introducing federal contractors to the basics of requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), claims, and...more
A founder-focused look at how to negotiate termination clauses and build flexible contract terms in CPG vendor and service agreements. In the fast-moving world of consumer-packaged goods (CPG), founders make big bets early....more
On January 16, 2026, Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth issued a directive to all Department of Defense agencies and departments to review all small business sole source awards and set-aside awards above $20 million in...more
"It is well-settled that a terminated contractor's recovery is limited to the contract price, less the monies already paid to the contract during performance, plus settlement expenses. In addition, it is well-settled that, if...more
Executive orders have led to an increase in stop-work orders and terminations for convenience, creating significant challenges for government contractors. Understanding how to navigate these changes and optimize recovery is...more
What happens to your contract administration disputes—such as termination settlement proposals (TSPs), requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), claims, and appeals—pending before Contracting Officers (COs), the Boards of...more
In addition to reviewing your commercial contracts for how new or increased tariff costs are allocated, another key area to evaluate is whether either party has the right to terminate the contract. If one party gets upside...more
In its continuous drive to alter business as usual, the federal government has made many changes this year to the way it manages financial assistance (grants and cooperative agreements). Executive Order 14332, “Improving...more
The Department of Energy (DOE) has recently terminated or suspended a number of high-profile energy grants, withdrawing more than $3.7 billion in commitments for projects involving carbon capture, decarbonization, and...more
Key Takeaways - - Executive Order (EO) 14332 on “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking” reshapes the federal discretionary grant landscape by embedding ideological oversight, performance accountability, and political...more
Directs federal agencies to overhaul their grant processes by requiring senior appointees to rigorously review discretionary grants and funding announcements for alignment with national interests and agency priorities. It...more
The Department of Government Efficiency’s (“DOGE”) scrutiny of federal contracts has resulted in a spike in notices of termination for convenience. Given DOGE’s broad mandate to reduce federal spending, we expect a sustained...more
The first months of the Trump Administration have seen a flurry of executive orders related to government contracts. Many of these executive orders – as well as public statements by heads of federal agencies or the Department...more
The Trump administration, as part of its efforts to reshape the federal government, began terminating federal contracts for the convenience of the government almost immediately after coming back to town. These contract...more
A flurry of presidential directives, agency communications, and court orders has left federal contract and grant recipients with operational disruptions and in a state of confusion. As we write, it has been difficult to...more
A recent Tenth Circuit ruling in an appeal successfully defended by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck affirmed a lower court judgment arising from a termination for convenience. This decision serves as support to contractors...more