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GAO Ups the Ante on Biased Ground Rules OCIs

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.15.10

In Energy Systems Group (Feb. 26, 2010), GAO found that the agency had acted reasonably in excluding the protester from the competition because of concerns about a biased ground rules organizational conflict of interest ("OCI") when protester had previously prepared a feasibility study in anticipation of a potential sole-source award upon which the agency relied to develop approximately 80% of the requirements for the competitive procurement at issue. GAO rejected protester's arguments that (i) at the time protester prepared the feasibility study, a competitive procurement was not anticipated and, therefore, the study could not affect an unanticipated competition; (ii) protester was unaware that the feasibility study might be incorporated into the requirements for the competitive procurement; and (iii) the feasibility study was released to all prospective offerors.

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Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.23.24

DOJ Promises NPAs to Certain Individuals Through New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Pilot Program

On April 15, 2024, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Nicole Argentieri announced a new Pilot Program on Voluntary Self-Disclosure for Individuals (“Pilot Program” or “Program”). The Pilot Program offers a clear path for voluntary self-disclosure by certain corporate executives and other individuals who are themselves involved in misconduct by corporations, in exchange for a Non-Prosecution Agreement (“NPA”). The Pilot Program specifically targets individuals who disclose to the Criminal Division at DOJ in Washington, D.C. information about certain corporate criminal conduct. By carving out a clear path to non-prosecution for those who qualify, DOJ has created another tool to uncover complex crimes that might not otherwise be reported to the Department. ...

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