The current COVID-19 outbreak has raised several questions within the government contracting community. From canceled events, to closed facilities, to strains on supply chains; government contractors are having contingency plans put to the test. As companies scramble to interpret force majeure clauses within their commercial contracts, the question Public Spend Forum is looking to answer is, “What are the rights and responsibilities of companies in this current atmosphere, under their government contract terms?”
In this recorded “Training When It Matters” virtual roundtable, we bring together legal experts from some of the leading government contracts firms to discuss how companies should be protecting themselves in the current environment.
With the help of these experts, we will discuss:
- What are the differences from a typical force majeure clause in a commercial transaction and similar provisions in a government contract?
- What actions vendors should be taking to protect themselves in the current environment?
- Can companies be excused from their government contracts?
- Can companies insure against these types of events and is such insurance an allowable cost in the public arena?
- If companies act preemptively and self-cancel performance, what issues does that cause?
- If it comes down to litigation, how can companies best protect their interests?
