BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair

Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals·Decided July 15, 2014·No. ASBCA No. 58810·Published

Opinion

ARMED SERVICES BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS

Appeal of -- ) ) BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair ) ASBCA No. 58810 ) Under Contract No. W912SU-04-D-0005 )

APPEARANCE FOR THE APPELLANT: Peter B. Jones, Esq. Jones & Donovan Newport Beach, CA

APPEARANCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT: Raymond M. Saunders, Esq. Army Chief Trial Attorney MAJ John R. Longley, JA CPT Tyler L. Davidson, JA Trial Attorneys

OPINION BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE TING ON APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

The Army (government) awarded BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair (BAE) a task order under a multiple-award, task order contract (MATOC) for the programmed maintenance of a Logistics Support Vessel. The parties' disputes center on the proper equitable adjustment of two items under the task order. This decision addresses BAE's motion for summary judgment on its potable and drain piping claim. BAE contends that, as a matter oflaw, it is entitled to $903,973.00 including the $351,244.12 the contracting officer (CO) allowed in her decision but remains unpaid. BAE contends that the claimed amount was verified by a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) report as having been incurred. The Army opposes the motion. For reasons set out below, we deny BAE's motion.

Background

In 2004, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Eustis, Virginia, received a requirement to issue contracts for the maintenance and repair of three classes of landing craft stationed at various ports in the Pacific Ocean (R4, tab 13 7 at 1). The vessels included the Army's Logistics Support Vessels also known as "LSV" - class vessels. The effort was referred to as the "Programmed Drydocking, Cleaning, Painting, Repairs and Modifications to US Army Active and Reserve Vessels Located on the West Coast of the United States and Hawaii." The work would be executed as a task order under a MATOC. (Id.) BAE was one of five shipyards on the West Coast that competed for and received the right to bid on task orders issued for the Army's West Coast watercraft. On 2 April 2004, MATOC Contract No. W912SU-04-D-0005 (Contract 0005) was awarded to BAE in the estimated amount of$99,476,431.91. The contract was for a base year and four one-year options. (R4, tab 137 at 2)

Each task order under Contract 0005 would identify definite and indefinite work items to be performed. The contract defined "Definite Item" to mean "[k]nown work that shall be diligently prosecuted upon issuance of delivery order." The contract defined "Indefinite Item" to mean "[w ]ork to be accomplished only upon the written approval of the Contracting Officer. Activation of an indefinite item does not entitle the Contractor to an extension of the performance period." (R4, tab 1 at 24, iii! C.0.1.7., C.0.1.12.) Contract 0005 also addresses situations where the government determines, during the repair of a vessel, that additional replacement parts, materials and installation are required:

C.0.2.23.1. In addition to work specified in the specifications the Contractor shall furnish additional replacement parts, materials and installation which are determined to be required by the Government. The Contractor shall purchase additional replacements [sic] parts and materials required under this paragraph at the lowest known cost and shall be paid at cost. "At cost" is defined as the actual net cost of such parts and materials to the contractor including any and all discounts, rebates and allowances thereon (regardless of the date of purchase), material handling costs properly allocable to such parts or materials (if such costs are not reimbursable under any other provision of this contract), and properly identified and supported freight or transportation charges. The Contractor shall install and test such replacement parts and materials at no additional cost to the Government.

C.0.2.23.2. If it is determined by the Government that additional replacements parts and materials require machining or fitting, the Contractor shall be paid under this paragraph at cost, as defined herein. The Contractor shall be compensated for installation of replacement parts or materials requiring machining and fitting. Costs for replacement parts, materials and installation shall be

2 allowed to the extent that they are reasonable, allocable and allowable in view of the principles of FAR Part 31.

(R4, tab 1 at 30)

In addition, Contract 0005 included in full text the following clauses: DF ARS 252.217-7003, CHANGES (DEC 1991); DFARS 252.217-7004, JOB ORDERS AND COMPENSATION (DEC 1991 ); and DF ARS 252.243-7002, REQUESTS FOR EQUITABLE ADJUSTMENT (MAR 1998) (R4, tab 1at340-41, 352). The contract incorporated by reference DF ARS 252.243-7001, PRICING OF CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS (DEC 1991) clause providing:

When costs are a factor in any price adjustment under this contract, the contract cost principles and procedures in FAR Part 3 1 and D FARS Part 231, in effect on the date of this contract, apply.

(R4, tab 1 at 329) The contract also included in full text DF ARS 252.217-7028, OVER AND ABOVE WORK (DEC 1991) clause providing, in pertinent part:

(a) Definitions.

As used in this clause -

( 1) Over and above work means work discovered during the course of performing overhaul, maintenance, and repair efforts that is -

(i) Within the general scope of the contract;

(ii) Not covered by the line item(s) for the basic work under the contract; and

(iii) Necessary in order to satisfactorily complete the contract.

(e) The Contractor shall promptly submit to the Contracting Officer, a proposal for the over and above work. The Government and Contractor will then negotiate a settlement for the over and above work.

3 Contract modifications will be executed to definitize all over and above work.

(f) Failure to agree on the price of over and above work shall be a dispute within the meaning of the Disputes clause of this contract.

(R4, tab 1 at350-51)

Contract 0005 included a provision entitled "OFFEROR'S FULLY BURDENED LABOR RATE FOR THE SECOND OPTION PERIOD." This provision states:

a. Changes are inherent to vessel repair contracts and should be expected by the Contractors. Offerors shall include a fully burdened labor rate to be used in negotiating changes. The rate must include all costs for negotiating changes, including but not limited to, G&A, overhead, profit, cost of money, etc. The offeror shall insert rates below that it agrees to use in negotiating changes for new or additional work. These rates shall prevail throughout satisfactory completion of the base period.

(R4, tab I at 393) For Option Period Two, from I December 2006 through 30 November 2007 (R4, tab I at 2), relevant here, this provision set the contractor's fully burdened rate at $73.50, G&A rate at 8.82%, and profit rate at I 0% (R4, tab I at 393).

On 27 December 2006, Delivery Order (or task order) 0002 was awarded to BAE for an estimated amount of$4,889,413.73 for the programmed drydocking, cleaning, painting and repairs to the U.S. Army Vessel LSV-5. The LSV is an ocean-going vessel and is designed to carry supplies and equipment across the ocean or from other ships to shore. The LSV-5 is based at Bishop's Point, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Every three years, Class 1 vessels such as LSV-5, undergo drydocking and maintenance in order to keep all certifications current. Army vessels, unlike Navy warships, are built and maintained to commercial standards and use the American Bureau of Shipping as the certifying party. (R4, tab 137 at 2)

4 STATEMENT OF FACTS (SOF) FOR PURPOSES OF THE MOTION

BAE 's Motion for Summary Judgment

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