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Matt Carter, Associate

Matt Carter

Partner
Los Angeles

Partner, Los Angeles

T: +1.213.488.7120
T: +1.213.488.7120

Areas of Focus

Matt Carter’s practice includes litigating bid protests, conducting internal investigations, representing companies and individuals in suspension and debarment proceedings, and providing regulatory and compliance advice.

The leader of Pillsbury’s Bid Protests team, Matt has achieved successful results for his clients in more than 50 bid protests at the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Matt also is a leading suspension and debarment lawyer. He has successfully represented corporations and individuals before numerous civilian and defense suspension and debarment officials, including the Air Force, the Army, DLA, the EPA and the Navy, to ensure their continued eligibility to participate in federal programs. Matt is active in the ABA’s Public Contracts section and has served as a vice-chair of that section’s Suspension and Debarment Committee. He has also successfully defended numerous defense contractors in False Claims Act litigation. A former Division One athlete, Matt was named a 2022 “Rising Star” in the government contracts field by Law360 and was recognized as a 2023 “Rising Star” in Government Contracts by Bloomberg Law. He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for Government Contracts in 2016 – 2018.

Representative Experience

  • Mitchell Vantage Systems LLC, B-421548.2 & .3, 29, 2023 – Successful defense of GAO protest challenging NASA’s contract award to client for a $300 million contract to provide engineering services to perform a broad range of technical research and development activities for the Goddard Space Flight Center. 
  • Sealing Technologies Inc., B-421863.1, Sept. 28, 2023 – Successful challenge to the terms of the solicitation as unduly restrictive of competition for a $100+ million Air Force procurement for defensive cyber hardware, which resulted in the agency taking corrective action, including the conduct of market research and revision of the solicitation requirements.
  • Systems Plus Inc., Case No. 23-1163 (Fed. Cl., Aug 11, 2023) – Successful Court of Federal Claims protest of Defense Health Agency’s decision to reject client’s proposal for information technology support services for the DHA Military Medical Treatment Facilities, which resulted in the agency taking corrective action.

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  • INDUS Technology, Inc., B-421327.2, July 7, 2023 – Successful protest of $90+ million Department of the Navy award, which forced the agency to take corrective action.
  • Delphinus, Engineering Inc., B-421574, July 5, 2023 CPD ¶ __ – Successful defense of $75+ million Department of Navy protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • Technik, Inc. B-421706.1, et al., July 5, 2023 – Successful protest of $100 million U.S. Agency for International Development award, which forced the agency to take corrective action.
  • Systems Plus Inc., B-419956.184, et al., June 29, 2023, 2023 CPD ¶ __ – Successful protest challenging the Department of Health and Human Services’ flawed decision to exclude client from participating in Phase 2 of the CIO-SP4 procurement, which resulted in a published decision.
  • Successfully represented government contractor in suspension and debarment matter before the Department of Air Force (February 2023).
  • J&J and ALMS Mission Support Solutions, LLC, B-421241.1, Nov. 30, 2022 – Successful pre-award protest of $100+ million Department of the Air Force procurement, which challenged the agency’s flawed “efficient competition” evaluation methodology, resulting in corrective action.
  • Systems Plus, Inc., B-419956.66, Nov. 29, 2022 – Successful protest challenging the Department of Health and Human Services’ flawed decision to exclude client from participating in Phase 2 of the CIO-SP4 procurement.
  • Cask NX, LLC, B-421194.1, B-421194.2, Nov. 15, 2022 – Successful protest of $35+ million Department of Agriculture award, which challenged the flawed best value tradeoff, resulting in corrective action.
  • Beshenich Muir & Associates LLC, B-420693.2, Oct. 7, 2022 – Successful pre-award protest of Department of the Army solicitation alleging improper disclosure of pricing information and a flawed evaluation scheme, resulting in corrective action, including a government internal investigation and action appropriate to ensure fairness and integrity in the procurement process.
  • Second Street Holdings LLC v. United States, Case No. 22-00253 (Fed. Cl., Oct. 4, 2022) – Successful defense of $1.3 billion lease award for SEC headquarters in Washington, DC.
  • R3 Strategic Support Group Inc., B-421017.1, Sept. 26, 2022 – Successful pre-award protest of Department of Homeland Security solicitation for Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Training and Awareness Solutions, alleging FAR violations and agency bias in favor of a particular offeror, resulting in cancellation of the solicitation, a government internal investigation and other corrective action.
  • Precision Metals Corp. v. Department of Defense, Case No. 22-03761 (E.D.N.Y., July 22, 2022) – Secured a rare and precedent-setting debarment victory for Precision Metals Corp. in the U.S. District of Court for the Eastern District of New York by obtaining a temporary restraining order and a court ruling that vacated the debarment.
  • Successfully represented government contractor in debarment matter before Department of the Army and negotiated administrative agreement enabling company to restore its eligibility and continue obtaining government contracts (February 2022).
  • Second Street Holdings LLC, B-417006.4, et al., Jan. 13, 2022 – Successful defense of $1.3 billion lease award for SEC headquarters in Washington, DC.
  • ECC Environmental LLC v. United States, Case No. 21-2087C (Fed. Cl. Nov. 4, 2021) – Successful protest of the Navy’s award decision for $290 million environmental remediation services contract, forcing the Navy to take corrective action.
  • Successfully represented government contractor in debarment matter before the Environmental Protection Agency and negotiated administrative agreement enabling company to restore its eligibility and continue obtaining government contracts (August 2021).
  • Sierra Nevada Corporation v. United States, Case No. 21–1186C (Fed. Cl. July 12, 2021) – Successful bid protest action that resulted in the permanent injunction of a $980 million Air Force contract.
  • CrowderGulf LLC, et al., B-418693.9, et al., Mar. 25, 2022 – Successful defense of $250 million+ Army Corps of Engineers IDIQ awards for debris management services.
  • Parsons Government Services Inc., B-420668.1, Apr. 19, 2022 – Successful protest of $315 million+ award to sustain and transform the Air Force’s Air Operations Center Weapon System, resulting in corrective action.
  • Candor Solutions LLC, B-417950.5, B-417950.6, May 10, 2021 – Successful defense of $163 million State Department contract for information technology support and instructional systems design and development services, which resulted in award to our client. 
  • AccelGov LLC v. United States, Case No. 21-1647C (Fed. Cl. Sep. 30, 2021) – Successful defense against protest of $3.5 million Marine Corps award of a bridge contract for IT services, defending claim that sole source award to 8(a) contractor was improper.
  • Counsel for CAE USA Inc. in a successful defense before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (Nos. 20-575 and 20-609, Oct. 28, 2020) and current action before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Nos. 21-1428 and 21-1469) of a $97 million helicopter training contract by the U.S. Department of the Army.
  • eTRANSERVICES Corp., B-419596.1, Mar. 30, 2021 – Successful defense of $29 million Navy contract for system administration and integrated logistics support, infrastructure, library and support services, which resulted in award to our client.
  • INDUS Technology Inc., B-418958, Oct. 21, 2020 – Successful protest of the Navy’s award decision for $50 million logistics support services contract. After GAO ADR Outcome Prediction, the Navy decided to take corrective action and reimburse attorneys’ fees.
  • Evergreen JV, B-418475.4, Sept. 23, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 301 – Successful protest of the Air Force’s decision to remove client from competition in $2 billion Brooks Act procurement, resulting in published decision which sustains all five protest grounds and requires reimbursement of attorneys’ fees.
  • INDUS Technology Inc., B-418729.1, June 25, 2020 – Successful protest of the Navy’s award decision for $50 million financial and administrative services contract, forcing the Navy to take corrective action.
  • Battelle Memorial Institute, B-418047.3, B-418047.4, May 18, 2020, 2020 CPD – Successful protest of $20 million+ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention award, resulting in corrective action. 
  • Evergreen JV, B-418475.2, Apr. 21, 2020 – Successful protest of Air Force decision to remove client from competition in Brooks Act procurement, resulting in corrective action. 
  • Qi Tech LLC, B-416711.10, Apr. 16, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 148 – Successful defense of $50 million+ protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • MCR Federal LLC, B-416654.5 & .6, Mar. 20, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 97 – Successful defense of multiple GAO protests which challenged the $72 million contract for complex acquisition and financial support services for the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise.
  • Successfully represented publicly traded company in suspension matter before the Department of Air Force (October 2019).
  • Battelle Memorial Institute, B-418047.1, B-418047.2, October 22, 2019 – Successful protest of $20 million+ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Redhorse Corp., B-417902.1, Sept. 20, 2019 – Successful protest of $15 million Department of Defense award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Altavian Inc., B-417701.1, B-417701.2, Sept. 17, 2019, 2019 CPD – Successful defense of $50 million+ protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • Quantech Services Inc., B-417347, B-417347.2, May 29, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶ 203 – Successful defense of $35 million+ protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • Abacus Tech. Corp., B-416747.10, Apr. 3, 2019 – Successful protest of $500 million+ Air Force award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Client Solution Architects LLC B-417176.1, Jan. 28, 2019 – Successful defense of $100 million+ protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • Battistella S.p.A., B-416597.4, Jan. 24, 2019 – Successful defense of $40 million+ protest, resulting in award to our client.
  • Successfully represented government contractor in proposed debarment matter before the Department of Air Force (December 2018).
  • Tatitlek Technologies Inc., B-416711.5, Dec. 21, 2018 – Successful protest of $50 million+ Navy award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Navient Solutions LLC. v. United States, No. 18-1679 (Fed. Cl. Nov. 14, 2018) - Successful pre-award protest of $5 billion+ Department of Education solicitation, resulting in corrective action and permitting our client to rejoin the competition.
  • Submitted Disclosure and Secured Administrative Agreement for Aerospace and Defense Components Supplier (June 2018)
    Submitted disclosure to the Air Force and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General to address concerns stemming from founder and officer’s criminal indictment. Helped the company secure administrative agreement with the Air Force by installing a new leadership team and implementing a robust Ethics and Compliance program.
  • Immersion Consulting LLC, B-415155.4, May 18, 2018, 2018 CPD ¶ 187
    Successful protest challenging $10 million+ award, where the agency’s evaluation was inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation and not adequately documented.
  • Associated Energy Group LLC, B-415947, Feb. 2, 2018
    Successful protest of $25 million+ Defense Logistics Agency award, resulting in corrective action and permitting our client to rejoin the competition.
  • Debarment Action for Large Home Builder (December 2017)
    Successfully addressed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development concerns relating to our client’s conviction for knowingly executing a scheme to defraud financial institutions. HUD terminated the administrative action.
  • Suspension Action for Aerospace and Defense Components Supplier (October 2017)
    Successfully addressed U.S. Navy concerns regarding client’s 2014 suspension stemming from founder and CEO’s criminal indictment for theft from the company. Pillsbury helped the company remove the CEO, install a new leadership team and implement a robust ethics and compliance program.
  • STG, Inc., B-415580.1, B-415580.2, Dec. 5, 2017
    Successful protest of Customs and Border Protection’s $75 million+ award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Immersion Consulting, LLC B-415155, B-415155.2, Dec. 4, 2017, 2017
    Successful protest challenging the Defense Human Resource Activity’s $10 million+ award.
  • Harper Constr. Co., Inc., B-415042; B-415042.2, Nov. 7, 2017, 2017
    Successful protest challenging the Navy’s rejection of Harper’s proposal for a $50 million+ hanger facility construction project.
  • T Square Logistics Servs. Corp. v. United States, 2017 WL 4638265 (Fed. Cl., Oct. 16, 2017)
    Successful protest challenging the Air Force’s rejection of T Square’s proposal as late, thereby creating new precedent in this evolving area of contract formation law.
  • LOUI Consulting Grp., Inc., B-413703.9, Aug. 28, 2017, 2017 CPD ¶ 277
    Successful defense against protest of $30 million+ Defense Health Agency award, defending against claim that the agency failed to properly evaluate the awardee’s past performance proposal.
  • Continental Servs. Grp., Inc. v. United States, 132 Fed. Cl. 191 (May 2, 2017)
    Challenged Department of Education’s $2.8 billion procurement of debt collection services, securing a TRO and Preliminary Injunction. As a result, the government agreed to amend the solicitation, accept revised proposals and conduct new evaluations.
  • Suspension & Debarment Action for Defense Contractor (December 2016)
    Following review of tens of thousands of documents, convinced U.S. Air Force that a prior unsatisfactory contract performance related solely to our client’s predecessor in interest and in no way reflected our client’s current responsibility or performance. The Air Force terminated the administrative action.
  • Suspension & Debarment Action for Large Defense Contractor (November 2016)
    Devised innovative solution to establish present responsibility and secure termination of administrative action brought by the Department of the Navy against a large defense contractor client in spite of evidence that an employee improperly accessed and later used non-public documents while working at a Navy facility.
  • Investigation & Disclosure for Aerospace/ Defense Components Supplier (August 2016)
    Assisted aerospace and defense components supplier in submitting mandatory disclosure under FAR 52.203-7(c)(2)’s Anti-Kickback Procedures based upon an allegation that its former CEO made questionable payments to a large defense contractor to secure lucrative subcontracts.
  • Ameritac Inc, B-413611, B- 413611.2, Nov. 28, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 354
    Successful defense against a protest of a $12 million Department of Agriculture award, challenging the Past Performance evaluation.
  • OSI Vision, B-414067, Nov. 21, 2016, 2016
    Successful defense against a protest of a $7 million Air Force award, challenging the technical evaluation and price realism.
  • Systems Plus Inc., B-413323.1, July 22, 2016
    Successful protest challenging award of $65 million Army contract to operate a training facility, resulting in corrective action.
  • Alutiiq-Banner Joint Venture, B-412952, July 15, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 205
    Successful protest of a $25 million award for a NASA human resources support services contract, which challenged the agency’s flawed past performance evaluation and its improper award of an 8(a) set-aside contract to an ineligible joint venture.
  • National Sourcing Inc., B-411703.2, March 22, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 115
    Successful defense against protest of $15 million Navy award, defending against claims that the agency unreasonably evaluated the protester’s staffing plan and past performance.
  • United States ex rel. Billy Joe Hunt v. The Parsons Corp., 5:13-CV-02168-RDP (N.D. Ala. Apr. 28, 2016)
    Obtained a motion to dismiss with Prejudice on behalf of Parsons in a False Claims Act matter decided by the Northern District of Alabama.
  • CymSTAR Services LLC, B-412957.2 & .3, Apr. 26, 2016
    Successful protest challenging award of $105 million Air Force contract for B-52 training systems, resulting in corrective action.
  • Consigli ECC LLC, B- 412923, Apr. 13, 2016
    Successful protest challenging the Navy’s decision to exclude our client from participating in Phase II of an acquisition for an approximately $90 million design/build construction contract, resulting in corrective action.
  • All Native Inc., B-411693, B-411693.2, B-411693.3, Oct. 5, 2015, 2015 CPD ¶ 337
    Successful defense against protest of $88 million Navy award, defending against claims that the agency failed to properly evaluate the protester’s technical and cost proposals.
  • Springfield Parcel C, LLC v. United States, 2015 WL 7568200 (Fed. Cl., Nov. 25, 2015)
    Successful protest of $320 million GSA award for the TSA’s new headquarters in the Washington, DC, area, challenging GSA’s evaluation of the awardee’s technical proposal. The court set aside GSA’s contracting decision and voided the lease, holding that the awardee’s proposal had exceeded the 625,000-square-foot maximum specified in the request for lease proposals and the congressionally approved prospectus for the procurement.
  • Madison Research Corp., Kratos Defense, B-411761, July 22, 2015
    Successful protest challenging a small business set-aside decision by the Defense Logistics Agency, resulting in corrective action, which will allow our client to compete for this acquisition.
  • Cask Techs., LLC B-411300.1, B-411300.2, Apr. 10, 2015
    Successful protest of $64 million award for the Marine Corps Acquisition, Logistics, and Administration Support Services for the Program Manager, Advanced Amphibious Assault and the Program Manager, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected programs, resulting in corrective action.
  • NAICS Appeal of Pinnacle Solutions, Inc., SBA No. NAICS-5651, April 8, 2015
    Successful defense against NAICS Code Appeal of Air Force procurement for the KC-10 training system program.
  • T Square Logistics Servs. Corp., B-411218, Mar. 30, 2015
    Successful protest of $65 million Air Force award for Transient Aircraft Services, challenging the agency’s best value determination and proposal evaluations, resulting in corrective action.
  • eAlliant LLC, B-407332.6, B-407332.10, Jan. 14, 2015
    Successful protest of $65 million award for Navy base operations and administrative support services, challenging the agency’s proposal evaluations following corrective action and resulting in further corrective action.
  • Cask LLC, B-410579.2, Dec. 23, 2014
    Successful protest of General Services Administration award for Command and Control support services, which challenged an improper sole-source award and resulted in corrective action.
  • Alutiiq Pacific LLC, B-410574, October 9, 2014
    Successful protest against $20 million Navy task order contract for professional command support services, resulting in corrective action.
  • Mustang Technical Services LLC, B- 410373, Sept. 25, 2014
    Successful defense against protest of $10 million Navy award, defending against claims that the sole source award was improper and that the agency failed to consider a conflict of interest.
  • Alutiiq Pacific LLC, B-409942, July 1, 2014
    Successful protest against Navy multiple award task order contract (MATOC) awards with evaluated $42 million task order for in-service engineering support, resulting in corrective action, including the award of a MATOC to Alutiiq.
  • Alutiiq Pacific LLC, B-409584, B-409584.2, June 18, 2014, 2014
    CPD 96
    Successful protest of a $37 million award for an Army information technology contract, which challenged the attribution of past performance among corporate affiliates, the reasonableness of the staffing evaluation and disparate treatment of the proposals.
  • Caltex Plastics Inc. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., CV 14-544 PA
    (Ex) (C.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2014)
    Obtained a motion to dismiss with Prejudice on behalf of Lockheed Martin in a third-party beneficiary matter decided by the Central District of California.
  • HRCI–MPSC PASS LLC, B-408919, B-408919.2, Jan. 8, 2014,
    2014 CPD 25
    Successful defense against protest of $18 million Army award of a bridge contract for professional administrative support services, defending claim that sole source award to 8(a) contractor was improper.
  • Contrack Int’l Inc., B-408945, B-408945.2, Dec. 27, 2013, 2013
    CPD 300
    Successful defense against protest of $44 million Army task order award for the construction of transient quarters and enlisted and officer dining facility in Bahrain, defending agency’s rejection of protester’s proposal for failing to meet material requirement.
  • Threat Mgmt. Grp., B-407766.6, July 3, 2013, 2013 CPD 167
    Successful defense against protest of $45 million Air Force award for explosive ordinance disposal support services, defending claims of an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) and unreasonable technical and past performance evaluations.
  • Alutiiq Pacific, LLC, B-407810.3, July 17, 2013
    Successful protest of $100 million Army award for professional administrative support services, which challenged the Army’s corrective action and resulted in additional corrective action, including contract award for Alutiiq.
  • Envtl. Chem. Corp., B-408030, February 25, 2013
    Successful protest of task order award under the Army’s Advance Contract Initiative, resulting in corrective action, including the award of the task order to ECC.
  • ECC Int’l Inc., B-407856, Jan. 4, 2013
    Successful protest of Army award for utility infrastructure upgrades at the Afghanistan National Army Regional Military Training Center, resulting in corrective action, including a new review of ECCI’s responsibility with respect to the procurement and award of the contract to ECCI.
  • ECC Int’l Inc., B-407860, Jan. 4, 2013
    Successful pre-award protest challenging solicitation requirement for the Army’s Forward Area Arming and Refueling Points in Afghanistan, resulting in corrective action, including contract award to ECCI.
  • IBM Corp., U.S. Federal, B- 406934, B- 406934.2, B-
    406934.3, Oct. 3, 2012, 2013 CPD 89
    Successful protest of $543 million award for Department of Veterans Affairs real time location system, challenging the agency’s best value discriminators and proposal evaluations.

Professional Highlights

Speaking Engagements

  • "From Capitol Hill to Corporate Realities: Government Transitions and New Opportunities to Obtain Government Funding,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon, January 23, 2024.
  • " Small Business, 8(a), and ANCs,“ Pub K’s Government Contracts Annual Review, Washington, DC, February 14, 2024.
  • "An Update on Suspension and Debarment Activity and Compliance Advice to Keep Contractors out of the Government’s Line of Fire,” Federal Publications 2023 Government Contracts Review and Outlook Seminar, La Jolla, CA, November 14, 2023.

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  • “Bid Protests – Newly Activist COFC Judiciary and Agencies’ Continuing Trend Toward Corrective Action,” Pillsbury’s 2023 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, April 20, 2023.
  • “SBA – How to Maintain Your Status and Avoid Challenges,” Pillsbury’s 2023 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, April 20, 2023.
  • "Fraud, Suspension & Debarment, False Claims Act and the “Parade of Horribles”" Pillsbury’s 2023 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, April 20, 2023.
  • "Update – Advanced Flow-Downs, Mandatory DFARS Clauses and Best Practices," Public Contracting Institute's Supply Chain Symposium, February 21, 2023
  • “Bid Challenges: International Perspectives,” GW Law Government Procurement Law Program and King's College, London, Webinar, June 15, 2021
  • "Navigating Recent Changes to the Small Business Landscape," Public Contracting Institute's Supply Chain Symposium, April 15, 2020
  • “Your Tax Dollars at Work: The Truth Behind Government Contracting,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon, January 28, 2020
  • “Navigating Bid Protests in Changing Times,” Pillsbury’s 5th Annual West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Carlsbad, CA, May 9, 2019
  • “Developments in Suspension and Debarment and Ethics Practices Impacting the Supply Chain,” April 17, 2019
  • “W05 – Never Hearing ‘I Told You So’” – Best Practices for Preparing and Responding to a Federal Investigation,” Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics Conference, October 24, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • “What Government Contractors Need to Know About Bid Protests,” NCMA World Congress, July 28, 2015
  • “When Is a Small Business Not a Small Business,” NCMA World Congress, July 28, 2015
  • Honors & Awards
    • Recognized as a “Rising Star” in Government Contracts by Bloomberg Law (2023)
    • Recognized as a “Rising Star” in Government Contracts by Law360 (2022) and Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2016—2018)
  • Associations
    • Vice-chair of the American Bar Association, Public Contracts Law Section, Suspension and Debarment Committee.

Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2011
    cum laude

    B.A., Loyola Marymount University, 2008
    cum laude

Admissions

  • California

Matt's Insights

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