Jennifer Schaus & Associates SERVICES FOR US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS
WEBINAR WEDNESDAYS – 2018 WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE PHONE: 2 0 2 – 3 6 5 – 0 5 9 8
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Join Us for Our 2018 Series of Complimentary Webinars on various US Federal Government Contracting Topics. Presenters are industry experts sharing knowledge about the competitive government contracting sector. Find all of our Govt Contracting webinars (free download) at www.JenniferSchaus.com
Contact Us @ 2 0 2 – 3 6 5 – 0 5 9 8
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
REMINDERS: All webinars are complimentary. All webinars are recorded. They are found on our website and on YouTube. Please send your questions to the speaker directly. Thank you for participating.
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
ABOUT JENNIFER SCHAUS & ASSOCIATES: - Based in downtown Washington, DC; -
A la carte services for Federal Contractors;
Proposal Writing to GSA Schedules, 8a Cert and Contract Administration, etc.; Educational webinars; -
Networking events and seminars;
WEBSITE: http://www.JenniferSchaus.com
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Antonella Colella, Esq. - 7 Years In GOV CON: - American University, B.S. Finance; Rutgers School of Law Camden, JD. - Snyderman Law Group, PC
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
How to Build an Effective Compliance Program Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Why Compliance Program? • The FAR mandates that large contractors establish and maintain an ethics and compliance program. FAR 52-203.13 • “Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct” is required in solicitations and contracts where the value is expected to exceed $5.5 million and the performance period is 120 days or more.
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Why Compliance Program? • Awards may only be made to Responsible Contractors • FAR 9.103 “Purchases shall be made from, and contracts, shall be awarded to, responsible prospective contractors only.” • Public policy – the Gov’t through the FAR is upholding the public’s trust in the gov’t purchasing system
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Why Compliance Program? • Non-Compliance, even as a small business, can leave you on the hook for a host of problems: • False Claims Act violations • Breach of contract • Negative performance ratings – Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) • Violations of other federal laws
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Why Compliance Program? • Cost disallowance • Delayed or non-payment • Inaccurate billings can mean false or overcharging the gov’t! This can mean fraud charges, FCA charges, False Statements Act, etc.
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
FAR 52-203.13-14 30 days after award: • Have a written code of business ethics and conduct in place. • Make the code available to all employees involved in performing the contract. • Promote a culture that encourages ethical conduct and compliance.
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
FAR 52-203.13-14 • Provide timely written disclosure when it obtains credible evidence of an ethics violation. • Cooperate with an audit, investigation, or corrective action related to contract fraud. • Display “hotline” posters relate to ethics and reporting issues. • Human Trafficking ($500,000+)
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Fundamentals for an Effective Compliance Program • Addresses necessary compliance and regulations issues • Have an ethical foundation • Be able to support your company’s growth • Give customer satisfaction and make money
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Framework for an Effective Compliance Program Risk Assessment • Take a look at your contracts and solicitations and it will help guide you to what you need.
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Risk Assessment • Do you have a code of ethics and conduct? • Does your management communicate effectively with employees? How often? • Do you have polices & procedures in place relating to OCI, EEO, Confidential Information, Contractor Bid and Proposal Information, Source Selection Information?
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design and Implement Implement a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct • Sets your company’s standard for how it does business • Ethical moral compass of the organization • Make formal, distribute and have employees acknowledge
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design and Implement Handbook or Policies & Procedures • Separate from your Code of Ethics • Your Gov’t Contract requirements – OCI, SSI, Human Trafficking, timekeeping, • Employment Law and other state law req’s – affirmative action, EEO, FLSA, leave laws
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design and Implement Handbook or Policies & Procedures • Formalize, distribute and make employees acknowledge • Must always be updated • Every change should be acknowledged as well
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
Design and Implement • Designate Compliance Officer/Committee • Implement the Program • Get buy-in from Management • POC for questions and issues
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design and Implement Training and Education • Everyone should get training • Timing: upon hire, annually, targeted (after an incident) • Record who received training and when
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
Design and Implement Reporting and Communication • Have a mechanism for reporting violations • Confidential & anonymous • Use exit interviews to get more information
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
Design and Implement Monitoring and Auditing • Don’t have a “Paper Program” • Must review and re-assess your program • Objective audit is helpful
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design Tips Collaborate • Get feedback and insight from different departments • Each department head should be in charge of its department’s ethics practices and behavior
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design Tips • Formalize and get acknowledgements – if a violation is ever alleged, you can show what you’ve done as an organization. • Ultimately, management is responsible whether they knew or not, so documentation is important
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Design Tips • Monitor – having an outdated compliance plan may be worse than having no plan at all! • Focus is on whether a program is effective, not what it looks like • Reward and encourage ethical behavior!
Jennifer Schaus & Associates – GOV CON WEBINAR SERIES - 2018 - WASHINGTON DC
www.JenniferSchaus.com
Discipline for Non-Compliance • Make sure to discipline non-ethical behavior • Apply consistently and at all levels • Check to see if you have a mandatory disclosure obligation
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!
WWW.JENNIFERSCHAUS.COM
QUESTIONS? CONTACT OUR SPEAKER Antonella Colella, Esq. AT 856-324-8268 AND AT
SERVICES FOR US FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
Antonella@snydermanlawgroup.com
OFFICE: 2 0 2 – 3 6 5 – 0 5 9 8