Practice Area — Government Contracts Law · Fairfax, Virginia
Before Alex Heidt was your government contracts attorney, he negotiated them — more than $15 billion worth, with the U.S. federal government, the United Nations, and foreign governments across six continents. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, The Heidt Law Firm provides government contracts counsel to defense contractors, subcontractors, and businesses throughout Northern Virginia, the DC Metro area, and nationwide.
Alex Heidt has worked inside the Federal Acquisition Regulation for 25 years at the highest levels of the defense industry. As Director of Contracts and Business Strategy and Vice President at Lockheed Martin, he oversaw a multibillion-dollar contracts operation supporting defense programs across six continents. As Senior Vice President of Business Development and Air Force Programs at Harris Corporation and Senior Vice President of Navy Programs at Alion Science and Technology, he built and directed business development operations pursuing and winning government contracts at scale.
He has negotiated directly with the Pentagon, federal agencies, the United Nations, and foreign governments. He understands how those entities evaluate risk, where leverage exists, and what it takes to address a contract facing termination — having been the person making those decisions on the government-customer side. Whether the issue involves FAR and DFARS compliance, a bid protest, a Contract Disputes Act claim, or enforcement of a teaming agreement, the analysis draws from operational experience.
When a major Lockheed contract in Afghanistan faced termination due to logistics failures, Alex flew to forward operating bases, met with in-country government executives, and the contract was extended. He has also handled payment disputes and compliance matters involving the United Nations and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
As a cleared attorney, Alex Heidt engages directly on matters involving defense programs, contracts, and sensitive national security work with the appropriate level of discretion. For matters involving defense programs, call (703) 567-7903 to discuss.
Government contracts law is one of the core practice areas of The Heidt Law Firm. For contractors in Fairfax, Northern Virginia, and the broader DC Metro defense corridor, this is a central area of the firm’s legal and strategic work, informed by 25 years inside the federal contracting system.
Compliance counsel for prime contractors and subcontractors navigating the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — from flow-down clauses to audits, mandatory disclosures, and regulatory changes affecting contractors in Fairfax, Northern Virginia, and nationwide.
Representation in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and agency-level protest forums — for disappointed bidders challenging an award and awardees defending a contract they earned.
Pursuit and defense of contract claims under the Contract Disputes Act — including Requests for Equitable Adjustment, terminations for default and convenience, differing site conditions, constructive changes, and disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
Drafting and negotiation of teaming agreements, mentor-protégé agreements, and joint venture arrangements — structured to protect your position and enforce your rights whether you are the prime contractor or the subcontractor.
Immediate response counsel for contractors who have received cure notices or termination for default notices — where the clock starts the day the notice arrives and early action determines whether the contract can be saved.
Counsel on 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB, and related small business programs — including certification strategy, compliance obligations, and SBA-related disputes. See also the firm’s 8(a), Native American & NHO Law practice.
Representation of prime contractors and subcontractors in payment disputes, scope disputes, teaming agreement enforcement, flow-down clause conflicts, and disputes over subcontract terms that the prime and subcontractor interpret differently.
Contract portfolio review and due diligence for acquisitions involving government contractors — identifying hidden risk, compliance exposure, and value opportunities before a deal closes. Connected to the firm’s Corporate Law & M&A and M&A Advisory practices.
Counsel on international government contracts, Foreign Military Sales matters, and cross-border defense transactions — informed by direct experience negotiating with foreign governments, the United Nations, and international defense agencies across six continents.
The Heidt Law Firm maintains a specialized practice in 8(a) certification, Native Hawaiian Organization contracting, tribal entity formation, and government contracting strategy for Alaska Native Corporations and other tribal businesses. This is one of the more technically demanding areas of government contracts law.
When a client’s NHO 8(a) application had been denied repeatedly, the firm identified the core structural defects, redrafted the entire package, and obtained SBA approval in less than 45 days. For clients navigating the 8(a) program, NHO contracting, tribal entity formation, or related governance matters, the firm provides specialized counsel.
When a major Lockheed contract in Afghanistan faced termination due to logistics failures, Alex flew to forward operating bases and met with in-country government executives. He presented a path forward based on operational experience and preparation. The contract was extended and the termination notice was resolved.
In two separate high-stakes matters, Alex arrived at a counterparty that had not paid and full payment was received within 24 hours. At the United Nations, Lockheed Martin had gone unpaid for three years on an emergency humanitarian base camp contract in Darfur. At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, more than $15 million in invoices had been disputed following a major acquisition. Both were resolved within 24 hours of arrival.
A client retained The Heidt Law Firm after earlier unsuccessful attempts to obtain SBA 8(a) certification for a Native Hawaiian Organization. The firm identified the core structural defects in the prior applications, redrafted the package, and submitted a compliant application. The SBA approved the certification in less than 45 days.
The Heidt Law Firm represents government contractors across the full spectrum of the federal market — from defense primes and large systems integrators navigating complex classified programs to small businesses pursuing their first set-aside contract. Clients include 8(a) certified businesses, Native Hawaiian Organizations, Alaska Native Corporations, defense subcontractors, IT services firms, professional services contractors, and international companies entering the U.S. federal market. Many are based in Fairfax, Northern Virginia, or the DC Metro area. Others operate nationwide but need counsel who understands the Virginia federal contracting corridor.
What they share is a need for legal counsel that understands government contracting as both a body of law and a business — where the differences between a winning and losing proposal, a profitable and money-losing contract, and a successful and terminated program often come down to the financial and operational mechanics underneath the legal language.
The Heidt Law Firm handles government contracts matters in Virginia state courts, the Eastern District of Virginia — one of the most active federal courts in the country for government contracting disputes — and before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Small Business Administration. The firm also appears pro hac vice in other jurisdictions and handles international government contracts matters informed by direct executive experience negotiating with foreign governments and the United Nations.
A government contracts attorney advises contractors and subcontractors on federal procurement law, FAR and DFARS compliance, bid protests, contract disputes, claims, teaming agreements, terminations, and related strategic issues that arise when doing business with the U.S. government. At The Heidt Law Firm, that advice is grounded in 25 years of experience managing government contracts from the executive side — which changes the depth of analysis every client receives.
If you are challenging or defending a contract award, experienced counsel matters significantly. Bid protests before the GAO, Court of Federal Claims, and agency forums move on compressed timelines — the record is built quickly, the deadlines are strict, and the legal and business consequences of an award or a loss are immediate. Early engagement with counsel who understands the specific forum and the likely arguments on both sides is often determinative.
FAR compliance refers to following the Federal Acquisition Regulation — and, for defense contractors, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement — which together govern how federal contracts are awarded, performed, modified, audited, and enforced. FAR compliance affects invoicing, subcontracting, cost accounting, mandatory disclosures, ethics obligations, audit rights, and virtually every other aspect of performing a government contract. Violations — even unintentional ones — can trigger terminations, debarment, False Claims Act exposure, and disputes that cost far more to resolve than they would have cost to prevent.
A termination for default can lead to reprocurement costs assessed against the contractor, negative past performance evaluations affecting future awards, payment disputes over work already performed, and in some cases debarment proceedings. It should be addressed immediately with counsel who understands both the legal remedies and the operational realities — including whether the termination can be converted to a termination for convenience, whether a cure notice response is still available, and what the contractor’s defenses are under the applicable clause.
A Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA) is a contractor’s request to modify the contract price or schedule to compensate for government-caused changes, differing site conditions, constructive changes, or other events entitling the contractor to additional compensation. REAs are governed by the Changes clause and related FAR provisions and must be submitted in accordance with specific procedures. An REA that is improperly documented, submitted late, or inadequately supported is far harder to recover on — which is why early engagement with government contracts counsel when a compensable event occurs is important.
Yes. Depending on the facts, a small business may challenge an award through a bid protest at the GAO, an agency-level protest, or a size or status protest before the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. Each forum has different procedures, timelines, and standards. The correct path depends on the nature of the issue — whether it is an evaluation error, a size or status question, or an organizational conflict of interest — and the forum where the challenge is most likely to succeed.
Yes. While the firm is based in Fairfax and has deep roots in the Northern Virginia and DC Metro defense corridor, it represents government contractors nationwide — particularly in matters before the GAO, Court of Federal Claims, Armed Services Board, Civilian Board, and SBA. For matters that require local Virginia court appearances, the firm practices in all Virginia state and federal courts. For matters in other jurisdictions, the firm can appear pro hac vice in coordination with local counsel where required.
