Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition

The federal government has been and will likely continue to be the largest purchaser of construction services in the world. Because most construction lawyers will handle federal government contract cases at some point in their careers, Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition provides an invaluable guide through the myriad of federal government contract regulations, clauses, and case law can present problems and pitfalls for nongovernment contract practitioners.

Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition provides the construction practitioner with a strong understanding of the detailed regulations developed by the government that rule almost every aspect of construction contracting, from procurement of the construction services to final payment under the contract to the standard contract clauses that provide for a reasonable allocation of risk between the government and the contractor. Regulations governing compliance, and the prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse are also examined in this updated volume. Written by many of the top experts in government contracts and construction law, Federal Government Construction Contracts contains detailed analysis and citations in all areas of the government construction contract law.

Michael Branca is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Peckar & Abramson, P.C. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Construction and Public Contract Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and is a past Chair of the Government Contract Section of the Federal Bar Association. Mr. Branca received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from George Mason University. He regularly counsels his clients with respect to all aspects of government contract law including bid protests on the front end of projects and claims on the back end. He also handles contractor integrity and compliance issues and federal and state false claims act matters. Mr. Branca is the co-author of the Thomson West treatise Virginia Construction Law and also writes and lectures regularly on construction and government contract topics. January 2010

Paul Varela counsels clients in contract planning, administration, and complex dispute resolution matters nationally and internationally in the engineering and construction industry. His broad range of legal experience includes government and private data centers, roads, bridges, tall buildings, nuclear and conventional power facilities, environmental remediation, biomedical centers, energy and chemical projects, airports, professional sports stadiums, pharmaceutical projects, mass transit, and other heavy construction projects, as well as embassies and all types of general building design and construction.

Paul has extensive claims negotiation and prosecution experience with private as well as state and federal government entities, and his expertise includes EPC and design-build, P3, government contracts, suretyship, and international construction. Paul is an authority on federal government contracting issues spanning compliance, bid protests and claim preparation, pricing, and dispute resolution. He has represented clients nationwide in jury and bench trials, mediations, arbitrations (AAA, ICDR, ICC, and ad hoc), boards of contract appeals, dispute review boards, and state and federal court for both domestic and international disputes.  Paul has represented clients on international projects in countries as varied as Egypt, Ghana, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Dubai, Lebanon, Chile, Mexico, Honduras, Tanzania, Australia, Spain, Cuba and the United Kingdom.

Paul also frequently advises clients in key risk management issues. He has represented clients in the drafting and negotiation of complex engineering and construction contracts priced up to $8 Billion.

Bill Franczek is a partner with Vandeventer Black and is located in the Firm’s Norfolk VA office. Bill was formerly a civil construction engineer where he actively practiced for 8 years before attending law school. His current practice focuses on alternative dispute resolution, construction law and public contract law. His extensive background in the construction field includes commercial building projects, highway and rail projects, power plants, airports, and marine terminals.

Bill is also an arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association, serving on its National Panel of Construction Neutrals and Construction Mega Project Panel.  Bill currently serves as the Chair of the Division Chairs for the Forum, and is also a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers, and the College of Commercial Arbitrators.