Topics to Watch for in 2016

January 27, 2016

5 things contractors should care about in 2016

Source: Federal News Radio, Meredith Somers, January 18, 2016

Calendar 2016 is in full swing and the fiscal year is nearly a third of the way through, but it’s not too late for government contractors to get ahead of the new year.

Recently, the Washington law firm Crowell & Moring hosted a webinar on topics ranging from acquisitions to intellectual property rights. Here’s a look at some of what contractors should keep their eyes on and ears turned to in 2016.

An election year

Angela Styles, chairwoman of Crowell & Moring and co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts Group, said there were some good things on the horizon as the November elections approach.

“It really seems to be a calm election season from the government contracting perspective,” Style said. “Unlike other presidential election years, you’re not seeing contractors or fraud on the forefront, which I think is very good news for contractors, and I would expect it to stay that way.”

Sequestration limits also have been lifted, Styles said, so contractors won’t be under the same kind of funding constraints they were under in the last few years.

But Styles said there are also likely to be more regulations taking effect this year. President Barack Obama issued several executive orders, so “these are going to have to be implemented. So, we’re going to expect in the last year of this administration, the implementation and final rules for those regulations.”

Styles said contractors are likely to see an increased trend in enforcement.

“Whether that’s the [inspectors general] or the Department of Justice or the U.S. Attorney’s [Office], we are continuing to see increased investigations in enforcement,” Styles said. “We don’t really see an end to that at the moment.”   Read More …

With 2016 being an election year, there are topics that government contractors need to be aware. Contact your nearest PTAC for more information.

 

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