Jennifer L. Plitsch

Jennifer Plitsch is special counsel in the firm’s Government Contracts practice group where her practice includes a wide range of contracting issues for large and small businesses in both defense and civilian contracting. Her practice involves advising clients on contract proposal, performance, and compliance questions as well as transactional and legislative issues. Her practice also includes bid protest and contract claims and appeals litigation before GAO, agency boards and the federal courts. She has particular expertise in advising clients on Federal Supply Schedule contracts, including the complex pricing requirements imposed on pharmaceutical products under the VA FSS.

Representative Matters

• Representation of contractor in competing for and performing various research and development contracts for development of vaccine technology and domestic production capacity with HHS as well as production contracts for various vaccine products with HHS, CDC and state governments.
• Representation of contractor in bid protest litigation at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims regarding Military Housing Privatization Initiative competitions.
• Representation of contractor in federal trial and appellate court litigation regarding novel issues arising under the Contract Disputes Act.
• Advice to various pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding Federal Ceiling Price calculations for sales on the Federal Supply Schedules administered by the VA as well as other questions arising in the performance of contracts under the VA Master Agreement.
• Representation of bioservices contractor in reviewing draft contracts and subcontracts with various government agencies as well as evaluating risk under its current portfolio of government contracts.

Previous Experience

• United States Department of the Treasury, General Counsel’s Office (General Law and Ethics and Enforcement Sections), Honors Attorney (1998-1999)

Honors and Rankings

• Charles F.C. Ruff Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2001)

Pro Bono

• Providing advice to the Washington Humane Society regarding the negotiation and performance of its contract with the D.C. Government.
• Providing regular training and informational seminars on government contracting issues to the United States Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
• Providing procurement policy advice to FINCA, a non-profit micro lending organization.
• Successful representation of two African American Farmers in claims of discriminatory lending practices against the United States Department of Agriculture.
• Successful representation of a putative class of inmates in challenging the use of five-point restraints in a Virginia state correctional facility.
  

Publications and Speeches

• "New Rule Will Require Contractors To Report Wrongdoing To The Government And Impose Stricter Ethics And Compliance Obligations," Covington E-Alert (12/8/2008), Co-Author
• "Congress Requires Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to Provide Deeply Discounted Prices for Covered Drugs Purchased at TRICARE Retail Pharmacies," Covington E-Alert (2/4/2008), Co-Author