Coronavirus-Related NASBP Blogs

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Read our blogs that pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic and that offer guidance from NASBP Advisory Council Attorneys and CPAs and others on how to handle coronavirus-related delays, costs, and possible economic slowdown. For additional information on other topics not found below, see other NASBP Blogs here.

Below are the categories of NASBP blogs:

  • Force Majeure and Contract Considerations
  • SBA & PPP Updates
  • PPP Risks
  • Employer/Employee Assistance
  • State Considerations
  • Construction Site Impacts and Delays
  • Reopening and Restarting Projects
  • Financial Considerations
  • Health and Well-being
  • Other





Material Price Escalation and Delays

Managing the Impacts of Material Price Fluctuations on Construction Projects Published August 3, 2021

Material Cost Escalations, Delays and COVID-19: Managing Risk in Challenging Times Published July 20,2021

Leveling the Peaks and Valleys: Best Practices to Proactively Address Price Fluctuations in Construction Materials Published July 15, 2021

Volatility in the Market Place: Lessons Learned from Price Increases of Past Pandemics Published June 23, 2021

De-escalating the Impact of Price Escalation Published June 2021

Construction Supply Chain post-COVID Published June 2021

Material Price Escalation Has Become a Source of Substantial Conflict in Construction Contracting Published June 3, 2021

Best Practices for Addressing Rising Construction Material Costs Published April 26, 2021

Revisiting Price Escalation Clauses in a Time of Skyrocketing Material Costs Published April 23, 2021



Force Majeure and Contract Considerations

Spring Cleaning: Review Your Contracts to Account for Ongoing COVID-19 Concerns Published June 2021

COVID-Related Construction Claims: 4 Key Strategies for Recovery Published February 23, 2021

Construction Claims in the COVID Era: Lessons Learned and Best Practices Published February 2021

COVID-Confusion: Force Majeure and Executive Orders Published September 25, 2020

Change Orders During the COVID-19 Pandemic—Managing Unexpected Construction Costs and Time Overruns Published July 20, 2020

COVID-19 Related Renovations: Key Terms Owners Should Include in All Construction Contracts Published June 24, 2020

Seeking Certainty in Uncertain Times: Employing Cost-Plus Construction Contracts in 2020 Published June 24, 2020

Unknown Territory: Allocating Risk in International Construction Contracts in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond Published June 17, 2020 

Best Practice with Notices for Force Majeure Events Published June 11, 2020

Construction Project Shutdowns: Know Your General Contract Terms for Force Majeure, Suspension, and Termination Published April 9, 2020

COVID-19 and the Construction Industry: Looking Beyond Force Majeure to Recover Time and Costs for Delay Published April 9, 2020

Force Majeure Clauses and COVID-19 Published April 2, 2020

Federal Construction Contracts vs. COVID-19: An "Excused" Delay? Published Spring 2020

Force Majeure: Navigating the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Contract Performance Obligations Published Spring 2020

COVID-19 Force Majeure Notices for U.S. Construction: What's the Value of a General Notice? Published March 2020

A Force Majeure Trap Within Construction Contracts Published March 31, 2020

Force Majeure, Construction Delays, Labor Shortages and COVID-19 Published March 30, 2020

Is the Coronavirus Event a Force Majeure or Changed Condition Event? Published March 26, 2020

COVID-19 Impacts on Federal Government Contracts--Protecting Your Rights Associated with Delays & Suspensions of Work Published March 26, 2020

Coronavirus and Force Majeure Provisions in Construction Contracts: May I Be Excused? Published March 24, 2020

Potential Surety Coronavirus Defenses Published March 24, 2020

COVID-19 Impact on Federal Contracts: Confirming Acceptability of Performance Delays Published March 23, 2020

Planning Now to Prove Your COVID-19 Damages and Delays Later Published March 22, 2020

Signing a Construction Contract in the Middle of the Coronavirus Pandemic . . . Two Contract Clauses to Consider Published March 19, 2020

Construction Project Team Considerations Regarding COVID-19 Published March 19, 2020

Coronavirus and Construction Contracts Published March 18, 2020

Coronavirus Is Here: What Does That Mean for Your Project and Your Business? Published March 13, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Guidance for Contractors Published March 13, 2020


State Considerations

COVID-19 and the Future of Transportation in California Published July 30, 2020

Now Effective: Virginia's Emergency Temporary Standard for Workplace Safety Due to COVID-19 Published July 28, 2020

Virginia Adopts First-in-the-Nation Workplace Safety Standards for COVID-19 Pandemic Published July 16, 2020

NYC Resumes Full Construction as Focus Turns to Jobsite Safety and Disease Control Published June 10, 2020

COVID-19 Shutdown Orders Allow Construction Work to Proceed in Some States but Limit It in Others—May 27 Update Published May 28, 2020

New Jersey Allows Re-Opening of Non-Essential Retail and Construction Business, and In-Vehicle Gatherings, with Restrictions Published May 15, 2020

COVID-19 Update: What You Need to Know as New Jersey and New York Construction Projects Begin to Reopen Published May 15, 2020

Remediation of Contaminated Sites Executive Orders and NJDEP Updates on Extensions and Proposed Rules Published April 29, 2020

Washington State Reopens Some Construction, with Restrictions Published April 27 2020

Bay Area Further Restricts Construction in Response to COVID-19 Published April 22, 2020

COVID-19 Update—New Jersey and New York Executive Orders' Impact on Construction Projects Published April 10, 2020

Update to Empire State Development's Guidance to New York Governor's Executive Order No. 202.6 as it Relates to the Real Estate Industry: What Real Estate Services Are Considered Essential Businesses? Published April 10, 2020

Washington State Construction Storm Water General Permit Compliance in the Midst of a Global Pandemic Published April 7, 2020

New York—Limiting Construction Risk from the COVID-19 Outbreak Through Force Majeure Clauses Published April 3, 2020

COVID-19 and Florida Construction: Lessons from the Frontlines in New York, New Jersey, and Around the U.S. Published April 3, 2020

Stay-At-Home Orders and Work Restrictions with 50 State Matrix Published April 3, 2020

NYC DOB Tells Contractors How to Safely Wind Down Construction Sites Published April 1, 2020

Coronavirus Update: Is Your Construction Site Still Open? Updated March 30, 2020 (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA)

Is the Coronavirus Event a Force Majeure or Changed Condition Event? Published March 26, 2020 (TX)

How Coronavirus Is Affecting the Construction Industry: An Evolving Tracker of Construction Shutdowns Across the United States Updated March 24, 2020; Originally Published March 20, 2020


Health & Well-being

How to Maintain a Positive Company Culture During COVID-19 Published November 20, 2020

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month: Together We Can STAND Up for Suicide Prevention Published May 19, 2020

Why Employee Assistance Programs Are Valuable During & After COVID-19 Published May 7, 2020

How to Help Your Employees Cope with the Stress of COVID-19 Published April 1, 2020

Understanding What Your Clients Are Going Through and How You Can Respond--Understanding the Cycle of Disruption, Anxiety, and Grief Published March 27, 2020



Construction Site Impacts and Delays

The Impact of COVID-19 on Construction and Infrastructure Projects: An On-Site Perspective Published February 24, 2021

Subtle (and Not So Subtle) Effects of COVID-19 on the Construction Industry Published September 10, 2020

Now is the Time for Construction Impact Claims Published June 2, 2020

COVID-19 Workforce Shortages Threatening Your Construction Project? Review Your Indemnity Rights Published May 27, 2020

Potential Changes in Office, Retail, and Residential Construction in the Post-COVID-19 Market Published May 27, 2020

A Look at COVID-19 Impacts on the Construction Industry Published May 26, 2020

Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. Infrastructure Projects Published April 23, 2020

Commercial and Construction Disputes Arising from COVID-19 Published April 14, 2020

Delays in Completion Coverage and the Coronavirus Published April 13, 2020

Stop Work Orders and Construction Project Site Abandonment Series: Part 2 - Construction Site Abandonment Published April 7, 2020

COVID-19 Update for Energy and Infrastructure Companies and Projects Published April 1, 2020

So the Government Shut Down Your Construction Project—What Next? Published March 31, 2020

Stop Work Orders and Construction Project Site Abandonment Series: Part 1 - Stop Work Orders Published March 31, 2020

Responsibility for Site Safety in a Coronavirus World Published March 31, 2020



Reopening & Restarting Projects

The Next Wave: COVID-19 Workers Compensation and General Liability Claims Likely to Spike Published August 25, 2020

COVID-19: EPC and EPCM in Large Construction Projects Post COVID-19 Published July 29, 2020

Coexisting with COVID-19: Navigating Obstacles and Opportunities with Construction Fundamentals Published June 2020

Top 10 Action Items for Contractors Reopening Their Offices Published June 2, 2020

Going Back to Work—Starting or Restarting a Construction Project During the Pandemic Published May 2020



Other

COVID-19 and Border Crossings: Considerations and Best Practices for Global Constructors and Suppliers Published March 9, 2021

COVID-19 Stimulus Relief and the Construction Industry Published March 8, 2021

Out with the Old, In with the New: An Overview of Construction/Surety Industry Trends in 2020—What We Can Expect in 2021 and Beyond Published December 17, 2020

COVID-19 and the Construction Industry: Must Know Information for Executives Published December 2, 2020

Crisis-Era Message to Contractors: A Series from Dr. Tom Schleifer Multiple published dates

International Construction: Navigating the Risk of Payment Disputes Abroad in the Era of COVID-19 Published July 1, 2020

Treasury Publishes FAQs—Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments for State, Local, and Tribal Governments Published June 2, 2020

The Intertwined Business Worlds of Construction & Surety: Can the Surety Industry Weather the COVID-19 Storm? Published April 2, 2020

Thinking About Public-Private Partnerships During an Economic Crisis Published March 26, 2020



SBA & PPP Updates

PPP Loan Necessity Questionnaire Retired, Review Prep Still Critical Published July 19, 2021

New PPP Loan Eligibility, Requirements, and Upcoming Deadlines Under the Most Recent Federal Stimulus Package Published April 2021

PPP Forgiveness: 7 Commonly Asked Questions and Answers Published February 2021

How To Tackle Unresolved First and Second Draw PPP Loan Issues Published February 18, 2021

New PPP Funding Hits the Streets - A Primer on What Businesses Should Know Published February 16, 2021

SBA Releases Trio of New Interim Rules Addressing Eligibility, Forgiveness, and SBA Review of First-Draw and Second-Draw PPP Loans Published January 29, 2021

Game Changer for SBA PPP $150K Loans—3508S Forgiveness Application Published January 22, 2021

PPP Loan Portal Reopens for First- and Second-Draw Loan Applications Published January 19, 2021

SBA Issues Regulations on New Round of PPP Loans Published January 11, 2021

Eligibility for a Second PPP Loan Published January 8, 2021

New PPP2 Guidance Issued Published January 7, 2021

Yes, I can Deduct Expenses Paid with a Forgiven PPP Loan Published December 31, 2020

Congress' Second COVID-19 Relief Bill Updates Paycheck Protection Program Published December 30, 2020

Approved COVID-19 Relief Bill: What Small Businesses Need to Know About PPP Published December 28, 2020

Big News from the IRS Regarding PPP Loan Forgiveness and the Taxability Related Expense Deductions Published November 18, 2020

A Guide to the SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Review Process Updated November 18, 2020

PPP Update: Loan Forgiveness and Paying Off Your Loan Published November 12, 2020

SBA Publishes PPP Necessity Questionnaires Published November 11, 2020

PPP Loans Over $2 Million and the PPP Necessity Questionnaires Published November 6, 2020

Ten Things to Know About the PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications Updated November 5, 2020

Why You May Want to Wait to File for PPP Loan Forgiveness and Other Tips Updated November 5, 2020

SBA Questions Borrowers about the Necessity of Their PPP Loans Published November 4, 2020

SBA Begins Effort to Assess Economic Necessity for PPP Loans over $2 Million Published November 3, 2020

SBA Begins Issuing Loan Necessity Questionnaires to Certain PPP Borrowers Published November 3, 2020

Treasury and Small Business Administration Make $50,000 and Under PPP Loans Easy to Forgive Published October 9, 2020

Just 9 (Not 10) Tips to Assist You in Obtaining PPP Loan Forgiveness Published September 25, 2020

SBA Issues FAQs on Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Loans Published August 5, 2020

Private Watchdogs' Attempts to Retroactively Change PPP Loan Eligibility for Government Contractors Face Significant Hurdles Published July 30, 2020

PPP Applications Extended Until August 8, 2020; Borrower Details Released & Revisions to Forgiveness Application Timing Published July 6, 2020

CARES Act Questions for the Real Estate and Construction Industry Updated July 6, 2020

Small Business Administration Releases Additional Paycheck Protection Program Guidance Published June 19, 2020

What to Know for Businesses Completing the Revised PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications Published June 18, 2020

SBA Issues Updated Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application and Issues new "EZ" Application Form Published June 17, 2020

PPP Loan Applications Must Be Approved by June 30, 2020, and Other Program Updates Published June 10, 2020

Additional Clarification of Paycheck Protection Program Changes Published June 9, 2020

Payroll Protection Program Flexibility Act Provides Employers with More Options Published June 10, 2020

Payroll Protection Program Expanded to Aid Small Business, but Workforce Questions Remain Published June 5, 2020

Major Changes in the Paycheck Protection Program Published June 5, 2020

Legislation Approved to Extend the Covered Period for PPP for PPP Loan Forgiveness and Make Other Significant Changes Published June 4, 2020

Action Items for Recipients of PPP Loans to Mitigate Risk Related to Fraud Allegations Published June 1, 2020

Proposed Legislation May Extend Period for PPP Loan Forgiveness—Meanwhile, SBA Releases Yet More Guidance Published May 29, 2020

SBA issues Interim Final Rule on PPP Loan Forgiveness Published May 17, 2020

PPP Loans: An Update to the Good Faith Certification Published May 15, 2020

SBA Issues Promised Good Faith Certification Guidance Published May 13, 2020

SBA Updates "Economic Uncertainy" Certification Guidance Published May 13, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Good Faith Certification Guidance Updated Published May 13, 2020

What Contractors Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Program Published May 13, 2020

Proposed JOBS Credit Act Would Significantly Expand the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credits Published May 12, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program Loan Safe Harbor Extended to May 14, 2020 Published May 6, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program: Understanding the Rules and Potential Options May Be Required to Maximize Loan Forgiveness Published April 27 2020

Ineligible PPP Borrowers Granted Safe Harbor Period to Return Money by May 7  Published April 24, 2020

SBA Issues New Guidance Regarding PPP—"Good Faith Rules and What You Should Know" Published April 24, 2020

How to Prepare for Replenishment of Paycheck Protection Program Funds and EIDL Expected This Week Published April 23, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program Provides Forgivable SBA Loans Published April 1, 2020

SBA Issues Paycheck Protection Program Guidance Published March 31, 2020   



PPP Risks

Paycheck Protection Program Audits Are Upon Us—Borrowers Prepare! Published July 2021

Five Things to Know About PPP Loan Audits Published April 20, 2021

You Received a PPP Loan That Exceeds the Maximum Allowed - Now What? Published February 15, 2021

M&A Deals and PPP Loans: Unexpected Parties in Your Deals Published December 15, 2020

SBA Issues Loan Necessity Questionnaires to PPP Recipients; Signals Next Step in Loan Compliance Investigations Published December 15, 2020

PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications and Increase in Federal Investigations Pose Risks for Small Businesses Published December 3, 2020

Liability Dangers for Recipients of CARES Act Funds: Lessons from Past and Present Enforcement Actions Published August 27, 2020

PPP Enforcement: It's Not Funny Published August 24, 2020

Have a PPP Loan? Be Sure to Have a Plan Published August 10, 2020

Early Cases Demonstrate the Justice Department's Commitment to Aggressively Prosecute PPP Loan Fraud Published June 29, 2020

The Risks Are Real: What We Know and Can Predict About CARES Act Financial Fraud Enforcement Published June 26, 2020

DOJ Announces Trio of PPP Fraud Prosecutions Published June 26, 2020

Borrower Beware: Prepare Now to Defend Your Company's PPP Loan from SBA Review or a Possible False Claims Act or Criminal Investigation Published June 15, 2020

The PPP Litigation Wave Is Coming: Anticipated "Qui Tam" Lawsuits Under the False Claims Act Published May 14, 2020

UPDATED Federal Stimulus Today, Federal Investigation Tomorrow: What TARP Can Tell Us About the Coming Wave of CARES Act Enforcement Published May 13, 2020

DOJ Brings First Payroll Protection Program-Related Criminal Case Published May 6, 2020

Who CARES About My PPP Loan? Everyone. Published May 1, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program: After the Pay Comes the Chase Published April 29, 2020

False Claims Act and Other Potential Liability for Misuse of Paycheck Protection Program Loans Published April 28, 2020

More Money More Whistleblowers? False Claims Act Risks in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic Published April 27, 2020

COVID-19 Response Oversight: What to Expect from the Federal Inspectors General Published April 27, 2020



Employer/Employee Assistance


Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Q&A Published October 2, 2020

Why Employee Assistance Programs Are Valuable During & After COVID-19 Published May 7, 2020

CISA Issues Guidance on Identifying Critical Infrastructure Workers: Does Your Work Fall Within These Sectors? Published March 31, 2020

UPDATE: OMB, CISA, and DoD Issue New Guidelines Addressing Coronavirus Impacts on Federal Contractors Updated March 25, 2020; Originally Published March 23, 2020

SBA Loan Program for Businesses Economically Impacted by Coronavirus Published March 20, 2020  

Pandemic Doesn't Have to Mean Pandemonium in the Workplace Published March 12, 2020



Financial Considerations

Valuation of Construction Companies During the COVID-19 Pandemic Published November 2, 2020

Construction Industry Economics Respecting COVID-19 Mixed but Positively Trending Published September 30, 2020

IRS Position on the Deductibility of Expenses Paid with PPP Loan Proceeds Published May 10, 2020

Tools for a Construction Lenders Toolbox in the COVID-19 Era Published May 5, 2020

Commercial and Construction Disputes Arising from COVID-19 Published April 14, 2020

A Contractor's Guide During the Coronavirus Pandemic 2.0 Published April 8, 2020

Government Response to Coronavirus May Impact Contractors' Working Capital--Be Prepared for the Implications Published March 30, 2020

Finding Stability in a Time of Crisis Published March 26, 2020

A Contractor's Guide for Protection During the Coronavirus Pandemic Published March 23, 2020

Surety Professionals Should Act Now to Help Contractors Prepare for an Economic Downturn Due to the Coronavirus Published March 18, 2020