Debriefing and Protests in Federal Government Contracts

AMY M. KIRBY is an Associate in the Federal Construction Group and focuses her practice on government construction litigation. Amy’s practice includes a wide variety of federal construction matters. She provides support to clients during all stages of contract management from assisting with the preparation of contract proposals through negotiating final contract close­out and beyond. Specifically, Amy assists clients with preparation of proposals and bids, as well as representing their interests related to pre and post award bid protests. She advises clients on various issues that arise during contract performance such as differing site conditions, changes, and defective specifications. Amy works with clients on all manner of contract concerns including payment issues, requests for equitable adjustments, claims, and terminations for both convenience and default. She represents clients in dispute resolution at the contractor level, as well as appeals before the various Boards of Contract Appeals, the Court of Federal Claims and various state and federal courts.

Prior to joining Cohen Seglias, Amy was an Assistant Public Defender in Portsmouth, VA. During her time with the Public Defender’s Office, Amy tried numerous jury trials gaining extensive litigation experience. Prior to her time in the Public Defender’s Office, Amy worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Winchester, VA. Litigation was Amy’s primary focus while with the Corps of Engineers, where she worked on numerous appeals before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals as well as protests with the Government Accountability Office.

MARIA L. PANICHELLI is a Partner in the Firm’s Construction and Federal Contracting Groups. As a member of the Federal Group, Maria represents a national client base of prime and sub­contractors, with a focus on federal construction contracting, and small business procurement issues.

Maria's practice spans a variety of federal contracting matters, including bid protests, REAs, contract claims, and appeals. She has represented clients before numerous Federal agencies, the Government Accountability Office, and various Federal and state courts, and has litigated cases covering a wide range of construction-related issues such as defective designs, defective specifications, differing site conditions, changes, suspensions, delays, and contract terminations. Maria frequently counsels clients with regards to compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations, Prompt Payment Act, and False Claims Act.

Maria also counsels clients in all aspects of small business procurement. Having acquired substantial experience with the government's 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB and HUBZone small business programs, Maria provides effective assistance to clients applying for small business status, or competing for small business program set­aside contracts. Maria further specializes in small business eligibility issues. She has successfully challenged negative agency findings with regard to clients’ SDVOSB and 8(a) eligibility, and successfully defeated size and status related bid protests brought by competitors. Maria has considerable experience drafting teaming and joint venture agreements, and advising small business clients with regard to potential affiliation problems and subcontracting requirements. Her small business practice also involves drafting corporate governance documents that will comply with small business program eligibility requirements.

Prior to joining Cohen Seglias, Maria handled complex commercial and corporate litigation before the Delaware Chancery Court.

Maria is active in a number of federal contracting­ and/or construction-­related professional associations, and is a frequent contributor to the Firm's Federal    Construction Contracting Blog. She works closely with several Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, providing educational content for a variety of government contractors. Maria is also a community partner at Govology, a legal content contributor to VetLikeMe, Targetgov, and Onvia, and a faculty member at the Government  Contracting  Institute.