Robert Metzger, Stephen Bacon Quoted in Law360 Article on Top Government Contracts Policies in 2024

Law360 turned to RJO shareholders Robert S. Metzger and Stephen L. Bacon as it rounded up insights for a year-end piece titled “Top Government Contracts Policies in 2024” (subscription required).

Metzger is quoted in the article on the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) issuing its long-awaited final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program that sets cybersecurity standards for defense contractors. Now that the rule is published, attention will turn to the challenge of implementation and compliance and whether DOD is ready to manage the task.

“I expect that we will see strong pressure upon DOD to come up with the resources within the department to effectively manage this large and demanding program, and those resources are not there yet,” said Metzger, who has spoken extensively on CMMC.

Bacon discussed the Small Business Administration’s proposed expansion of the so-called “Rule of Two,” which gives a preference to small business contractors for orders under multiple-award contracts. He told Law360 that whether or not the incoming Trump administration follows through on the policy shift remains to be seen, but signs point to continuity.

“I would think that the Trump administration would be similarly interested [to the Biden administration] in seeing that rule go through, because it’s also supportive of small businesses,” said Bacon, who wrote an article on the expanded Rule of Two for Bloomberg Insights.

Metzger’s work, including his contributions to a Defense Science Board cyber/supply chain task force and as a co-author of MITRE’s “Deliver Uncompromised” report, has helped shape government contracting cyber and supply chain security policies. He is a respected cybersecurity lawyer for government contractors and has represented leading corporations such as Microsoft and others among the top 20 aerospace and defense companies in their highest-profile cybersecurity, national security, contracts, disputes, compliance audits and bid protests.

Bacon represents government contractors in bid protests, claims, investigations, and suspension and debarment proceedings. He frequently litigates cases at the Court of Federal Claims, the Government Accountability Office, the Boards of Contract Appeals, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. Bacon also provides advice and counsel to clients on a broad range of contractual and regulatory compliance issues that confront government contractors.