Celtech, Inc. v. United States

37 Cont. Cas. Fed. 76,181, 24 Cl. Ct. 269, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 452, 1991 WL 193295
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedSeptember 27, 1991
DocketNo. 644-89C
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 37 Cont. Cas. Fed. 76,181 (Celtech, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Celtech, Inc. v. United States, 37 Cont. Cas. Fed. 76,181, 24 Cl. Ct. 269, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 452, 1991 WL 193295 (cc 1991).

Opinion

OPINION

MARGOLIS, Judge.

This government contracts case is before the court on defendant’s motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, motion for summary judgment or, in the further alternative, motion for partial summary judgment and on plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff asserts that the defendant breached- an implied contract to fairly and honestly consider plaintiff’s proposal submitted under a government program to develop and assist minority-owned small businesses, and requests damages. Defendant argues that plaintiff fails to state a claim, plaintiff’s proposal was fairly and honestly considered, and plaintiff’s damages are limited to bid preparation costs. After careful consideration, and after hearing oral argument, this court denies defendant’s motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim and for summary judgment on breach of contract, grants defendant’s motion limiting damages, grants plaintiff’s cross-motion for summary judgment on breach of contract, and denies plaintiff’s cross-motion for damages exceeding bid preparation costs.

FACTS

Plaintiff, Celtech, Inc. (“Celtech”) is a small disadvantaged business concern that sells computer and office equipment and provides third-party maintenance. Celtech was a member of the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) Minority Business and Capital Ownership and Development Program (“8(a) program”).

The 8(a) program, established pursuant to § 8(a) of the Small Business Act (“the Act”), 15 U.S.C. § 637(a) (1988), is designed to develop and assist minority-owned small businesses. Harris Systems International, Inc. v. United States, 5 Cl.Ct. 253, 255 (1984). Under an 8(a) program, SBA contracts with a procurement agency to provide goods or services. SBA subcontracts these requirements to an 8(a) program participant. SBA then steps aside and permits the 8(a) participant to negotiate directly with the procurement agency. OAO Corp. v. United States, 17 Cl.Ct. 91, 93 (1989).

On May 14, 1987, defendant United States, acting through the Department of State (“State”), requested the SBA’s permission to negotiate a contract for overseas typewriter repair services with Celtech. State’s offering letter to SBA estimated the value of the procurement to be between $800,000 and $1,200,000.

On May 22, 1987, the SBA wrote to State’s contracting officer on behalf of Celtech, expressing its desire to contract with State for the typewriter repair services. The SBA requested State to negotiate directly with Celtech for the contract. State was instructed to provide the SBA with a summary of the negotiations and informed that any negotiated agreement would have to be approved by an authorized SBA representative.

On July 20, 1987, State issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) to plaintiff for typewriter repair services as Solicitation No. 2041-745004. The contract would be classified “TOP SECRET,” with a period of performance of one year, and was anticipated to require 22 technicians. State indicated that it needed the services urgently and required proposals by July 31, 1987.

Celtech submitted its proposal on July 31, 1987. Celtech’s price for the first year of services was $1,531,186. On September 28, 1987, Celtech revised the proposal, reducing its price to $900,819 for the first year.

On September 8, 1987, after receiving Celtech’s initial proposal, State requested the Defense Contract Audit Agency (“DCAA”) to audit Celtech’s accounting system. On October 27, 1987, DCAA issued audit report No. 6261-8A177.008 stating that Celtech’s “accounting system [was] unacceptable for recording costs on [272]*272Government contracts.” DCAA also sent a letter to Celtech on October 27, 1987, that detailed the audit results. DCAA indicated that it was essential to correct the accounting system 'deficiencies immediately, and “[f]ailure to do so [could] result in a determination that [Celtech’s] ... accounting system [was] not adequate for the recording, accumulating and billing of costs on ... Government contracts/subcontracts.”

On November 24, 1987, State’s Office of Inspector General for Audits (“OIG/AUD”) informed State’s contract administrator of the DCAA audit results. In light of Celtech’s accounting system problems, the OIG/AUD stated that “[u]ntil the contractor has implemented an acceptable accounting system no contract should be awarded to the contractor.” The letter indicated that, because the contract required labor, .the timekeeping deficiencies described in the DCAA report were particularly important.

Based on a discussion with State’s contract administrator, DCAA evaluated Celtech’s September 28, 1987 revised proposal, and issued audit report No. 6261-8A210.-019. In the accompanying letter, the DCAA Branch Manager noted that the audit results were qualified because results of the technical evaluation were not available. DCAA also found that “the cost or pricing data submitted by [Celtech] were inadequate in some respects.” However, DCAA “consider[ed] the proposal to be acceptable for negotiating a price.” (Emphasis added).

While State negotiated with Celtech on the proposed contract, State also inquired whether other contractors could provide the services. For example, on December 3, 1987, State’s Assistant Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (“SDBU”), informed Martinez Business Center of Denver, Colorado that SDBU had recommended it for the typewriter services contract. In addition, State apparently contacted at least one other firm, Pulau of Chatsworth, California, regarding the potential contract.

On December 16, 1987, Celtech sent a letter to DCAA detailing the new procedures for employee time records that it had implemented pursuant to DCAA’s October 27, 1987 audit report. Celtech advised DCAA that it was “presently drafting the necessary modifications in order ... to be in complete compliance with all of [DCAA’s] recommendations.”

On February 12, 1988, DCAA wrote Celtech that its “accounting system [was] structured in a manner that [was] acceptable for the accumulation, segregation and recording of costs under Government contracts.” DCAA also indicated that all of the deficiencies it identified previously were corrected and, with the exception of the job cost ledger, were fully implemented. DCAA said it would perform a followup review of the job cost ledger.

On February 28, 1988, the OIG/AUD informed State’s contracting officer that DCAA had “accepted Celtech’s revised accounting system for recording costs under Government contracts.” However, on March 23, 1988, State informed the SBA that it was withdrawing its offer to the SBA for Celtech’s services based on accounting system deficiencies identified in the October 27, 1987 DCAA audit.

On May 4, 1988, the SBA informed Celtech that State decided to withdraw the Celtech offer. The SBA explained its belief that:

the State Department should have provided the Small Business Administration with timely formal notification of the results of the DCAA’s audit of Celtech’s bookkeeping system. Timely notification would have given the District Office an opportunity to provide Celtech Inc. with 7(j) management assistance to correct any deficiencies in Celtech’s financial record-keeping system that may have been cited in DCAA’s audit report.

On July 20, 1988, State informed Celtech that it would not award a contract on Solicitation No. 2041-745004.

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Bluebook (online)
37 Cont. Cas. Fed. 76,181, 24 Cl. Ct. 269, 1991 U.S. Claims LEXIS 452, 1991 WL 193295, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/celtech-inc-v-united-states-cc-1991.