'No Prejudice' Response to Protest of Past Performance Evaluation Tantamount to Concession of Error
Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 07.31.14
In a recent decision, GAO sustained Native Resource Dev. Co.'s protest that its past performance should have been rated Outstanding given the undisputed record of the agency's superlative written findings. GAO held that the agency's response, which was solely that if the protester's past performance merited a higher rating, then so did the awardee's, was "tantamount to a concession" that it could not defend its assignment of a Satisfactory rating and dismissed the agency's findings about the essential equivalency of protester's and awardee's past performance as merely a post hoc argument to be given little weight.
Contacts
Insights
Client Alert | 14 min read | 03.13.26
AI for Government: 7 Days for Contractor Comments on GSA Proposed Contract Clause for AI Systems
On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a significant proposed contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems (“Clause”), for inclusion in GSA Schedule solicitations and contracts for AI capabilities. The proposed clause would impose substantial new requirements related to AI sources, intellectual property rights, data use, change management, and performance standards. The Clause would also take precedence over any other contract terms (including commercial licensing terms) related to AI, including a Seller’s terms of sale and service to which the Government had previously agreed. GSA requests comments by March 20, 2026.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 03.12.26
DOJ Releases First-Ever Department-Wide Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy
Client Alert | 3 min read | 03.12.26


