Ed focuses on federal contracting, construction law, construction litigation, and small business procurement and litigation. He drafts and negotiates construction contracts, teaming agreements and joint venture agreements for subcontractors, contractors, developers and owners. In addition, he litigates, arbitrates and mediates complex construction and procurement cases in various jurisdictions and forums.
Ed also provides guidance on small business procurement. He assists clients in obtaining certification as small and small disadvantaged businesses at the municipal, state and federal levels. He participates in bid protests involving Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, HUBZone and 8(a) set-aside contracts and assists with responding to best-value procurements at the state and federal levels. Ed also assists government contractors in international disputes involving the federal government, with experience relating to Department of Defense and Department of State work in Germany, Lithuania, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Somalia.
Focus Areas
Examples of Ed’s experience include:
- Successful representation of disappointed offeror on $99 million IDIQ contract for construction and maintenance work at Air Force base in Alaska based upon faulty evaluation process.
- Successful representation of SDVOSB following wrongful size status decision relating to construction work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which both restored the company’s status and resulted in contract award.
- Successful representation of SDVOSB in overturning size status decision at the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals following adverse decision by local SBA District Office.
- Representation of general contractor on $25 million HUD project in New Jersey, where general was sued by drywall subcontractor, resulting in denial of subcontractors claims for out-of-scope work and award of damages to GC for delays caused by subcontractor.
- Representation of prime contractor against Department of State on major expansion project at U.S. Consulate in Eastern Europe, resulting in successful settlement of claims for out-of-scope work.
- Representation of Lebanese prime contractor against Department of the Army on construction project in Afghanistan, resulting in successful settlement of claims for out-of-scope work.
- Successful representation of staffing company in dispute with Indian Health Services based upon faulty evaluation of proposals.
- Representation of federal student loan debt collection company in appeal to United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, resulting in reversal of Court of Federal Claims decision.
- “Best Practices for Navigating Contract Disruptions Under the New Administration,” Thompson Hine Transition – A Presidential Change Update, February 2025
- “M&A Surge Expected in 2025: SBA Final Rule Delays Impact of Size Recertifications,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, February 2025
- “Key Takeaways in SBA’s Final Rule: Cross-Program Changes,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, January 2025
- “New SBA Application Portal: What To Expect,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, December 2024
- “Another Potential Government Shutdown: What Contractors Need to Know and Do Now,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, December 2024
- “Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: 8(a) Business Development Program,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, October 2024
- “Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: HUBZone Program,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, October 2024
- “Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: Cross-Program Uniformity,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, October 2024
- “Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, October 2024
- “Loper Bright’s Impact on Government Contract Litigation,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, July 2024
- “Proposed Rule on Pay Equity and Transparency May Significantly Impact Government Contractors and Federal Supply Chain Companies,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, February 2024
- “Threat of Another Government Shutdown: What Contractors Need to Know and Do Now,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, September 2023
- “SBA 8(a) Contractors Must Prepare To Reestablish Eligibility,” Law360, August 2023
- “DOL Finalizing Significant Changes to Davis-Bacon Regulations,” Thompson Hine Labor & Employment @lert, August 2023
- “Court Nixes Social Disadvantage Presumption: 8(a) Contractors Should Prepare Social Disadvantage Narratives,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, August 2023
- “Top 10 Things Contractors Need To Know About SBA’s New Rule on the 8(a) Program,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, July 2023
- “NDAA for FY 2023 Passes Congress with Annual Changes to Federal Contracting Policies,” Thompson Hine Government Contracts Update, December 2022
- “2024: FAR Part 36 – Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts,” Jennifer Schaus & Associates, webinar series, May 29, 2024
- Moderator, “OSDBU Insights For Government Contracting Success,” National 8(a) Association, Winter Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 2024
- Moderator, “Tips & Tricks to Working with the Department of Defense,” National 8(a) Association, Alaska Regional Conference, Anchorage, AK, June 13, 2023
- Moderator, “Doing Business with the Department of Defense,” National 8(a) Association, National Small Business Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 2023
- “Overview of the CHIPS and Science, Inflation Reduction Acts,” National Electrical Contractors Association, webinar, December 15, 2022
- “FED GOV Sub-Contracting Opportunities at The Department of Transportation,” Jennifer Schaus & Associates, webinar, November 30, 2022
- “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: What You Need to Know Now,” National Electrical Contractors Association, webinar, November 16, 2022
- “Federal Investment in Electrical Construction: What You Need to Know Now,” National Electrical Contractors Association, webinar, November 9, 2022
- Panelist, “So You Think You Can Team,” Society of American Military Engineers Small Business Conference, Nashville, TN, November 2022
- “Trending Impacts to Government Construction Contracting,” National 8(a) Association, Alaskan Regional Conference, Anchorage, AK, June 2022
- “Government Construction Contracting: What the Infrastructure Bill Means to You & Lingering Impacts of COVID-19,” Native Hawaiian Organizations Association, Honolulu, HI, April 2022
- “OSBP Panel: Working with Federal Agencies,” Native Hawaiian Organizations Association, Honolulu, HI, April 2022
- “Teaming,” National 8(a) Association webinar, March 2022
- “Navigating the A/E/C Industry,” National 8(a) Association, National Small Business Conference, Orlando, FL, February 2022
- “Choose Your Counsel Wisely,” Parabalis Presents Spilling the Tea on GovCon podcast, January 2022
- “Code of Ethics & Business Conduct for Government Contractors,” webinar, December 2021
- “Navigating the Mentor-Protege Process: Force Multiplier,” Society of American Military Engineers Small Business Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 2021
- “Navigating Teaming: Mentor-Protege & JV,” National 8(a) Association Regional Convention, New Orleans, LA, October 2021
- “Key Contract Clauses for Federal Construction Contractors,” National 8(a) Association Alaska Regional Conference, Anchorage, AK, August 2021
- “DFARS Part 236 – Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, August 2021
- “Mentor-Protege Programs: SBA vs. DoD,” GovCon Club webinar, June 2021
- “DFARS Part 219, Small Business Programs” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, May 2021
- “GovCon ‘LIVE Q&A’ Cafe – MARCH – Bid Protest,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, March 2021
- “Best Practices to Maximize CPARS Scores” Acquisition Help,” webinar, January 2021
- “A Crash Course on the FAR” AcquisitionHelp webinar, January 2021
- “$72 Billion – DoD Small Business Acquisition Budget Forecast” National 8(a) Association 2021 Virtual Day, January 2021
- “The Power of Partnerships: Teaming for Success,” National 8(a) Association monthly webinar series, December 2020
- “Accelerate Winning Government Bids & Proposals – Part 3,” University of Maryland Small Business Development Center webinar, December 2020
- “Construction Claims and Requests for Equitable Adjustment, COVID-19,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) webinar, November 2020
- “Government Contract Law – What Federal & State Government Contractors Need to Know – Part 2,” University of Maryland, Small Business Development Center webinar, November 2020
- “Two is Better Than One: Successful Teaming,” Society Of American Military Engineers (SAME) Virtual Federal Small Business Conference webinar, November 2020
- “Key Contract Clauses for Federal Construction Contractors,” Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) 2020 Small Business Summit Virtual Conference, October 2020
- “Federal Construction Opportunities in the Time of COVID,” Professional Services Management Journal Senior Executive Briefing Series, October 2020
- “Let’s Talk Protests … With an Attorney!”, Breaking the Standard podcast, September 2020
- “FAR Part 36, Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, August 2020
- “The Federal Procurement Process, Recent Developments, Protests and Claims,” University of Maryland Small Business Development Center webinar, July 2020
- “Federal Small Business Programs, Eligibility for and Opportunities with those Programs and COVID-19 Update,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) webinar, June 2020
- “XPRT™ Conversation: What’s the 4-1-1 with Federal and DoD Construction?”, SCIIF, June 2020
- “Entering the Federal Market,” Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) webinar, May 2020
- “COVID-19 and Government Contractors: A Discussion of the Paycheck Protection Program and Section 3610,” webinar, April 2020
- “COVID-19: What Government Contractors Need to Know,” University of Maryland Small Business Development Center webinar, April 2020
- “Securing Work in the Federal Sector Through Teaming, Joint Venturing and Coping with COVID-19,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) webinar, April 2020
- “Federal Procurement Overview,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) webinar, March 2020
- “FAR Part 9: Contractor Qualifications,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington, D.C., February 2020
- “CMMC & FedRamp: Cyber Security Requirements,” National 8(a) Association 2020 Winter Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 2020
- “The Brooks Act: A Primer on How the Federal Government Procures A/E Services,” Halfmoon Education, Inc., Harrisburg, PA, January 2020
- “Cybersecurity – New Mandatory Requirements for Defense Contractors,” Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) webinar, December 2019
- “Simplified Acquisitions – How, Why and When Government Uses Them,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington D.C., December 2019
- “Simplified Acquisitions – A Beginners Guide,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington D.C., December 2019
- “Navigating the Government Space,” Bunker Labs Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 2019
- “Teaming and Joint Venturing to Win,” Women Veteran Owned Small Business Initiative, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Washington, D.C., October 2019
- “Cybersecurity Enforcement is on the Rise. What Small Businesses Need to Know,” HUBZone Contractors National Council 2019 National Conference, Chantilly, VA, September 2019
- “Partnering to Win: Teaming, Joint Venturing, Mentor-Protégé,” Retired Military Officers Association, Bowie, MD, September 2019
- “Planning for Compliance: Compliance Issues for Government Contractors,” American Small Business Coalition S.O.A.R.R., Executive Peer Program, Baltimore, MD, August 2019
- “How to Attract Large Corporations to Your Small Business,” American Express Summit for Success, Washington, D.C., June 2019
- “Partnering to Win: Teaming, Joint Venturing, Mentor-Protégé,” Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) Business Summit, Honolulu, HI, June 2019
- “Key Contract Provisions for Construction Contractors,” American Express Summit for Success, Washington D.C., June 2019
- “Partnering to Win: Teaming, Joint Venturing, Mentor-Protégé,” National 8(a) Association 2019 Summer Conference, Anchorage, AK, June 2019
- “How HUBZone Changes Affect Small Business Contractors,” Scale2Market podcast, April 2019
- “Do the SDVOSB Program Changes Affect You?”, Scale2Market podcast, March 2019
- “Protests, Claims & REAs – A Logical Approach,” National 8(a) Association 2019 Winter Conference, Nashville, TN, Winter 2019
- “SBA’s All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program: A Case Study,” National 8(a) Association 2019 Winter Conference, Nashville, TN, Winter 2019
- “Bid Protests in the Federal Space,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington, D.C., December 2018
- “Guide to Federal Contracting,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) 75th Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, October 2018
- “SBA All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program,” Society Of American Military Engineers (SAME) Federal Small Business Conference, New Orleans, LA, October 2018
- “Debriefings – What Do You Really Get?”, J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington, D.C., September 2018
- “How to Qualify for SDVOSB Certification,” J. Schaus & Associates webinar, Washington, D.C., August 2018
- “Mergers and Acquisitions for Government Contractors,” Ethical Stalking for Government Contractors, American Small Business Coalition, Philadelphia, PA, July 2018
- “SBA Mentor/Protégé Program: A Look at the Rules, Regulations and Benefits of the Program,” American Express Summit for Success, Washington, D.C., June 2018
- “An Introduction to REAs and Claims,” National 8(a) Association 2018 Summer Conference, Anchorage, AK, Summer 2018
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 and 2025 for Construction Law and Litigation-Construction
- Listed in The Legal 500 in Government Contracts, 2023
- Selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list, 2015-2017
- Selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list, 2005-2008
Professional Associations
- National 8(a) Association
- Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
- The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) – FAR Committee Chairman
- American Bar Association (ABA) – Small Business Committee
- Washington Building Congress (WBC)
- Philadelphia Bar Association (PBA)
Education
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 1996
- Saint Joseph's University, B.A., 1992, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
- Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
- Best Practices for Navigating Contract Disruptions Under the New Administration,
Transition – A Presidential Change Update
, February 28, 2025 - M&A Surge Expected in 2025: SBA Final Rule Delays Impact of Size Recertifications,
Government Contracts Update
, February 6, 2025 - Key Takeaways in SBA’s Final Rule: Cross-Program Changes,
Government Contracts Update
, January 21, 2025 - New SBA Application Portal: What To Expect,
Government Contracts Update
, December 23, 2024 - Another Potential Government Shutdown: What Contractors Need to Know and Do Now,
Government Contracts Update
, December 20, 2024 - Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: 8(a) Business Development Program,
Government Contracts Update
, October 28, 2024 - Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: HUBZone Program,
Government Contracts Update
, October 16, 2024 - Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule: Cross-Program Uniformity,
Government Contracts Update
, October 9, 2024 - Key Changes in SBA’s Proposed Rule,
Government Contracts Update
, October 2, 2024 - Loper Bright’s Impact on Government Contract Litigation,
Government Contracts Update
, July 23, 2024