Make Releases Work for You in Government Contracting
Michelle E. Litteken of PilieroMazza PLLC writes that releases have proven to be the double-edged sword of government contracting.
“In some cases, a release can prevent a contractor from successfully submitting a request for equitable adjustment or a claim to the Government,” she explains. “At the same time, a prime contractor can use releases to its advantage—requiring a subcontractor to sign releases during performance and at contract closeout. These releases can be used to easily defeat subsequent subcontractor claims if a dispute arises. Contractors should be familiar with releases in both contexts and use this knowledge to make releases work to their advantage.”