Need a It Contract in Virginia? AroundWire Can Help

In Virginia, IT service contracts—covering areas such as software development, system integration, and managed services—are typically governed by a mix of state procurement statutes and agency-specific guidelines. The Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) sets the foundation, requiring competitive bidding and transparency, with exceptions for certain technology acquisitions under the oversight of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Contracts often mandate compliance with state cybersecurity standards, data privacy laws (including the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act for certain vendors), and accessibility requirements in line with Section 508. Contractors may need to demonstrate appropriate business licensing and, for some specialized roles (e.g., cloud services), specific certifications such as SOC 2 or FedRAMP equivalency. Insurance requirements usually include general liability, professional liability (errors and omissions), and cyber liability coverage, with minimums set by the procuring agency. Payment terms in Virginia contracts commonly follow a Net 30 schedule, but prompt payment statutes apply, obligating the state to pay interest on late payments. Risk factors include strict data breach notification obligations and potential liquidated damages for service interruptions or security lapses. Dispute resolution typically favors negotiation and mediation before litigation, and contracts frequently specify venue in Virginia state courts. Additionally, contracts may include mandatory flow-down provisions for subcontractors and require adherence to state-specific ethics and anti-collusion clauses.