How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line

Click here to view the recorded session. When government contractors receive an adverse decision from a contracting officer, it can be difficult to balance the costs, performance risks, and impact on future opportunities while considering litigation. Fortunately, the Boards of Contract Appeals (BCAs) offer an alternative to traditional court proceedings that may better align with your business goals. Join  PilieroMazza’s   Lauren Brier  and  Josie Farinelli  as they explore how the BCAs work and why they might be the right venue for your next appeal. This . . . Read More

How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line, Part 4

Government contractors, particularly small business contractors, often share that their experience with Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is costly and inefficient. This may be true of traditional ADR involving paid neutrals or mediation services, as often found in binding arbitration clauses within subcontracts. However, the stated goals of ADR before the Boards of Contract Appeals (BCA) are informality, expedience, and inexpensiveness. Where settlement negotiations fail but both the government and the contractor are still interested in resolving the dispute before a . . . Read More

How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line, Part 3

Generally, government contractors proceeding towards a Board of Contract Appeals (BCA) decision are wise to take the safe, traditional route. While it can be a long and winding road—engaging in pleadings, discovery, a hearing, and a decision—this process presents the least risk of getting lost. For risk-averse contractors whose priority is having their legal issues fully investigated, considered, and addressed by the BCAs, this is often the best strategy. However, in certain situations—e.g., when the parties urgently need the BCA’s . . . Read More

How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line, Part 2

This week, we take a closer look at how a government contractor ends up before a Board of Contract Appeals (BCA). CDA appeals don’t appear out of thin air—it can take months, if not years, for a dispute to morph into an appeal. The choices federal contractors make along the way have a tremendous impact on their chances of successful litigation before the BCA. In this installment of our four-part series, PilieroMazza’s GovCon attorneys walk through a typical CDA dispute . . . Read More

How the Boards of Contract Appeals Work—And Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line, Part 1

When faced with the prospect of appealing an adverse decision from a contracting officer, government contractors may wonder whether it’s possible to prioritize costs, performance ratings, and future prospective contracts while engaging in litigation. The Boards of Contract Appeals (BCAs) may suit those purposes, as they aim to provide federal contractors the opportunity to have their appeal heard before an independent board of administrative judges without the expense, timeline, and formality associated with traditional litigation at the Court of Federal . . . Read More

Navigating the Termination Threat of President Trump’s Latest DEI Executive Order for Government Contractors

On March 26, 2026, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) that all-but promises contract termination for federal contractors whose diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies are deemed non-compliant with the EO. The EO builds on the Administration’s ongoing scrutiny of DEI initiatives, following a May 2025 Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum signaling the use of the False Claims Act (FCA) to challenge DEI practices within federal contracting, higher education, and other federally funded entities. This blog specifically . . . Read More

Contract Claims 101: Common Disputes and How to Best Prepare for Them, Part 2

Last month,  PilieroMazza ’s  REAs, Claims, and Appeals Group  published the first blog in its “Contract Claims 101” series, introducing federal contractors to the basics of requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), claims, and appeals. This month, we’re analyzing the broad categories of contract administration disputes we expect to form the basis of federal contractors’ REAs, claims and appeals in 2026. In this second blog, we introduce federal contractors to disputes regarding stop work orders, terminations, and Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs), and how best to prepare at the . . . Read More

Contract Claims 101: REAs vs. Claims vs. Appeals, Part 1

What is a contract claim? How do I handle an issue with the government’s administration of my contract? Who do I contact when a project falls behind schedule, but it wasn’t my fault? These are common and critical questions that come up for government contractors—especially over the past year, in light of the Trump Administration’s sweeping changes to the federal acquisition landscape, an unprecedented federal government shutdown, and uncertainty surrounding award funding. In the coming months, PilieroMazza ’s REAs, Claims, and Appeals Group will publish a . . . Read More

Contracting Through the Long Haul: Maximizing Recovery During a Protracted Government Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown continues, contractors are left to grapple with growing uncertainty regarding whether certain costs are recoverable or whether certain work can be performed. Previous client alerts emphasized that maintaining open and consistent lines of communication with your contracting officers (CO) is critical. Although some COs may be furloughed and unavailable, it is imperative to establish a record of your decisions, and why you believe those decisions to be reasonable under the circumstances. This client alert: (1) . . . Read More