Paul A. Debolt
Partner
He also makes recommendations for compliance with government regulations and laws, and dependably steers contractors through controversies arising under the Service Contract Act (SCA) and the civil False Claims Act (FCA), including the FAR's mandatory disclosure requirements, joint ventures and teaming agreements, and prime-subcontractor disputes.
Paul previously served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps for five years before joining the firm. His team-based approach ensures that his clients benefit from the firm's strengths and wide range of capabilities when addressing all areas relevant to their federal and state contracts. Clients appreciate Paul's in-depth knowledge of the government procurement process and his trusted approaches to satisfying pertinent federal data security standards.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience
Experience
Representative Matters
Bid Protests
- Successfully protested the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance's (DHCF) decision to replace a client as a provider of managed care to District Medicaid recipients. The overall value of the awarded contracts was approximately $1 billion
- Successfully defended four protests arising out of the Defense Information Systems Agency's (DISA) $17.5B Encore III IT Services IDIQ Contract
- Successfully defended the award of a $1 billion National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contract from multiple bid protests by the incumbent contractor
- Successfully protested the United States Army's decision to eliminate a client from competitive bidding for the production of body armor; following reinstatement, the client was awarded the multi-billion-dollar contract
- Filed two successful pre-award protests on behalf of client to the terms of a solicitation issued by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA)
- Successfully protested U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) award of a contract at the GAO. The agency took corrective action, ultimately resulting in award of the contract to our client
- Successfully filed a protest at the GAO arising from an unmitigable organization conflict of interest
- Filed successful pre-award protest of army contract for laptops and docking stations because the terms of the solicitation restricted competition. The army took corrective action and ultimately awarded a contract to client
- Successfully represented client in its protest of the army's illegal sole source award of a classified contract as a violation of the Competition in Contracting Act, 10 U.S.C. § 2304, which resulted in army extension of client's contract
Claims against the Government and Prime-Subcontractor Disputes
- Represented U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractor before the Court of Federal Claims in a matter involving an appeal of the DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) disallowance of approximately $35 million in incurred costs and obtained a favorable settlement for client
- Successfully represented a client in an arbitration before the ICDR against a $17M claim by a subcontractor arising from the allegedly improper termination of the subcontract, tortious interference, and a business disparagement claim
- Represented a multinational security company in litigation arising from the federal government's decision to federalize baggage and passenger checkpoint screening services throughout the country
- Successfully represented client in claims against General Services Administration (GSA) related to the establishment and staffing of call centers to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) respond to Hurricane Katrina
Civil False Claims Act, Internal Investigations, and General Consultation
- Represented a small business in a presentation to an assistant U.S. attorney's office that resulted in a decision by the government not to pursue a civil false claim with an estimated value of more than $400,000
- Conducted an internal investigation for a nonprofit into alleged mischarging to numerous government contracts and grants, and negotiated a favorable settlement with an assistant U.S. attorney's office
- Negotiated a favorable settlement for a multinational corporation in a coordinated, multijurisdictional civil False Claims Act matter, including managing the case on a day-to-day basis, coordinating and developing case strategy with foreign counsel, interfacing with lawyers from the Department of Justice, and maintaining responsibility for case development and trial preparation
- Conducted numerous internal investigations of both large and small companies involving questioned contract certifications and cost charging
Other
- Resolved complex and time-sensitive crisis threatening Base Operations Support (BOS) Services contractor in Africa, due to a labor strike orchestrated by a foreign government
- After submitting a proposal on a large federal procurement, our client was advised by a government agency that a potential Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) with a proposed subcontractor was identified; prepared a detailed response that enabled client to remain in consideration for the contract
- Assisted a client with a response and subsequent negotiations, to narrow an extensive subpoena from the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI); managed the collection, review, and production of tens of thousands of pages of responsive documents; and served as the primary liaison with the air force special agent
- For a large defense contractor, revised and drafted an updated set of contracts and other templates for use throughout the company
Reported Decisions
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
- Appeal of Sample Enterprises, 94-3 BCA P 27105, ASBCA No. 44564, 1994 WL 475797 (A.S.B.C.A.), August 25, 1994
- Appeal of Digicomp Research Corp., 94-2BCA P 26834, ASBCA No. 44558, 1994 WL 117129 (A.S.B.C.A.), April 5, 1994
DC Contract Appeals Board
- Aetna Life Insurance Company and Aetna Health, Inc., CAB No. P-1113, March 4, 2020 (successfully defended the award of a $140M healthcare insurance benefits contract that was awarded to the client for District of Columbia government employees issued by the District of Columbia Office of Contracting and Procurement)
- Vision Security Solutions, CAB No. P-1100, May 30, 2019 (successfully protested award of District of Columbia contract that resulted in a directed award to client)
- PFC Associates, LLC, CAB No. P-1083, August 27, 2018 (successfully protested award of District of Columbia contract that resulted in award of contract to client)
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- NCI Information Systems, Inc., B-417805.5; B-417805.6; B-417805.7, March 12, 2020 (successfully defended award of $137,000,000 army contract for systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) services)
- Raytheon Company, B-417524.2, B-417524.3, December 19, 2019 (successfully defended the award of army's $300M contract for security assistance training and advice for the Security Ministries of Afghanistan Advisory Program)
- Transworld Systems, Inc. B-414090.13-16, December 22, 2017 (successfully protested award of a $32M Department of Treasury contract for debt collection services, which ultimately resulted in contract award to client)
- Centerra Group LLC, B-414768, B-414768.2, September 11, 2017 (successfully defended award of $90M navy contract for base operations support services)
- Centerra-Parsons Pacific LLC, B-414686, B-414686.2, August 16, 2017 (successfully defended award of $515M navy contract for base operations support services)
- DynCorp International LLC, B-411465, B-41465.2, August 4, 2015 (successfully defended award of a $36M army task order under the LOGCAP IV contract)
- Advanced Alliant Solutions Team, LLC, B-410207, B-410207.2, November 18, 2014 (successfully defended award of $25M air force contract for support of agency's digital communication systems)
- PAE Government Services, Inc. B-407886, B-407886.2-.4, March 22, 2013 (successfully defended award of $127M navy contract for base operating services)
- L-3 STRATIS, B-404865, 2011 CPD P 119, 2011 WL 2649715 (Comp. Gen.), June 8, 2011 (successfully defended award of $250M Nuclear Regulatory Commission contract for IT services)
U.S. Small Business Administration
- Size Appeal of Kingfisher Systems, Inc., SBA No. SIZ-6003, May 2, 2019 (successfully challenged the size determination of contract awardee)
- Size Appeal of RX Joint Venture, LLC Appellant, re: Agile Defense, Inc., SBA No. SIZ-5683) (successfully defended challenge of SBA's size determination of client)
Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition
- Apptis, Inc., May 13, 2011,10-ODRA-00557 (successfully challenged award of $827M FAA contract for systems engineering)
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. The Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law
- B.A. John Carroll University
- Dean's List
- Distinguished Military Graduate
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- Ohio Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association
- Member, National Contract Management Association
Recognition
Recognition
- Legal 500, Government Contracts, 2015 – 2024
- Chambers USA, Government Contracts, Nationwide, 2013 – 2024
- Washington, DC and Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers, Top Rated Lawyer, 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated
Community
Community
Volunteerism
- Volunteer, Martha's Table