By Anthony I. Shin, Esq. | Federal Contracting & Compliance Law Attorney | Shin Law Office
Cut from the Deal? What Virginia Beach Subs Need to Know Right Now
If you’re a federal subcontractor based in Virginia Beach, here’s a scenario that might sound painfully familiar:
You team up with a prime contractor to go after a federal bid.
You bring past performance, technical insight, and maybe even help write the proposal.
The contract gets awarded.
Then suddenly—radio silence.
They stop responding. They move forward without you.
It happens more often than you’d think.
And when it does, you’re left wondering: Was that teaming agreement even worth the paper it was printed on?
Let’s talk about your rights—and what I can do to help.
What Went Wrong?
The first thing I ask is: what’s in your agreement?
In Virginia, courts tend to view teaming agreements as “agreements to agree.”
That means if the contract is vague; if it only says the two parties might work together later—it’s often unenforceable.
But if your agreement spells out:
- A defined scope of work
- A specific percentage of the contract you were promised
- Mutual obligations after the award, then you might have a case.
I’ve reviewed dozens of these. Sometimes I have to give the hard truth: “There’s nothing here to enforce.”
But other times, the prime’s actions cross the line into bad faith, and we take action.
Can You Get Paid for Your Work?
In many of these situations, subcontractors ask me:
“Can I at least recover the cost of helping them win?”
Maybe. If you provided technical input, spent time preparing the bid, or incurred costs in reliance on that agreement, we may pursue a claim under unjust enrichment or promissory estoppel.
I’ve helped subcontractors recover proposal preparation costs, secure last-minute settlements, and even re-engage with the contract.
How I Help Subcontractors in Virginia Beach
Here’s what I do when a teaming deal goes south:
- Review your agreement for enforceability under Virginia law
- Preserve your evidence: emails, proposal drafts, role statements, and communications
- Negotiate with the prime contractor to enforce your position
- If necessary, file suit for breach or unjust enrichment
- Draft stronger agreements for your next bid—so this never happens again
I’ll give you a straight answer. If you have a case,
I’ll fight for it.
If you don’t, I’ll show you how to protect yourself next time.
Don’t Let It Slide
Getting cut out after the win isn’t just frustrating; it can seriously damage your pipeline, your reputation, and your bottom line.
And the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to act.
Let’s review your teaming agreement together.
I’ll help you figure out if you have legal leverage—and what steps you can take right now.
You helped them win.
You deserve more than a “Thanks.”
Let’s make it right.
Anthony I. Shin, Esq.
