Introduction to Practicing Before Suspension and Debarment Officials in Federal Contracting

Todd Canni counsels clients on all aspects of their government contracting business. Todd is a solutions-oriented, innovative lawyer who offers his clients pragmatic and clear advice to navigating through the complex contracting environment. Obstacles and complex situations are opportunities for innovation.

Todd is one of the nation’s leading suspension and debarment lawyers and has successfully represented many high-profile corporations and individuals under investigation, including in parallel proceedings involving civil, criminal, False Claims Act and debarment proceedings. Todd represents clients in their contract disputes and terminations, contractor disclosures under the Mandatory Disclosure Rule, determining the “root cause” in non-compliance events, developing ethics and compliance programs and internal controls, data rights, suspect counterfeit parts, and litigation involving fraud, de facto debarment and non-responsibility determinations.

Rodney A. Grandon, a member of the Senior Executive Service, serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Contractor Responsibility and Conflict Resolution, Department of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. In that capacity, he is the Air Force’s Suspending and Debarring Official, and is responsible for providing legal advice concerning contractor responsibility matters to senior Air Force and DoD leadership, as well as leading the Air Force’s Procurement Fraud Remedies Program. Mr. Grandon also has responsibility for the Air Force’s Alternative Dispute Resolution/Conflict Resolution Program.

Prior to assuming his present duties, Mr. Grandon served as the Chief of Procurement Law and Chief Trial Attorney for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Mary Beth Bosco is a partner in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. She has 30 years of experience working with new and experienced government contractors, and focuses her practice on advising such organizations in contract compliance, transactional matters and how to navigate the federal marketplace.

With a substantial background in regulatory matters and litigation, Ms. Bosco counsels clients on the drafting of procurement manuals and implementation of compliance and training programs, including reporting requirements as well as audits and procurement fraud investigations. Furthermore, she represents companies, financial institutions and investment funds in connection with the due diligence review of government contractors throughout industries such as intelligence, healthcare and manufacturing. In particular, she assists companies holding facility clearances with foreign ownership and control issues.

Ms. Bosco has led the response and defense of complex concurrent agency and congressional investigations. She has also advised clients in investigations regarding Inspector General and the Department of Justice and audits conducted by the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs, and she has represented companies and individuals in numerous debarment and suspension proceedings. Ms. Bosco also applies her government contracting knowledge to False Claims Act litigation as well as trial and appellate proceedings.

Ms. Bosco advises Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and other government contractors regarding contractual and regulatory compliance issues. These have included the government contractor wage and employment requirements, cost accounting and audit issues, and cybersecurity rules unique to government contractors. She has also represented government contractors in bid protest matters, investigations and claims.