Blank Rome partner Stephanie M. Harden will serve as a panel moderator at the American Bar Association (“ABA”) Section of Public Contract Law’s 2025 Federal Procurement Institute, being held April 2 through 4, 2025, in Annapolis, Maryland. Dominique L. Casimir is a Conference Co-Chair and Blank Rome is pleased to be a Gold Sponsor.
Stephanie’s session, “Five Years Later, COVID-Related Fraud and Claim Recovery Are Still a Challenge,” will take place on Thursday, April 3, from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
ABOUT THE SESSION
COVID impacted all aspects of procurement and the impacts are still being felt today. Investigations and prosecution are increasing in False Claims Act investigations related to loans issued under the Paycheck Protection Program and other CARES Act stimulus programs. The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) created two strike forces to target pandemic relief fraud. While the DOJ is investigating fraud, contractors struggle to recover the increased costs associated with COVID through Requests for Equitable Adjustments and claims. The impacts are significant and widespread and impact labor productivity, contract delays, escalation of material costs, and other increased costs throughout the supply chain. This diverse panel discussion will address steps that the DOJ and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery are taking to address pandemic fraud and the extent to which investigations are pursued because of compliance issues rather than fraud. The panel will also discuss recent cases in the recovery of increased costs due to COVID, the economic adjustment clause, and recommendations to increase the likelihood of recovering impacts due to COVID.
Panelists:
- Moderator: Stephanie M. Harden, Partner, Government Contracts, Blank Rome LLP, Washington, D.C.
- Kent Kiffner, Vice President, Legal, Government Solutions US, KBR, Inc., Columbus, OH
- Douglas L. Patin, Partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Washington, D.C.
Other sessions include:
- To Infinity and Beyond: Unique Government Contracting Issues and the Space Industry
- Procurement Policy Priorities under the Trump 2.0 Administration
- Debriefings Masterclass: Perspectives and Practical Advice for Maximizing the Effectiveness of Federal Agency Debriefings
- Lessons Learned from CHIPS, IRA, and IIJA for Government Supported Construction and Infrastructure Projects
- Lessons Learned from CHIPS, IRA, and IIJA for Government Supported Construction and Infrastructure Projects
- Lessons Learned from CHIPS, IRA, and IIJA for Government Supported Construction and Infrastructure Projects
The Institute will also feature a Fireside Chat with The Honorable David L. Norquist, President & CEO, National Defense Industrial Association, focused on current trends impacting the defense industrial base, including expected impacts from changes in federal defense policy and funding levels and potential areas of growth or decline looking to the future.
CLE credit is available.
For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage.
