Government Contracts

Caitlin K. Cloonan is counsel in the Government Contracts practice group. Her practice focuses on federal procurement law, encompassing all aspects of federal government contracts law, including litigation, compliance, bid protests, claims, suspension and debarment, and contract administration issues. Ms. Cloonan has experience with these issues before the Government Accountability Office, the US Court of Federal Claims, and the Boards of Contract Appeals. She also works with both large and small businesses and has extensive experience handling prime contractor and subcontract administration matters, including teaming arrangements, performance disputes, intellectual property issues, and claims.

Ms. Cloonan also counsels companies on compliance obligations relating to federal contracts. She has assisted clients responding to audits and investigations by federal agencies including the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Ms. Cloonan also assists clients with internal investigations and offers guidance on mandatory disclosure.

Ms. Cloonan also regularly advises small business clients on a variety of issues before the Small Business Administration and the Office of Hearings and Appeals, including size protests, NAICS code challenges, affiliation concerns, and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) matters.

Ms. Cloonan has specific experience with federal defense procurement. Prior to practicing law, she worked as a defense analyst for the US Navy F/A-18 program, and as an F-22 acquisition analyst for the US Air Force Program Executive Office for Fighter and Bomber Programs. While at the Pentagon, Ms. Cloonan supported the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and has experience with a variety of program issues including foreign military sales, contract pricing, technology transfer, weapons system integration, acquisition budgeting and planning, public affairs strategy, and congressional hearing support.

Government Contracts Representative Matters

• Counseled a large government contractor during final settlement of a US $741 million contract, as well as subsequent DCAA audits and DOJ investigation.
• Assisted a large government contractor regarding federal investigation of cybersecurity compliance under the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), DOD Directives, and federal IT security requirements.
• Counseled a large multinational corporation on preparing termination settlement proposal following stop work and termination for convenience of multi-billion dollar defense contract.
• Assisted foreign ministry of defense regarding issues with defense equipment purchased through US foreign military sales.
• Analyzed regulatory requirements for a leading homeland security contractor developing devices to identify nuclear, explosive and narcotic materials.
• Appealed SBA's adverse size decision and attempt to remove company from the 8(a) Program; after two years, SBA withdrew its early graduation notice, rendering the appeal moot, allowing client to complete its full Program term

GAO Bid Protests

• Successfully protested award of a US$.5-billion procurement; as a result of protest, Army awarded one of the multiple award contracts to client.
• Successfully protested a Navy procurement for production of Towed Arrays; as a result of protest, Agency re-evaluated offerors and made award to client.
• Successfully protested procurement for security system for Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; agency offered corrective relief and re-solicited.
• Successfully protested the terms of the Department of Treasury procurement for general property forfeiture and seizures; obtained a significant subcontract for client with awardee.