Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 18 MARCH 2024

Other Transactions: Freedom To Launch?

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Contributor
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

About Kelley Drye We’re focused—in key areas of the law and on the nuances of each matter—to help...

View firm profile
Explore more from Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Many laws and regulations governing U.S. Government contracts do not apply to ​"Other Transactions" ("OTs").

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Dorn C. McGrath III
Dorn C. McGrath III
Ken M. Kanzawa
Ken M. Kanzawa

This article was authored in conjunction with
Kelley Drye's participation in Space Beach Law Lab 2024

Many laws and regulations governing U.S. Government contracts do not apply to "Other Transactions" ("OTs"). Since the first days of the space program, Congress has authorized the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") to use OTs "as may be necessary" and "on such terms as it may deem appropriate" to carry out its mission, going beyond contracts, leases, and cooperative agreements. NASA OTs, called "Space Act Agreements" ("SAAs"), remove potential obstacles to attaining "the fullest commercial use of space." In addition to NASA's SAAs, Congress has granted OT authority to other agencies, including the Department of Defense ("DoD"), which awards OTs for research, prototype, and production purposes. Exemption from the voluminous Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR") system makes OTs particularly attractive to non-traditional contractors and small

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

See more popular content from

Article

SBA Extends Deadline For Comments On Historic Overhaul Of Size Standards

The Small Business Administration has extended the comment period for two proposed rules that could dramatically reshape federal government contracting by significantly expanding the pool of entities eligible for small business set-aside procurements. With some size standard thresholds proposed to increase as much as tenfold, these changes would fundamentally alter the makeup of the small business contractor base.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP
Article

BIOSECURE Act Update: Court Enjoins WuXi AppTec’s 1260H Designation, but Strategic and Compliance Clocks Keep Running

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has preliminarily enjoined the Department of War from enforcing WuXi AppTec's Section 1260H designation, finding the agency misread its evidence on state and military affiliation. However, this ruling does not close alternative pathways to biotechnology company of concern (BCC) designation under the BIOSECURE Act, and earlier supply-chain restrictions continue to drive near-term compliance decisions with a critical June 30, 2027 deadline for sub-tier supp
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 14, 2026

The Treasury Department intensifies economic pressure on Iran through Operation Economic Outcast, suspending aviation licenses and sanctioning dozens of entities while implementing a presumption of denial for Iran-related transactions. Meanwhile, new enforcement actions target Chinese cybercrime platforms, Ecuadorian terrorist organizations, and Israeli settlers, as Congress considers comprehensive Russia-Iran sanctions legislation.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

Massachusetts’ 2026 Ballot Questions: What Clients Need To Know

Massachusetts voters will decide nine statewide ballot questions in November 2026 that could fundamentally reshape the state's legal, regulatory, and fiscal landscape. These measures address government transparency, election reforms, housing development, marijuana regulation, firearms laws, and state revenue limits, with implications extending far beyond Election Day to implementation, regulation, and ongoing policy debates.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Article

DOJ Continues DEI False Claims Act Enforcement With $25 Million Accenture Settlement

The Department of Justice announced a $25 million settlement with Accenture Federal Services over allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying compliance with anti-discrimination requirements while allegedly using race or sex in hiring, promotion, and access to professional development programs. This marks the third major DEI-related FCA enforcement action in 2026, following similar settlements with IBM and Deloitte.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 21, 2026

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has become law, imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and shadow fleet vessels while authorizing tariffs up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas. How will these new measures impact global trade relationships, particularly with China and India as the largest buyers of Russian crude?
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

DOJ's $2 Million Honeywell Settlement Under The Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative: What Compliance Failures Mean For Defense Contractors

The Department of Justice secured a $2 million settlement with Honeywell Aerospace for allegedly failing to comply with NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements under a Department of War contract. This case demonstrates how cybersecurity compliance failures can trigger False Claims Act liability even without an actual data breach or cyberattack, and highlights the growing role of whistleblowers in exposing contractors' gaps between contractual obligations and actual security practices.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Article

National Historic Preservation Act Overhaul: What You Need To Know

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has advanced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would fundamentally restructure Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, marking the most significant regulatory overhaul in over 20 years. The proposed changes would shift the consultation process from a multi-step framework to an agency-prepared report system, narrow the scope of protected properties, and grant federal agencies greater unilateral authority in resolving adverse effects.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

Congress Passes New Russian Sanctions Bill Providing Additional Tariff Authority To Address Countries That Purchase Russian Energy, Facilitate Evasion Of Russian Sanctions

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which directs the President to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on Russian imports and up to 100 percent on imports from countries that are significant purchasers of Russian energy. The bill includes provisions for Presidential waiver authority and a five-year sunset clause...
GlobalInternational Law
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

California’s 2026 Legislative Session Wraps: A Wave Of Privacy And AI Bills Reaches The Governor, With Key Child Safety And AI Measures Signed Into Law

California's 2026 legislative session concluded with Governor Newsom signing several landmark privacy and AI bills into law, including comprehensive child safety measures, AI auditor oversight frameworks, and expanded data protection requirements. How will these new regulations reshape digital advertising, workplace AI deployment, and online platform obligations for businesses operating in California?
United StatesPrivacy
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

National Historic Preservation Act Overhaul: What You Need To Know

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has advanced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would fundamentally restructure Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, marking the most significant regulatory overhaul in over 20 years. The proposed changes would shift the consultation process from a multi-step framework to an agency-prepared report system, narrow the scope of protected properties, and grant federal agencies greater unilateral authority in resolving adverse effects.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

FTC Releases FAQs On Auto Pricing: What Dealers And Advertisers Need To Know

If you’re a dealer, an ad agency handling automotive accounts, or in-house counsel advising automotive clients, the Commission’s latest guidance on auto pricing transparency deserves a careful read. The guidance echoes familiar principles we’ve heard in other areas from federal and state regulators related to the expectation for all-in pricing, with important nuances unique to the auto industry.
United StatesConsumer Protection
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

Class Action Follows NACA’s Polymarket Influencer Lawsuit

Polymarket faces multiple lawsuits alleging deceptive influencer marketing practices, including undisclosed paid endorsements and staged betting videos on fake platform copies. A new class action complaint claims content creators filmed winning bets on simulated Polymarket websites built by the company, with some videos allegedly showing fabricated results that would have resulted in significant losses on the real platform.
United StatesConsumer Protection
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

Reining In CIPA ​“Abuse”: S.B. 690 Becomes Law And Fixes Key CIPA Provision

California's S.B. 690 represents a significant bipartisan reform to the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), fundamentally altering the landscape for businesses facing privacy litigation. Governor Newsom's signature on September 30, 2026, removes the private right of action for violations involving pen registers and trap-and-trace devices, addressing what many viewed as abusive litigation tactics.
United StatesPrivacy
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

Delaware’s Amended Privacy Law:  Key Impacts On Adtech Contracts And Diligence Processes

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer has signed H.B. 380, dramatically expanding the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act to include stringent third-party contracting requirements, broader sensitive data protections, and lower jurisdictional thresholds. The amendments introduce California-style due diligence obligations for data disclosures, expand sensitive data categories to include neural data and financial information, and impose new profiling requirements that extend even to employment contexts. These changes po
United StatesPrivacy
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP