BLR Group of America, Inc. v. United States

84 Fed. Cl. 634, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 331, 2008 WL 5068673
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedNovember 25, 2008
DocketNo. 07-579 C
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 84 Fed. Cl. 634 (BLR Group of America, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
BLR Group of America, Inc. v. United States, 84 Fed. Cl. 634, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 331, 2008 WL 5068673 (uscfc 2008).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

SWEENEY, Judge.

Before the court in the above-captioned case is defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”). Plaintiff alleges that government personnel prepared and disseminated an unfair and inaccurate evaluation of its performance under a contract with the United States Air Force (“Air Force”) and seeks appropriate declaratory and in-junctive relief. Defendant contends that the court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs allegations. For the reasons set forth below, the court grants in part and denies in part defendant’s motion.

I. BACKGROUND1

Plaintiff BLR Group of America, Inc. is a Texas corporation that provides support services for airline, general aviation, military, technology, and government clients. Compl. UK 3, 7. On April 14, 2006, the Air Force awarded plaintiff a contract “to provide Air Traffic Management support services to the Directorate of Communications and Information’s Air Traffic Management Systems Office (AMC/A67).” Id. 118. In particular, plaintiff was required “to provide ‘functional, technical liaison, and analytical support in accordance with the Performance Work Statement,”’ which identified a variety of required and discretionary tasks. Id. 119 (quoting the contract). The contract was awarded for one base year and four subsequent option years “on a firm fixed-price basis, with some cost-reimbursable items.” Id. The total contract award amount was $564,968. Attach. 5 at 1.

The Air Force designated the lead Quality Assurance Personnel (“QAP”) as its representative in assigning and administering tasks under the contract. Compl. H10. The lead QAP was also responsible for monitoring and “fairly and objectively evaluating” plaintiffs contract performance. Id. H11.

Prior to contract award, plaintiff hired a subcontractor to serve as its chief engineer. Id. 1112. “During contract performance, [plaintiffs] personnel observed an inappropriately close personal relationship between the subcontractor and the lead QAP.” Id. H13. In early June 2006, plaintiff questioned some of the bills it received from the subcontractor. Id. H14. On June 8, 2006, [636]*636less than two months after contract award, “the subcontractor abruptly terminated his relationship with [plaintiff] and his work under the Contract and subcontract.” Id. H15. Plaintiff contends that upon the subcontractor’s departure, the lead QAP “wholly failed” to cooperate with plaintiff and “hindered [plaintiffl’s performance by imposing unreasonable requirements and unreasonably monitoring and evaluating [plaintiffl’s performance.” Id. H17; see also id. IfH 18-23 (describing unreasonable requirements), 24-35 (describing unreasonable monitoring and evaluation). Ultimately, the Air Force terminated the contract for convenience on September 26, 2006. Id. K 36.

According to plaintiff, the Air Force was required to evaluate plaintiffs performance under the contract in a Contractor Performance Assessment Report (“CPAR”). Id. If 37; accord Ex. D at 1 (“The Federal Acquisition Regulation requires all Federal agencies to collect past performance information on contracts.”). CPARs contain information about a contractor’s performance and are used by procurement officials to determine a contractor’s “responsibility” when evaluating the contractor’s bid for work on a subsequent contract. Compl. 1138; see also Attach. 1 at 1 (“The primary purpose of the [Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System] is to ensure that accurate data on contractor performance is current and available for use in source selections____Performance assessments will be used as a resource in awarding best value contracts and orders to contractors that consistently provide quality, on-time products and services that conform to contractual requirements.”). Thus, plaintiff notes, the content of a CPAR “is vitally important to a contractor’s ability to win future government contracts.” Compl. If 38. Due to the importance of the CPAR and its belief that the lead QAP “could not be objective in her evaluation,” plaintiff requested, four days before the Air Force terminated the contract for convenience, that another QAP be assigned to the contract. Id. H 40. The Air Force did not respond to plaintiffs request and thus, upon the contract’s termination, the lead QAP prepared both the narrative and the ratings for plaintiffs CPAR. Id. If 41; accord Joint Attach. 6 at 4 (noting that the lead QAP and the alternate QAP wrote the CPAR). Presumably, the lead QAP forwarded the narrative and ratings to the Assessing Official, Nancy Kreke, for review.2 See Ex. D at 2 (identifying Ms. Kreke as the Assessing Official); Attach. 1 at 8-9 (noting the Assessing Official’s responsibility to review the evaluation narrative prepared by her representative). The Assessing Official signed the CPAR on November 21, 2007, noting, as required, her title of contracting officer. Joint Attach. 6 at 2. That same day, via an electronic mail message, she notified plaintiff that an initial CPAR had been prepared and was ready for plaintiffs review. Compl. If 42; Ex. D; see also Attach. 1 at 8-9 (noting the Assessing Official’s responsibility to forward the CPAR to the contractor).

In the CPAR, the Air Force rated plaintiffs performance as “‘marginal’ (less than satisfactory)” for four evaluation criteria: (1) Quality of Product/Service; (2) Schedule; (3) Business Relations; and (4) Management of Key Personnel. Compl. 1143; Joint Attach. 6 at 1. Further, plaintiff alleges that the narrative in the CPAR “was replete with misrepresentations and inaccuracies.” Compl. H 44. Thus, pursuant to the guidelines set forth in the November 21, 2006 electronic mail notification message, plaintiff requested a meeting with the Air Force to discuss the CPAR. Ex. B; Ex. D at 2; see also Attach. 1 at 9 (“If the contractor desires a meeting to discuss the CPAR, it must be requested, in writing, no later than seven calendar days from the receipt of the CPAR.”). The meeting occurred on January 9, 2007, and included the following participants: plaintiff, the Assessing Official, the lead QAP, and other Air Force personnel. Compl. If 46. Plaintiff indicates that during the meeting, it provided substantive rebuttals to many of the items in the CPAR and requested information from the Air Force concerning how it prepared the CPAR. Id. The Air Force did not provide plaintiff with the information it sought, id., [637]*637but the Assessing Official invited plaintiff to submit written questions, id. H 47; see also Ex. D at 1 (“You are encouraged to review the assessment, provide comments, and indicate your eoncurrence/non-eoncurrence with the Government’s review____Your response is due back to our office within 30 days after receipt of this notification.”); Attach. 1 at 9 (noting the thirty-day review period).

Plaintiff submitted written comments in response to the initial CPAR signed by the Assessing Official/contracting officer on January 12, 2007. Compl. H 48; Joint Attach. 6 at 2, 4-7. The comments concerned both the inaccuracies contained in the CPAR and the possible biases of the lead QAP who prepared the CPAR. Compl. 1148; Joint Attach. 6 at 2, 4-7. Plaintiff “requested that the Assessing Official exercise her discretion to re-evaluate the CPAR and correct the initial ratings and narrative.” Compl.

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Bluebook (online)
84 Fed. Cl. 634, 2008 U.S. Claims LEXIS 331, 2008 WL 5068673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blr-group-of-america-inc-v-united-states-uscfc-2008.