The Federal Government’s power to redirect the efforts of contractors reaches its peak during times of crisis. So it should come as no surprise that the Administration may wield long-established statutory discretion, under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), to control what companies make and do (and when) as things are needed to address the current COVID-19 public health emergency. This topic is now front-page news following the President’s invocation of the DPA to provide such powers to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on March 18, 2020.

In this webinar, we’ll address key questions that contractors may face in navigating the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS).

• What is a “rated” order under DPAS?
• Under what circumstances can the Government or a contractor issue a rated order?
• When may a contractor reject a rated order?
• When must a contractor accept a rated order?
• What must/should a contractor do after it accepts a rated order?
• When and how are DPAS ratings to be flowed
• What are the penalties for noncompliance?