Index
government employees, 201-202
abuse of discretion, 170
acceptance: implied-in-fact contracts and, 117
lack of ambiguity in, 111
of offers/proposals, 107-108
acceptance following inspection, 53
accountable officers, 64
accrual, 254-255
ACM Construction and Marine Group, Inc., 127-128
Acquest, 49
ACS Government Services, 89-90
actual authority, 159
Adelphia Communications, 49
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (1996), 191
Advanced Team Concepts (ATC), 116-117
Agency for International Development (AID), 199-200
agency-level protest, 221
agency relationships, 67-68
agreements: “other transaction,” 102-103
types of, 98-103. See also blanket purchase agreements; cooperative agreements; settlement agreements
Airport Building Associates (ABA), 266
Alpine Computers, 217
alternative dispute resolution (ADR), 242
ambiguity: in contracts, 111
latent or hidden, 136-138
patent, 136-137
rules for interpreting, 139-143
sources of, 135
American Government Properties (AGP), 61-62
amicus curiae (friend of court), 195
Annual Contributions contracts (ACCs), 100
Anti-Assignment Act, 60
Anti-Kickback Act, 54
apparent authority, contractor bound by, 112, 160-162
appellate courts, 177-178
appellate judges, 177
Approval Letter, 145
“arbitrary and capricious” test, 8
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), 54, 75, 156, 158, 161, 247
ambiguity, 137
applied-in-fact contract, 118
no prejudice, 165-166
other relief claim, 251
Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), 213-214
Army National Guard, 197-198
Article I courts, 205-206
Article III courts, 205-206
of claims, 58-59
of contract, 59-62
waivers for, 59-60
attorney fees, 134, 268, 272-274
authority: actual, 112, 117, 159
to bind government, 111-112
of contracting officer, 81-88
contract provisions delegating, 158-159
exception to delegated, 112-115
implied actual, 112-113
implied-in-fact contracts and, 117
institutional ratification and, 114-115
warranted, 112
automatic stay, 235-238
award decision: documentation for, 23-24
mechanical process, 22-23
unreasonable trade-offs in, 24-26
in termination for convenience, 169
Badger Truck Center, 26
bait and switch, 88-90
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E), 202
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya-Puerto Rico (BBV), 58
bankruptcy law, 60-61, 205. See also U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Base Technologies, Inc. (BTI), 17
Beneco, 226
beyond-scope changes: indicators of, 151-153
large changes in contract cost and, 152-153
type of work and, 151-152
BFI, 269
biased ground rules, 41
Bid Protest Regulations, 233
protesting, 222. See also Invitation for Bids
Big preparation, 189
blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), 98, 103, 109
boards of contract appeals (BCAs), 115, 120, 176, 207
appealing contracting officer final decision, 255-260
claims, 211-219
claims jurisdiction, 242
disputes beyond jurisdiction, 212-213
executive branch, 211
jurisdiction, 211-212
law applied in claims, 214
relief available in claims, 214-215
sovereign immunity, 217
standing requirement for contractors in claims, 215-217
torts, 213
Bonneville Associates, 257-258
bounty hunters, 76-77
Boyle v. United Technologies Corp., 68
branches of government, 178-179
breach of contract, implied duty of good faith and fair dealing and, 32
breach of implied contract, 189
breach of property rights, 211
British legal system, 261-262
Bureau of Prisons, 106
Camp Navajo, 156
Capital City Pipes, Inc., 85
cardinal change, 149
termination for convenience and, 170-171
Certificate of Competency, 46, 228
certification: of claim, 248
false, 91
implied, 90-93
CGI Federal, 194
change orders, 82
Changes clause, 82, 148-153, 158, 237
deadlines and, 162
Chicago HUD program, 237
Christian Doctrine, 166-168
CIFA, 81-82
CitiWest, 25-26
City of El Centro v. United States, 87
civil action, 235
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), 106, 131
civil law, 177
accrual, 254-255
appeals to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 260
assignment of, 58-59
boards of contract appeals, 211-219
certification, 248
contracting officer handling, 251-253
deadlines, 254-260
deadlines and interest, 243-244
de novo, 258-260
election doctrine, 257-260
fraud in, 93-94
government contracts, 205-219
for interpretation of contract terms, 248-249
litigation, 184
for other relief, 249-251
protests different from, 220-221
raising and resolving, 246-253
relief available boards of contract appeals claims, 214-215
request of equitable adjustment different from, 244-245
sovereign immunity for, 210-211
statute of limitations for appeal, 255-260
statute of limitations for filing, 254-255
subcontractors, 215-216. See also Court of Federal Claims
claims jurisdiction: boards of contract appeals, 242
Court of Federal Claims, 206-207, 242
general rule, 206
implied contracts, 206-207
Classic Optical Laboratories Inc., 11, 22-23, 223
clear and express language, 144
clearly meritorious protests, 271
Clearwater Constructors Inc., 249
colleagues, opinions and views of, 34-35
common-law, contract defined in, 103, 104
competency, legal, 111-112
competition: contract, 101
fair and reasonable, 12-14
full and open, 171-172
Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), 29, 191, 201-202, 224, 262
clearly meritorious protests, 271
corrective action, 270-271
Court of Federal Claims, 12
Government Accountability Office, 268-269
reasonable rates, 272-274
undue delay, 269-270
competitive advantages, unfair, 39
competitive conduct, unfair, 38-39
competitive proposals, 233
competitive usefulness, 44
concession contracts, 115
Government Accountability Office, 196
conflict of interest: organizational, 39-45
qui tam lawsuits and, 76-79
congressional reference cases, before Court of Federal Claims, 253
consent decrees, court-ordered, 263-264
consideration, 108-111
implied-in-fact contracts and, 117
constitutional rights, 74
constitutional taking issues, 211
constitutional torts, 74-75
constructive changes: contracts, 154-160
defined, 154
extras and, 155-156
types of, 154-156
Consumer Price Index (CPI), 268
Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers, 272
contract administration: contracting officer as sheriff in, 52-62
fair and reasonable in, 26-32
FAR provisions on, 27-29
implied duties in, 29-32
by judges, 208-210
protesting, 228-229
protests of, 200-201
Request for Proposals for HAP, 101
contract awards: documenting decisions, 224-225
evaluation factors, 223-224
independence in, 33
reasonableness, 223
contract clauses, 207
Contract Disputes Act (CDA), 53, 75, 94, 98, 99, 246
appeal rights, 206
legislative history, 250
non-monetary remedies under, 208
two remedies of, 215
contracting officer: as bounty hunter, 76-77
claims handled by, 251-253
congressional reference cases before Court of Federal Claims, 253
constructive change and, 154, 156, 157
contractor appealing decision of, 257-260
courts reviewing decisions of, 8-9
documenting decisions, 224-225
documenting trade-offs, 225-226
due diligence investigation by, 50-52
evaluation panels and, 36
as “fair and reasonable” judge, 8-10
FAR 1.602-2 on, as sheriff, 37
final decision content, 251-252
final decision quality, 252
financial liability to government, 64-66
fraud resolution and, 52-54
Government Accountability Office review of decisions, 8
inadequate documentation but other proof, 226-229
as “independent” judge, 32-36
job description, 5
legal competency, 111-112
liability of, 74-75
“must,” “must not,” and “maybe” aspects of discussions, 14-15
notice to, 82-83
organizational conflict of interest and, 43-45
relationship with contractor, 7-8
roles of, 5-6
rules and regulations of, 224
as sheriff in contract administration, 52-62
as sheriff in contract solicitation, 38-52
statute of limitations for filing claims, 254-255
third-party beneficiaries and, 85-86
verifying authority of, 81-88
views of colleagues and, 34-35
contracting officer’s representative (COR), 118
contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR), 127-128, 134
contract interpretation, 122-124
ambiguous word interpretation in, 131-139
appeals court in claim litigation, 260
goal of, 125-131
contractors: apparent authority binding, 112, 160-162
appealing contracting officer final decision, 255-260
certification of claim, 248
claim basis, 247-248
claims for interpretation of contract terms, 248-249
claims for money, 246-248
claims for other relief, 249-251
contracting officer relationship with, 7-8
de novo, 258-260
election doctrine, 257-258
filing claims, 246-253
final decision demand, 247
letter describing controversy, 248-249
REAs and, 244-245
responsibilities of, 80-81
rights to cross examine witnesses, 253
standing requirement in claims, 215-217
sum certain, for claims, 246-247. See also independent contractors; subcontractors
contract rights, 211
ambiguity in, 111
assignment of, 59-62
common-law, 103-104
concession, 115
consideration and, 108-111
constructive changes, 154-160
contractor claims for interpretation of, 248-249
cost-reimbursement, 54
definitions of, 103-104
Disputes Clause of, 52
government changes through Changes clause, 148-153
government inadvertently changing, 154-160
implied, 115-121, 189, 206-207
implied-in-fact, 117-120
implied-in-law, 120-121
incorporating documents into, by reference, 143-146
mandatory clauses left out of, 166-168
mutual intent for, 104-108
performance, 29
torts tied to, 214. See also government contracts
contract solicitation: contracting officer as sheriff in, 38-52
protecting integrity of process, 38-45
vendor responsibilities during, 45-52
Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, 55
contra proferentem rule, 139
cooperation, in contract performance, 29
cooperative agreements, 98-102
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on use of, 100-102
when to use, 99
cooperative farming agreement (CFA), 102
corrective action, 270-271
cost claims, post-protest, 273
cost of living adjustment (COLA), 268
cost-price factors, 20
cost-reimbursement contracts, 54, 229
court-intervention test, 209, 210
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), 43, 56, 93-94, 187, 207, 257
appeals to, 259-260
on Christian Doctrine, 167
claims, 219
consideration, 110
on constructive change, 157-158
on institutional ratification, 87
on lines of authority, 82
on notice and changes clause, 165
on proper use of cooperative agreements, 100-102
role in administration process, 209
on solicitation interpretation, 132
on Tucker Act, 206
Court of Claims. See Court of Federal Claims
Court of Federal Claims (COFC), 43, 44, 53, 75, 173, 181
on acceptance, 107-108
appealing contracting officer final decision, 255-260
on bait and switch, 89
bid preparation and proposal costs, 189
claims jurisdiction, 206-207, 242
Competition in Contracting Act and, 12
congressional reference cases before, 253
on constructive change, 157-158
decision basis of protests, 222
declaratory judgements, 208-210
district court overlap, 217-219
fourth in line, 193
on good faith, 31
Government Accountability Office timeliness rule not binding, 234
on implied contracts, 119-120
implied-in-fact contract jurisdiction, 206
jurisdiction, 208
law applied in claims, 207
law applied in protests, 188
mid- and postaward documentation, 227
on notice and changes clause, 83-84, 165
pre-award protests, 230-231
protest appeals of Government Accountability Office decisions, 238-240
protest deadline exceptions, 234
protest jurisdiction, 185-188
protest relief, 188-189
protests regulations, 235
protest standing, 189
quantum meruit, 210
relief in claims, 207-210
on solicitation interpretation, 132
sovereign immunity, 195, 210-211
standing in claims, 210
third in line, 192
torts independent of contract duty, 213-214
court-ordered consent decrees, 263-264
courts: of limited jurisdiction, 176
U.S. Congress, 184. See also specific courts
CourtSmart, 272
Creative Information Technology, Inc. (CITI), 18-19
Crewzers Fire Crew Transport, Inc., 109
Critel, 42
cross examining witnesses, contractors rights to, 253
CSC, 187
cubbies, 218
Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO), 113
CW Government Travel Inc. (Carlson), 210
Daewoo, 93-94
deadlines: claims, 254-260
exceptions, 233-234
firm, 166
notice requirements and, 162-166
responsiveness and responsibility difference and, 45-46
debriefing, 232-233
decision makers, verifying authority of, 81-88
decisions: basis of protests, 222
contracting officer documenting, 224-225
rules for making, 11
showing thought in, 10-11
in writing, 10
declaratory judgements, 179-180, 182, 207, 214, 215
Court of Federal Claims, 208-210
deemed denial, 252
defective specifications, 156
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), 10, 142, 272-273
Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC), 13, 85
delegated authority, exceptions to, 112-115
delivery orders. See task orders
denial, deemed, 252
de novo, 258-260
Department of Defense (DoD): CIFA, 81-82
security services contracting by, 14
task orders, 197
transportation contracts, 88. See also specific armed services
Department of Energy (DOE), 216
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 100-102, 218, 237
Department of Interior: Gov-Works, 81-82
Minerals Management Service, 79
Department of Justice, False Claims Act recovery by, 76-77
Department of Transportation, 127
Department of Veterans Affairs, 11, 22-23
Determination and Findings document (D&F), 27-28
Differing Site Conditions clause, 165
dikes, 69
direct appeal, subcontractors, 216
direct economic interest, 194
discretion, abuse of, 170
discretionary function, 70-72
dispatch priority lists, 109
disputes, 184
beyond jurisdiction, 212-213
District court, Court of Federal Claims overlap, 218-219
Dividend Agreement, 144
documentation: for award decision, 23-24
inadequate, 226-229
integrating into contract by reference, 143-146
mid- and postaward, 227
Dream Management, Inc. (DMI), 263, 265-266
due diligence investigation, 50-52
due process rights, 75
duty not to hinder, 29
duty to cooperate, 29
Eastco Building Services, 68
Easton Contract Services, 247
ECI, 137
election doctrine, 257-260
Email-as-a-service (EAAS), 150
engineering change proposal (ECP), 157-158
En Pointe, 150
enrichment, unjust, 210
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27-28, 50, 243
Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA): amount of attorney fees, 268
prevailing party, 262, 263-265
substantially justified, 265-267
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 104
equal employment opportunity (EEO) prejudice, 190
equivalent judgement, 264
erroneous payments, 56-57
evaluation factors, 21-22
contract awards, 223-224
evaluation panels, 36
Evergreen Bus Service, 65-66
everything else protest category, 231-234
evidence, extrinsic, 140-143, 144-145
evidence rule, parole, 141
executive branch, 178
boards of contract appeals part of, 211
Exelis, 132
expenses, out-of-pocket, 134
expert opinions, 34-35
express certifications, 91
express contracts, 98, 103-115
extenuating circumstances, 164
extrinsic evidence, 140-143
incorporating, 144-145
fair and meaningful discussions: general rules for, 16
inadequate discussions, 17-19
misleading discussion, 16-17
“must,” “must not,” and “maybe” of, 14-15
fair and reasonable: in administering contracts, 26-32
in awarding contracts, 12-26
proposal evaluation, 19-22
rules for being, 10-11
statutory guidelines for, 8-10
in winner selection, 22-26
fair competition, 12-14
fair dealing, implied duty of, 29-32
fair evaluation of proposals, 19-22
false certification, 91
False Claims Act (FCA), 76-77, 91, 92-93, 94
FAR 1.602-2, 5-6
on contract administration, 27, 28
on contracting officer as sheriff, 37
on contracting officer relationship with contractor, 7-8
unfair competitive conduct and, 38-39
contract defined in, 103
FAR 9.104-1, “responsible” defined in, 47
FAR 13.306(e)(3), 18
FAR 15.101-1(b)(2), 24
FAR 15.306(d)(3), 14-15
FAR 15.306(e), 15
FAR 15.306(e)(1), 27
on documentation of award decision, 23
on documentation of decisions, 11
FAR 15.505, 232
FAR 15.506, 232
FAR 33.201, 254
FAR 33.210(b), 52
FAR 33.211(a)(4), 251
FAR 42.1503, 249
FAR 52.217-8, 236
FAR 52.243-1(a), 149
FAR 52.333-1, 242
Farmers Home Administration, 144
FAR Part 8.4, 186
FAR Part 15, 233
FASA law, 187
FDA, 70
tort of conversion, 213-214
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), 184, 233, 252
claim accrual, 254-255
complexity of, 205
payment withholding clauses in, 55
provisions on contract administration, 27-29. See also specific FAR sections
Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, 197-198
federal civil service review system, 74
Federal District Court, 180-181
local, 218
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 20
federal government: lawsuit against, 180-183
suing, 175-178
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (FGCAA), 100
federal laws, 179
federal lawsuits, government contracts, 183-219
federal litigation, 175-178
forum-typical, 181
government-typical, 180-181
judge applied, 181
relief-typical, 182-183
sovereign immunity in, 183
Federal Prison Industries, 212
federal regulation: contractor challenging, 219
contractor not challenging, 218-219
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), 106, 150, 186, 233
task orders under General Services Administration, 196-197
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 66-72, 179, 181
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 87
filing, timely, 229-234
financial crimes investigative service, 17
Fiore Industries, 90
First Commercial Funding, 59
Fisher-Cal Industries, Inc., 201
Fleming Steel Company, 249
Flexfab, 85
Florida Supreme Court, 177
follow-up letter, 245
Forbearance Letter, 145
Forest Service. See USDA Forest Service
formal claims, 245
forum-typical federal litigation, 181
fraud: acceptance following inspection and, 53
claims involving, 52-53, 93-94
contracting officer role in resolution, 52-54
implied certifications on invoices and, 90-93
kickbacks, 53-54
Freedom NY, 142-143
frivolous lawsuits, 262
“fuzzy” language, 187
General Services Administration (GSA), 20, 49, 61-62, 82, 130, 266-267. See also Federal Supply Schedule
General Services Board of Contract Appeals (GSBCA), 131, 242-243, 257
Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GPNF), 65-66
global positioning system (GPS), 42
Goldbelt Glacier Health Services, LLC, 197-198
good faith, implied duty of, 29-32
Government Accountability Office (GAO), 13, 14, 176, 181, 187, 242
automatic stay, 236
on bait and switch, 89
on best value evaluation, 21
as branch of Congress, 196
on Changes clause, 149-150
Competition in Contracting Act and, 12, 262, 268-269
concession contracts, 196
contracting officer decision review by, 8
on contracting officer liability, 64-66
decision basis of protests, 222
on due diligence investigations, 50-52
on evaluation factors, 21-22
excluded protests, 228-229
government employees and A-76, 201-202
on Housing Assistance Program contract competition, 101
on impaired objectivity, 42
on inadequate discussions, 17-18
indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts, 198-199
law applied, 202
on lease authority, 82
meaningful discussions and, 15-16
on misleading discussions, 16-17
on organizational conflict of interest, 40
pre-award protests, 230-231
prejudice, 204-205
on proposal evaluation, 19
protest appeals of decisions, 238-240
protest deadline exceptions, 233-234
protests of contract administration activities, 200-201
protests regulations, 234-235
on quotes, 105
reasonableness standard, 48
relief available at, 202
on solicitation interpretation, 132
sovereign immunity, 204-205
standing, 203-204
subcontracts, 199-200
task orders, 196-198
on trade-offs, 24-25
on type of work and contract changes, 151-152
on unfair competitive conduct, 39
government contracts: claims, 205-219
complexity, 173
no monetary relief in, 215
typical lawsuits, 183-219
government employees: A-76 process, 201-202
agency liability and acts by, 67-69
constructive change by, other than contracting officers, 156-160
scope of duties and liability, 72-74
verifying decision making authority of, 81-88
government informers, 113
government purchasing agent, subcontractor as, 215
government-typical federal litigation, 180-181
government vendors, 176
governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC), 186, 196
GovWorks, 81-82
Grand Forks Air Force Base (North Dakota), 249
grants, 98-102
when to use, 99
Great Western Maintenance Corp (GWMC), 192-193
Greenhut, 204
Grinnell, Edward, 258
GSA’s Alliant GWAC, 187
Hand, Learned, 126
harm. See prejudice; torts
Hayes, Seay, Mattern, & Mattern (HSMM), 43, 44
Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassbaum, Inc., 43
H.G. Properties (HGP), 151
Holmes, Mary, 77-78
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 126
Home Entertainment, Inc, 214
Houma SSA, LTD, 61-62
Housing Assistance Program contracts (HAP contracts), 100
Hughes Group, 192-193
Hurricane Katrina, 68
Hyperion, 193-194
IAP World Services, 130-131
IHSLRP, 119
impaired objectivity, 41-42
implied actual authority, 112-113, 117
implied authority, 87-88
contract changes and, 159-160
implied certifications on invoices, 90-93
implied contracts, 98, 115-121
breach of, 189
claims jurisdiction, 206-207
implied duties, of good faith and fair dealing, 29-32
implied-in-fact contracts, 116-120, 206, 210
implied-in-law contracts, 120-121, 206-207
inadequate discussions, 17-19
“in connection with,” 187
indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ), 81-82, 110-111, 198-199, 224, 265
independence: in contract awarding, 33
of contracting officer, 252
independent contractors, liability insurance and, 67-68
independent government cost estimate (IGCE), 18
Independent Government Estimate (IGE), 198
Indian Health Service, 119
Industrial Canal, 68
information management specialist (IMS), 42
Information Systems and Networks Corp., 157
informers, 113
Infoterra, 199-200
injunctions, 182, 188, 207, 214, 215
injury. See prejudice
inspection, acceptance following, 53
Inspector Generals (IGs), on lease authority, 82
institutional ratification, 86-87, 114-115
integrated agreement, 142
integration clause, 144-145
intent, subjective, 125, 126, 127
intentional torts, nonenumerated, 69-70
in A-76, 201-202
Government Accountability Office defined, 203-204
Intermarkets Global (IMG), 272-274
Internal Revenue Code, 184, 205
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 31-32, 130-131, 264
investigations, 44-45, 50-52, 245
Invitation for Bids (IFB), 105
invoices, implied certifications on, 90-93
ITAC, 189-190
J.A. Farrington Janitorial Services (JAF), 229
Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, 228
JL Simmons Company Inc, 253
job descriptions: contracting officer, 5
implied authority from, 159
judgements. See declaratory judgements; equivalent judgement
judges: on administering contracts, 208-210
appellate, 177
contract administration by, 208-210
contracting officer as “fair and reasonable,” 8-10
contracting officer as independent, 32-36
decisions of, 207
in executive branch, 178-179
federal litigation applied by, 181
judicial branch, 178, 185, 205-206. See also specific courts
boards of contract appeals, 211-212
contracts, 198-199
courts of limited, 176, 185-188
disputes beyond, 212-213
of Government Accountability Office, 196
nonmonetary relief, 208. See also claims jurisdiction
justification and approval (J&A), 13
kickbacks, 53-54
Kratos, 239
Ktech, 41
LABAT-Anderson, 188-189
Lacey Newday Consulting, LLC, 106-107
Laguna Construction Co., 54
Lamb Engineering and Construction, 156
language: clear and express, 144
“fuzzy,” 187
large cost changes, 152-153
Laucks Testing Laboratory, 50
Law & Order SVU, 177
laws: federal, 179
judge applying, 179
local, 179
lawsuits, 176-180
essential elements, 178
frivolous, 262
government contracts, 183-219
protest or claim, 173
qui tam, 76-79
lawsuits, against federal government, 180-219
minimum requirements, 176
protests and claims, 177
typical procurement lawsuits, 177
legal competency, 111-112
legal fiction, 207
legislative branch, 178
Letter of Essential Need, 143-144
liability: of agency, to public, 66-74
of contracting officer, 74-75
government employee acts and, 67-69
personal, 64-66
scope employee’s duties and, 72-74
liability insurance, independent contractors and, 67-68
Libertatia Associates, The (TLA), 30
litigation: claim, 184
protest, 184. See also lawsuits
litigation costs, 261-274
Competition in Contracting Act, 268-269
Equal Access to Justice Act, 262-265
LMC, 27
local laws, 179
Logan Machinists Inc., 212
Logicon, Inc., 143
L.P. Fleming, Jr., Inc., 155-156
malpractice, medical, 74
Management Services Northwest, Inc. (MSNW), 192-193
mandatory clauses, 166-168
Maniilaq Association, 119
Maritime Administration, 127
Mark Dunning Industries, 151
mark-up rates, 20
materiality, 92-93
McDonald, 204
mechanical decision-making process, 22-23
medical malpractice, 74
memorandum of understanding (MOU), 212-213
mental reservations, 125
Metrica, 89-90
midprotest government documentation, 226
MIL, 233
Minerals Management Service (MMS), 79
misleading discussion, 16-17
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), 68
Missouri River, 69
money damages, 180
MP, real estate developer, 231-232
mutual intent to contract, 104-108
implied-in-fact contracts and, 117
National Credit Union Administration, 242
national defense, automatic stay and, 237
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 270-271
National Park Service, 115, 151, 196, 230
National Sourcing, Inc., 197-198
negligence, 69-70
negotiated procurement, protesting, 222
negotiations, 245
Network Resource Services (NRS), 217
Nexjen, 204-205
nonenumerated intentional torts, 69-70
nonmonetary relief jurisdiction, 208
Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Inc., 143, 146
notice: under changes clauses, 83-84, 163-165
to contracting officers, 82-83
Differing Site Conditions clause and, 165
prejudice and, 165-166
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), 101
notice requirements, 83-84, 162-166
novation agreement, 58
Novex Enterprises, 26
objective intent: defined, 125-128
finding, 128-131
prior course of dealing and, 130-131
trade practices and, 129-130
objectivity, impaired, 41-42
OCI waiver, 187
Ocuto, 198
offers: acceptance of, 107-108
implied-in-fact contracts and, 117
lack of ambiguity in, 111
protesting, 222
quotes versus, 105-107
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76, 202
Office of Personal Management (OPM), 218
Onix, 150
Order of Precedence clause, 140
organizational conflict of interest (OCI), 39-45
categories of, 40
defined, 39-40
postaward investigation, 44-45
original equipment manufacturer (OEM), 13
Orion International Technologies, 90
other relief claims, 249-251
“other transaction” agreements, 102-103
out-of-pocket expenses, 134
page counting, 273
Parker Excavating, 165-166
parole evidence rule, 141
Past Performance Evaluation Team (PPET), 21
patent ambiguity, 136-137
payments, withholding of, 55-57
Peace Corps, 150
Peninsula Group Capital, 108
Pentagon security services, 14
performance, specific, 182, 207, 215
Perry Mason, 177
personal liability, 64-66
personnel: bait and switch and training of, 88-90
discussing proposed, 17-18
phone call, 245
plain meaning, 133-135
plaintiff-typical federal litigation, standing, 182
Postal Service Board of Contract Appeals, 155, 258
postaward documentation, 226
postaward investigation, 44-45
post-award protests, 185-186, 230-231
pre-award protests, 185, 229-231
defined, 190
Government Accountability Office, 204-205
notice and, 165-166
prevailing party, 262
court-ordered consent decrees, 263-264
equivalent judgement, 264
legal relationship change, 264-265
win on merits, 263
price, discussion of, 18-19
prime contractors: kickbacks and, 53
third-party beneficiary rule and, 85
Principles of Federal Appropriations Law (Red Book) (GAO), 64-65
on implied-in-law contracts, 120-121
prior course of dealing, 130-131
procurement contracts: Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on use of, 100-102
when to use, 99
Procurement Integrity Act, 191-192
procurement lawsuits, 173, 177
complexity of, 184
procurement vehicles, 97
defined, 98
property rights, 211
proposal costs, 189
proposals: acceptance of, 107-108
competitive, 233
engineering change, 157-158
fair evaluation of, 19-22. See also Request for Proposals
protesters costs, 269
protest jurisdiction, 187
protest litigation, 184
protest relief, Court of Federal Claims, 188-189
protests, 173, 183-184, 220-222
allowable, 222-229
appeals of Government Accountability Office decisions, 238-240
automatic stay, 235-238
bidding in, 194
clearly meritorious, 271
against contract administration, 228-229
of contract administration activities, 200-201
contract awards evaluation factors, 223-224
contract awards reasonableness, 223
contracting officer documenting decisions, 224-225
contracting officer inadequate documentation but other proof, 226-229
contracting officer rules and regulations, 224
Court of Federal Claims, 184-195
deadline exceptions for Court of Federal Claims, 234
deadline exceptions for Government Accountability Office, 233-234
everything else category, 231-234
Government Accountability Office, 195-205, 221-222
law applied by Court of Federal Claims, 188
pre-award protests, 229-231
regulations, 234-235
rule for timely filing, 229-234
task order connection and, 187-188
public housing authorities (PHAs), 100, 101
purchase orders (POs), 106
Quality Control Reports, 165-166
qui tam lawsuits, 76-79
quotes, offers versus, 105-107
Randolph-Sheppard Act, 228
ratification, institutional, 86-87
reasonable interpretations, 136
reasonableness test, 9-10
Government Accountability Office standard for, 48
implied duties and, 29-30
responsibility decision and, 48-50
Record Steel and Construction, 250-251
Red Book. See Principles of Federal Appropriations Law
relief, 179-180
bid preparation and proposal costs, 189
claims and boards of contract appeals, 214-215
from Government Accountability Office, 202
money, 182
relief-typical federal litigation, 182-183
REMSA, Inc., 270-271
Request for Offers (RFO), 105
Request for Proposals (RFP), 14, 44, 239
biased ground rules and, 41
for Housing Assistance Program contract administration, 101
Request for Quotations (RFQs), 10, 105, 106, 194, 204
responsibility, 45-47
of contractors, 80-81
reasonable determination, 49-50
reasonableness test and, 48-50
unreasonable determination, 48-49
responsiveness, 45-47
Rex Services Corp., 191-192
Rice Services Ltd., 264-265
Riley & Ephriam Construction Company (R&E), 256
RMI Titanium Company, 216
RSIS, 189-190
SAM.gov, 90
SA-TECH, 239-240
scope of employment, 72-74
scoring systems, 19-21
sealed bid, 203
second-low bid, 203
Section 8(a) small businesses, 81
security services, Department of Defense contracting, 14
Service Contract Act (SCA), 55, 230, 239
settlement agreements, 263-264
Seven Seas Shiphandlers, LLC, 160-162
Shumaker Trucking and Excavating Contractors, Inc., 24
Silverman v. United States, 87
Simborg’s, 226-227
Small Business Administration (SBA), 45
responsiveness and responsibility difference and, 46-47
Small Business Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), 228
Social Security Administration (SSA), 61
Sociometrics, 118
sole-source procurement, 12, 13
Solicitation for Offers (SFO), 105
solicitations: interpretation of phrases in, 132-133
process, 12
protesting, 222
vendor responsibilities during contract, 45-52. See also contract solicitation
source selection authority (SSA), 33, 224, 238
evaluation panels and, 36
Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB), 33, 226-227
Source Selection Officer (SSO), expert opinions and, 35
boards of contract appeals, 217
for claims, 210-211
Court of Federal Claims, 195
discretion and, 70
in federal litigation, 183
Government Accountability Office, 204-205
Specialized Metals, 13
Special Plea in Fraud provision, 94
specification, defective, 156
specific performance, 182, 207, 215
spectrum management engineering services, 237
SRA, 187
SRA International, Inc., 199-200
Standard Form 182 (SF-182), 116
standing, 180
defined, 191
plaintiff-typical federal litigation, 182
protest, 189
standing in claims, Court of Federal Claims, 210
state laws, 179
Government Accountability Office and, 202
statute of limitations: for appealing final decision, 255-260
for filing claims, 254-255
suspending, 255
statutes of limitations, claims, 254-260
STR L.L.C., 199-200
subcontractors, 215-216
kickbacks and, 53
third-party beneficiaries, 85-86, 216
subcontracts, 199-200
subjective intent, 125, 126, 127
substantially justified legal position, 262, 265-267
bad facts and mistakes, 267
wrong information, 266-267
sum certain, for claims, 246-247
suppliers, third-party beneficiary rule and, 85
Sytronics, 204-205
taking claims, 211
Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM), 51-52
Tanner, 195
task orders, 186
Government Accountability Office, 196-198
protest, 187-188
termination for convenience, 167, 168-172, 201
abuse of discretion in, 170
bad faith in, 169
cardinal change and, 170-171
furthering full and open competition and, 171-172
terms of art, 184
Texas Health Choice, L. C., 218
third-low bidder, 203
third-party beneficiaries, 85-86
subcontractors, 216
thumb wheel switches, 191-192
Tidewater, 25
TigerSwan, 170
timely filing, protests rule for, 229-234
TKC Communications, 81-82
T&M Distributors, Inc., 172
Todd Construction Co., 249-250
tort of conversion, 213-214
torts, 67
boards of contract appeals, 213
constitutional, 74-75
discretionary function and, 70-72
independent of contract duty in, 213-214
nonenumerated intentional, 69-70
scope employee’s duties and, 72-74
tied to contract, 214. See also Federal Tort Claims Act
trade-offs: documenting, 225-226
unreasonable, 24-26
trade practices, 129-130
trade secrets, 70
transportation contracts, 88
transportation service providers (TSPs), 88, 159
trial courts, 177
Triangle Maintenance and Janitorial Services, 192-193
Tri-Technologies, Inc., 51-52
Turner Construction Co. v. United States et al., 42
TV court shows, 177
type of work changes, 151-152
UMC, 94
undue delay, 269-270
unequal access to information, 41
unfair competitive advantages, 39
unfair competitive conduct, appearance of, 38-39
UNICOR, 212
United Paradyne Corporation (UPC), 19-20
United States Department of Health and Human Service’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 194
United States Marine Corps, 204
United States Public Works Center, 172
unjust enrichment, 210
U. S. Air Force, 114-115, 132-133
U.S. Air Force, 228-229
U.S. Army, 239-240, 250-251, 271
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 43, 75, 134-135, 202, 223, 226, 247, 249
U.S. Bank, 88
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 184, 205
U.S. Border Patrol, 87
U.S. Coast Guard, 83, 164, 259-260
U.S. Congress: automatic stay fight, 235-236
Contract Disputes Act amendments, 250
Equal Access to Justice Act, 262
Government Accountability Office branch of, 196
interested party not defined, 191
nonmonetary relief jurisdiction given by, 208
special courts for, 184
sum certain, 246-247
USDA Forest Service, 23-24, 65-66, 109
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), 102
U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), 107-108
U.S. Navy, 157, 164-165, 233, 264-265
U.S. Postal Service (USPS), 155, 258
vendor responsibilities, during contract solicitation, 45-52
Veterans Administration (VA), 27, 253
Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO), 202
waivers for assignments, 59-60
warranted authority, 112
Wesleyan Company, Inc., 212-213
Western Archaeological and Conservation Center (WACC), 151
Westinghouse Environmental Management Company (WEMCO), 216
winner responsibility, protesting, 222
winner selection: fair and reasonable in, 22-26
protesting, 222
winning, costs related to, 273
writing, decisions in, 10
written notice, 82-84
Yearsley v. W. R. Ross Construction Co., 69
Zoeller, Bruce, 211
zone of reasonableness, 9