Jim Phillips
Partner
Jim Phillips represents current and prospective federal contractors in a wide variety of federal contracting matters and arenas, including contract acquisition strategies, federal contract audits and investigations, effective federal compliance programs, and partnering and teaming strategies. Over the course of his more than 35-year career, Jim has also developed extensive experience with traditional government contracts work, including representing clients in bid protest proceedings, cost allowability reviews, contract disputes, and suspension and debarment proceedings. He is also highly experienced in assisting clients with establishing effective federal channel and distribution programs and agreements.
Jim frequently represents clients engaged in Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense healthcare contracting, including manufacturers and resellers of medical-surgical products, manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceuticals, and manufacturers and resellers of prosthetic devices. He regularly assists clients in understanding and navigating the complex frameworks and mechanisms by which VA and DOD agencies establish and maintain formularies for such products and manage and procure those products. Jim also assists clients in engaging effectively with DOD and VA prime vendors and other intermediaries. He frequently represents clients in their engagements with major VHA procurement organizations and program offices, including the VA’s Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), National Acquisition Center (NAC), and Denver Acquisition and Logistics Center (DALC), as well as DOD’s Defense Health Agency and DLA Troop Support Command.
Jim is a nationally recognized expert in both GSA and VA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and routinely represents clients on complex negotiation and compliance issues arising under FSS contracts. He is also highly knowledgeable and experienced with other federal interagency contract vehicles, including Alliant, STARS, SEWP, CIO-SP3, and OASIS.
In addition to his client representations, Jim is active in industry associations focused on federal procurement law, including the American Bar Association’s Public Contracts Section and the Coalition for Government Procurement.
Selected Experience
- Successfully resolved contract disputes and/or protests before every significant government contracts tribunal, including the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States District Courts, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Agency Board of Contract Appeals and the Government Accountability Office.
- Participated in and favorably resolved scores of contract audits as well Office of Inspector General audits and investigations on behalf of clients.
- Regularly assists with and resolves complex pricing and negotiation issues arising under both GSA and VA Federal Supply Schedule contracts.
- Regularly advises commercial companies on the establishment of systems and protocols for complying with federal unique requirements, including the FSS Price Reductions Clause.
- Successfully accomplished numerous internal investigations and mandatory disclosure submissions that resulted in clients being absolved of liability under the Federal False Claims Act.
- Successfully represented clients in proposed suspension and debarment proceedings.
- Extensive experience addressing performance and compliance issues related to medical product and pharmaceutical contracts awarded by both the VA and DLA.
- Far-reaching experience negotiating complex business agreements, including federal channel agreements, distribution and reseller agreements, software licensing and royalty agreements, teaming and subcontracting agreements.
Associations
- American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law
- Coalition for Government Procurement