Steven D. Tibbets Associate

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The Army and Navy Club Building
1627 I Street, N.W. Suite 850
Washington, DC 20006
stibbets@s-elaw.com
Tel: 202.684.2383  Fax: 202.293.6842

Steve Tibbets joined Steese ♦ Evans ♦ Frankel, P.C. as an associate in 2011. Mr. Tibbets specializes in delivering practical and efficient approaches to achieve legal compliance and resolve disputes relating to government contracts. His practice focuses on litigating government contract cases and advising federal contractors and grantees on their compliance obligations in ways that serve clients' larger business goals. Mr. Tibbets also has significant experience with advising clients on the Trade Agreements Act and other "Buy American" laws, as well as conducting internal investigations into overbilling, fraud, and false statements in connection with government contracts. Prior to joining Steese ♦ Evans ♦ Frankel, P.C., Mr. Tibbets was an associate with Reed Smith, LLP.


Practice

Mr. Tibbets works with federal contractors and grantees to help them comply with the many rules that govern their work, to guide them through litigation, and to develop strategies for protecting and growing their business. Mr. Tibbets is an expert in handling and resolving matters before courts and state and federal agencies, and he has achieved excellent results for clients in litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Government Accountability Office.

Mr. Tibbets also a great deal of experience advising clients regarding compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, and numerous other general and agency-specific procurement statutes and regulations. Mr. Tibbets has drafted compliance policies and procedures and compliance training materials for a major defense contractor, and he has advised countless clients regarding strategies for implementing the FAR "mandatory disclosure" rule and other requirements. Mr. Tibbets has also advised numerous companies regarding strategies for obtaining federal funding and protecting their investments from legal pitfalls.

Mr. Tibbets also has experience advising clients regarding compliance with export control and customs regulations, as well as federal grant requirements and the unique rules companies face under recent economic stimulus laws. He has successfully assisted a number of clients in navigating country of origin issues simultaneously for Customs purposes and government procurement purposes.


Recent Highlights

Overturned the award of large Health & Human Services IT contract on behalf major contractor (Northrop Grumman Corp., B-405647)

Successfully represented intervenor's interest in obtaining denial of protest seeking to skew major Air Force electronic attack pod upgrade contract in competitor's favor (ITT Corporation Electronic Systems, B-405564)

Completed investigation into client's possession of competitively sensitive documents, including analysis of potential liability and disclosure obligations

Succeeded in overturning exclusion of client from competitive range by Air Force contracting officer in GAO bid protest action (Wyle Laboratories, et al., B-404951)

Advised commercial item distribution company preparing proposal for multi-billion-dollar Department of Veterans Affairs prime vendor procurement regarding compliance obligations and protest strategy

Completed multiple investigations of sourcing and pricing compliance under Federal Supply Schedule, and other multiple award schedule, contracts for commercial and non-commercial items


Professional Activities

American Bar Association, Co-Vice Chair of the Aerospace and Defense Committee of the Section of International Law (2009-2011)

Federal Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Chapter (2007 - 2010), Member of the Board of Directors of the National Younger Lawyers Division (2010-present)


Publications:

"Protectionism and the U.S. Stimulus Package," Sustainable Energy Partnership for the Americas Blog (August 5, 2009)

"Stimulus Act, Cleantech, and IP: Reaping benefits without giving away the farm," Cleantech Group News (July 31, 2009)

"Avoiding the Pitfalls of Stimulus Funding," Client Alert (July 13, 2009)

"Timing Isn't Everything: Ninth Circuit Holding May Affect Customs Seizures of Trademark-Infringing Goods," Exports, Customs & Trade Sentinel Vol. VI No. 2 (Spring 2009)

"The 'Buy American' Provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," Export, Customs & Trade Sentinel Vol. VI No. 2 (Spring 2009)

"White House Orders Major Revision of Federal Procurement Policy," Client Alert (March 5, 2009)

"Mandatory Disclosure Rule Compliance Checklist," Client Alert (February 11, 2009)

"Hot Issues in Government Contracts: 2009 and Beyond," Client Alert (January 22, 2009)

"Scared Straight: An Argument for a Novel Cause of Action to Enforce Mutual Fund Director Independence," 5 Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law 377 (2004)