If the first rule of proposal writing is “give the agency the information it asks for,” the most important corollary is “make the proposal easy to understand.” In other words, clarity and consistency is key; avoid anything in your proposal that might raise questions, confuse the evaluators, or otherwise detract from your message that you
Helping individuals, companies, and organizations understand key legal and practical considerations for promoting compliance and making better business decisions in these types of federal, state, and local government contracting matters MORE

Eric Whytsell
A natural problem solver, Eric enjoys helping clients assess, understand, and develop and implement practical strategies to address complicated issues relating to government contracts, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and export controls.
Two Kinds of False Claims, the Same Bad Outcome
Leo Tolstoy famously began his 1877 novel Anna Karenina with the observation, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Much the same could be said of government contractors that find themselves in hot water relating to false claims. Two recent settlements by government contractors remind us that there…
Another (Minor) Step in the Evolution of Section 889(a)(1)(B) Obligations
In the latest development relating to the implementation of Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019, a second interim rule was issued on August 27, 2020. We previously reported on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Interim Final Rule on Section 889(a)(1)(B)’s aspects of the ban, which applies to government contractors whether…
DNI Apparently Has Granted DoD A Limited Temporary Waiver of Section 889 Implementation
Government contractors have been closely watching developments in the implementation of Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019, which bans government contractors’ use and provision of telecommunications and video surveillance products and services from Huawei, ZTE, and other identified Chinese companies. The Administration has previously determined that the equipment and services…
You Challenge the Award, You Best Come Ready to Play
Just as in golf swings, your follow-through in Government Accountability Office (GAO) protests can mean the difference between success and failure. And if you don’t have a solid argument to bolster your protest grounds, you might want to rethink bringing them in the first place. The recent GAO decision in U.S. Electrodynamics, Inc., B-418574.2;…