Boston · MA · Vetted Directory

Government Contracts Lawyers in Boston

Bidding on a federal solicitation out of Hanscom, Natick, the GSA New England region, or one of the area's research labs? Protesting a Chapter 30B award from a Massachusetts municipality? Defending an FCA case in District of Massachusetts? The firms below handle federal, Massachusetts state, and municipal contracts, public construction bidding, suspension and debarment, and FCA work for New England contractors.

4
Vetted Firms
100 days
GAO Protest Decision
Ch. 30B
MA Procurement Act

Updated January 25, 2026

When a Boston business needs a government contracts lawyer

Eastern Massachusetts is one of the most concentrated federal-procurement markets in New England. Hanscom Air Force Base, the Natick Soldier Systems Center, the VA Boston Healthcare System, Volpe Transportation Center in Cambridge, Lincoln Lab affiliations, NUWC Newport (RI) work that touches Boston-area subs, and the GSA New England Region 1 generate steady federal contract volume. Add the state and city footprint — MassDOT, MBTA, Massport, the Commonwealth's executive agencies, City of Boston procurements, and the dozens of local school and municipal authorities — and Boston government contracts lawyers have plenty to do.

Six categories of work bring Boston businesses to government contracts counsel. First, federal bid protests at the GAO and Court of Federal Claims — same federal rules as anywhere else, but Boston counsel is often more accessible and less expensive than DC equivalents for Massachusetts-headquartered contractors. Second, federal contract administration and claims — Requests for Equitable Adjustment, contracting officer final decisions, ASBCA/CBCA appeals, terminations for convenience and default. Third, False Claims Act defense — the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts and the District's qui tam relator bar are both highly active. Boston FCA exposure is real for federal contractors, healthcare entities billing federal programs, and grant recipients. Fourth, Massachusetts state and local procurement — Chapter 30B (general procurement at municipalities and state agencies), Chapter 149 (public building construction), Chapter 30 § 39M (public works). Each carries different protest forums and timelines. Fifth, suspension and debarment — federal exclusion and Massachusetts debarment under M.G.L. c. 29 § 29F. Sixth, compliance and government investigations — cost accounting standards, DCAA audits, FAR compliance counseling, internal investigations, and parallel civil/criminal exposure.

Massachusetts adds its own state-law layer to federal procurement work. The Massachusetts False Claims Act (M.G.L. c. 12 §§ 5A-5O) parallels the federal statute with a state qui tam mechanism. The Massachusetts Inspector General has broad procurement-oversight authority. The Office of the Attorney General Bid Unit handles construction bid protests on a fast cycle. Boston government contracts firms know how to coordinate federal, state, and local exposure into a single defense.

Engage Boston government contracts counsel before the protest clock runs, before the audit response is due, before responding to a CID or grand jury subpoena. The first 14 days drive the next 14 months.

Firms in Boston that handle government contracts

1

Holland & Knight LLP — Boston

Chambers USA-ranked (Government Contracts, Nationwide)Top-tier BigLaw rates

Boston office of the national firm. Multidisciplinary government contracts practice across federal bid protests, claims, FCA defense, suspension/debarment, FAR compliance, teaming and prime/sub disputes, and federal grant compliance. Boston office combines local presence with national federal procurement depth. Frequent counsel for New England-headquartered defense, IT, healthcare, and infrastructure contractors.

External listingEnglishBoston + DC + national
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2

Mintz — Government Law

Boston-headquartered with deep MA government practiceTop-tier hourly

Boston-headquartered national firm. The Government Law practice has direct public sector and federal-agency experience and counsels clients on corporate compliance, internal investigations, FOIA, lobbying, ethics, campaign finance, and the open meeting law alongside federal and state procurement. Particular strength on regulated industries (healthcare, technology, energy) where federal grants and contracts interact with the broader regulatory environment.

External listingEnglishBoston (HQ) + DC + national
Visit Firm WebsiteRequest Free Consult
3

Hinckley Allen — Public Construction

Chambers USA-ranked (Construction, MA)Top-tier hourly

New England regional firm with substantial Boston practice. Particularly deep on Massachusetts public construction procurement — Chapter 149, Chapter 30 § 39M, DCAMM certification disputes, filed sub-bid issues, and bid protests at the Attorney General's Fair Labor Division Bid Unit. Strong fit for contractors, owners, and public authorities involved in MBTA, Massport, MassDOT, and major municipal construction.

External listingEnglishBoston + Providence + Hartford
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4

Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub LLP

Massachusetts public contracts litigation experienceMid-market hourly

Boston firm with significant litigation experience under the Massachusetts statutory framework governing public construction contracts and procurement. Strong fit for contractors, suppliers, and public entities facing Chapter 30B and Chapter 149 disputes that don't require national federal-contracts firepower.

External listingEnglishBoston
Visit Firm WebsiteRequest Free Consult

What government contracts work typically costs in Boston

Federal GAO bid protest. $25,000-$80,000 through GAO decision for a single-issue protest. Multi-issue and document-heavy protests run higher.

Court of Federal Claims protest. $60,000-$200,000.

SBA size protest / OHA appeal. $15,000-$50,000 for Area Office size protest defense; $25,000-$75,000 for OHA appeal.

Massachusetts Chapter 30B bid protest at the Inspector General. $10,000-$45,000.

Chapter 149 / 30 § 39M bid protest at the Attorney General's Bid Unit. $10,000-$45,000 through decision.

DCAA audit defense. $50,000-$300,000+.

False Claims Act defense. $250,000-$1.5M+ through resolution. Massachusetts FCA cases often involve healthcare-program billing, with substantial cost-benefit decisions at the CID and qui tam unsealing stages.

Suspension/debarment. $75,000-$350,000 through final agency decision.

Hourly rates. Boston mid-market gov contracts: $475-$825. Top-tier BigLaw with Boston offices: $925-$1,400+.

Typical timelines for Boston government contracts matters

Federal GAO bid protest: filed within 10 calendar days of award or post-debriefing. Statutory decision deadline: 100 days.

COFC bid protest: typically 60-150 days from filing.

MA Inspector General Chapter 30B protest: usually filed 5-14 days from notice. Decision in 30-60 days.

Attorney General Bid Unit (Chapter 149 / 30 § 39M): decision usually within 14-30 days.

DCAA audit response: initial response windows 15-60 days; final determinations 6-18 months.

FCA qui tam case: typically 1-4 years under seal in District of Massachusetts. Post-unseal litigation adds 1-3 years.

Suspension/debarment: Show Cause Letter through final decision usually 4-9 months.

Talk to a Boston government contracts lawyer — free.

Tell us briefly about the procurement, the protest deadline, or the audit. We route a confidential request to the best-fit Boston firm in our directory.

Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Government Contracts in Boston — FAQ

How does Massachusetts Chapter 30B work for state and local contracts?
Chapter 30B (the Uniform Procurement Act) governs procurement of supplies and services by Massachusetts local governmental units and certain state agencies. It sets thresholds — below $10,000 (or such other threshold as updated): no bidding required but reasonable price required; $10,000-$50,000 (current bands): written quotes from three vendors; over $50,000: sealed competitive bids (IFB) or competitive sealed proposals (RFP). The statute also has supplemental rules for real property dispositions and intergovernmental agreements. Most local procurement protests are heard by the Office of the Inspector General within strict timelines.
How is M.G.L. c. 149 different from Chapter 30B?
Chapter 149 governs public building construction projects over $150,000 — vertical construction at public agencies, including schools, town/city halls, public housing, and other public facilities. It mandates DCAMM certification, filed sub-bid procedures for designated trades, and strict bid timing. Chapter 30 § 39M governs public works (horizontal: roads, water, sewer, site work) projects over $100,000. Chapter 30B covers most other procurement (supplies, services, professional services, real property). Boston government contracts lawyers know which statute applies to which procurement at the threshold step.
What does a Boston government contracts case cost?
Federal bid protest at the GAO: $25,000-$80,000 through decision. Court of Federal Claims protest: $60,000-$200,000. SBA size protest / OHA appeal: $15,000-$75,000. Massachusetts Inspector General bid protest under Chapter 30B: $10,000-$45,000. Chapter 149 / 30 § 39M bid protest at the Attorney General's Bid Unit: $10,000-$45,000. False Claims Act defense: $250,000-$1.5M+. Boston hourly rates: $475-$925 mid-market, $625-$1,200+ top-tier.
Where do Massachusetts public bid protests get filed?
Most Chapter 30B (general procurement) protests are filed with the Office of the Inspector General within a tight window (commonly 5-14 days, depending on the procurement and the basis). Chapter 149 (public building) and Chapter 30 § 39M (public works) bid protests are filed with the Attorney General's Fair Labor Division Bid Unit. Both forums move quickly — decisions usually within 30-60 days. A timely protest can also support injunctive relief in Superior Court when warranted.
My Massachusetts state contract was terminated — can I appeal?
Yes. The contract's terms usually specify the dispute-resolution path. Many Massachusetts state contracts include a contractually-mandated administrative appeal to the agency, then judicial review in Superior Court under M.G.L. c. 30A. Some contracts arbitrate. Federal contracts terminations are appealed to the contracting officer, then to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals or Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, with further appeal to the Federal Circuit. Engage Boston government contracts counsel before the contractual appeal deadline runs.
Can a Boston lawyer handle a federal bid protest at the GAO?
Yes. The GAO accepts counsel admitted in any U.S. state. Many Boston firms have full federal procurement practices and represent Massachusetts and New England contractors in federal forums regularly. The bid protest can be filed and litigated electronically through the GAO's EPDS. Boston counsel is often less expensive than equivalent DC representation and works well when the contractor is based in Massachusetts and its supporting witnesses, documents, and engineering teams are local.

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