New Ethics, Disclosure Rules for Federal Contractors

On December 12, 2008, new federal rules on mandatory disclosure and ethics and compliance went into effect. Among other things, the rule requires government contractors to disclose evidence of violations of certain criminal laws by their employees or subcontractors and to implement certain internal controls within their companies.

The new rule requires, for contracts and solicitations after the December 12, 2008 effective date, the insertion of the clause at FAR 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct, in all contracts in which the value of the contract is expected to exceed $5 million and the performance period is 120 days or more (a "covered contract").

For more information, click here.

The Federal Construction Contracting Blog has a number of posts here on these new regulations, tracking back to when they were first proposed.

Arbitration Award, Michigan Court of Appeals Clarifies Time to Confirm

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently clarified the deadline for confirming an arbitration award.  

In Greater Bethesda Healing Springs Ministry v Evangel Builders & Construction Managers, LLC, 282 Mich App 410 (2009), the Michigan Court of Appeals, explained that MCR 3.602(I) requires only that an arbitration award be filed with the court clerk within one year after the award was rendered, and has no bearing on the time period in which the award may be confirmed and entered as a judgment by the court. 

Prior to this case, courts had interpreted this court rule as requiring a party to confirm an arbitration award within one year from award. 

Click here for a copy of the slip opinion in this case.