Richard Arnholt counsels companies, large and small, on the complex rules and regulations applicable to all types of agreements with government entities, whether federal, state, or municipal. In an era of increased budgetary pressures for contractors, Richard provides practical business and legal guidance to help clients efficiently navigate the minefield of government regulations applicable to procurement contracts, grants, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA), and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements.
Over the past two decades Richard has represented government contract clients in a wide range of issues. In particular, he has extensive experience counseling clients on the complex ethics and compliance obligations required of government contractors and grant recipients; assisting companies and individuals faced with suspension or debarment by a number of government agencies; filing and defending against bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Court of Federal Claims, and the Federal Circuit; and government contracts-related litigation such as prime/sub disputes and defending against False Claims Act (FCA) allegations.
His practice focuses on:
- Government Contracts Counseling & Litigation – Counseling contractors and subcontractors on implementing and upgrading ethics and compliance programs; conducting international investigations; and defending against allegations of non-compliance relating to FCA violations, procurement fraud and misconduct, counterfeit parts, organizational and personal conflicts of interest, post-government employment hiring restrictions, and the Buy America Act/Trade Agreements Act, among other issues.
- Suspension/Debarment – Representing companies from Fortune 25 multinationals to 8(a) small businesses and individuals in investigating and responding to suspension, proposed debarment and show cause notices issued by the Army, Air Force, Navy, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies. Richard has experience negotiating administrative agreements to resolve suspension and debarment actions, as well as upgrading compliance programs, engaging external monitors, and developing training programs that are often necessary elements of such agreements.
- Bid and Size Protests – Advising government contractors in numerous bid protests before the GAO, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the Federal Circuit. In addition, he has represented contractors in agency-level bid protests and in size protests before Small Business Administration Area (SBA) Offices and appeals before the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals. He has extensive experience representing clients both as interveners and protesters. Click here to review a list of Richard’s published bid protest decisions.
Prior to entering private practice, Richard served as a law clerk for the Honorable Mary Ellen Coster Williams of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
