William A. Roberts III
Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
Mr. Roberts has over 25 years of government contracts experience. He represents clients on federal, state and local procurement matters, including general government contracts consulting; compliance programmes; protests and contractor and government claims, such as qui tams; disputes; responding to audits and investigations and proposed debarment and suspension.
Mr. Roberts is co-chair of the Government Contracts practice. He earned his LL.M. (with honors) from The George Washington University Law School, his J.D. (with honors) from the University of Iowa School of Law, and his B.A. from Black Hills State College.
His bar and court admissions include the District of Columbia bar, the Iowa bar, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Federal Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
He is Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law, Privatization and Outsourcing Committee (2001-2004) and is a member, Defence Science Board, Task Force on the Impact of E-Commerce on Department of Defence Aquisition Processes (2001-2002).
Representative Experience
- Assists clients in achieving favorable Government Accountability Office decisions or agency corrective actions in protests challenging A-76 and contracting out competitions
- Represents commercial companies in addressing the unique risks and obligations involved when selling to the Government
- Represents clients in the establishment of Government Contracts Compliance programmes and provides support to keep programmes current
- Represents clients in responding to criminal, civil and administrative investigations and audits
Professional Experience
- Chief Counsel, Wang Laboratories, Inc., Federal Services Division (1982-1985).
- Assistant to the General Counsel, U.S. Navy (1979-1982).
- Attorney-Advisor, Navy Regional Procurement Center (1976-1979).
Publications/Speeches
- Co-Author, "Contracting Out - And the Winner Is... OMB Issues Major Revision To Circular A-76: A New, Improved Process For Federal Agencies To Use In Determining Who Will Perform Commercial Activities," BNA's Federal Contracts Report, Volume 79, Issue 24 (June 2003)
- Co-Author, "OMB Proposes Major Revisions To Circular A-76 - A New Process For 'Contracting Out,'" Government Contract Audit Report (Winter 2003)
- Co-Author, "Contractors On The Battlefield: Special Legal Challenges" (April 2003).
- Co-Author, "Unlevel Playing Field: Contracting Competitions Against The Government Might Not Be Fully Fair," Legal Times, Vol. 24, No. 10 (March 2001)
- Moderator, "A-76: The New Rules," American Bar Association Annual Meeting (August 10, 2003)
- Speaker, "Competition Experts Review," A-76 Implementation Workshop How to Utilize the New Changes (June 2003)
- Co-Chair, "Critical Regulatory Revisions' Significant Impact on The Conduct of Public/Private Competitions Throughout the Federal Government," Executive Briefing: The New OMB Circular A-76 (June 2003)
- Moderator, "Legal Considerations," Perspectives on the New A-76 Circular (December 2002). Chair, "Privatization and Outsourcing," JAG School (December 1999)
Mr. Roberts is a frequent author and lecturer on issues relating to government contracts, including electronic products and delivery for the government, privatization and outsourcing and recent developments in e-Commerce.
