National Line Co. v. United States

607 F.2d 978, 26 Cont. Cas. Fed. 83,394, 221 Ct. Cl. 673, 1979 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 267
United States Court of Claims·Decided October 17, 1979·No. No. 39-76·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This case comes before the court on defendant’s motion, filed July 26, 1979, requesting that the court adopt the recommended decision of Trial Judge Roald A. Hogenson, Chief of the Trial Division, filed June 12, 1979, pursuant to Rule 134(h), as the basis for its judgment in this case, neither party having filed a notice of intention to except or exceptions thereto and the time for filing [675] pursuant to the Rules of the court having expired. Upon consideration thereof, without oral argument, since the court agrees with the recommended decision, as hereinafter set forth,* it hereby grants defendant’s motion and affirms and adopts the recommended decision as the basis for its judgment in this case. Therefore, it is concluded as a matter of law, that plaintiff is not entitled to recover; that defendant is entitled to recover against plaintiff on its counterclaim and, accordingly, judgment is entered for defendant thereon for $242,741.44, plus interest at the rate of 7% percent per annum from July 11, 1974. Plaintiffs petition is dismissed.

OPINION OF TRIAL JUDGE

Hogenson, Trial Judge:

This case is based on a Government supply contract which was terminated for default, with resulting assessment against plaintiff of excess costs of reprocurement. Seeking to have such assessment administratively vacated, plaintiff alleged as its basis before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals that the contract should be reformed or rescinded for alleged mistake in bid. The board ruled that it had no jurisdiction of the claim. Originally commenced for relief under the Wunderlich Act, this case was presented to this court on the cross-motions of the parties, raising the threshold issue as to the correctness of the board’s jurisdictional ruling. As more fully explained in its order of June 21, 1977, 214 Ct. Cl. 807, the court declined to pass upon the board’s holding but, as agreed by the parties, treated this case as if it had been commenced in this court as an action for relief from an alleged mistake in bid, seeking a money recovery based on reformation or rescission of the contract. The court remanded this case to the trial division for initial determination of the merits, directing that:

* * * The Trial Judge shall utilize the administrative record compiled before the ASBCA, and he shall also allow the parties to present additional evidence if they so [676] request, to the extent necessary or appropriate. [214 Ct. Cl. at 809.]

After amendment of the pleadings to allege a claim for a money judgment, the parties filed their stipulation that they would rely exclusively on the ASBCA record filed in this case, and that no additional evidence or proof would be submitted by them. Such stipulation was approved by the trial judge, and this case has been briefed on the merits. After consideration of the parties’ requested findings of fact and objections thereto, based solely on the administrative record applying the standard of preponderance of the evidence, and upon consideration of the legal positions of the parties, it is concluded that plaintiff is not entitled to recover; that defendant is entitled to judgment against plaintiff on its counterclaim in the net amount of $242,741.44, plus interest at the rate of 7% percent per annum from July 11, 1974, and that plaintiffs petition should be dismissed.

On November 15, 1972, defendant by its Defense Personnel Support Center, Defense Supply Agency, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, awarded to plaintiff, located at Dora, Alabama, Contract No. DSA 100-73-C-0659 for the manufacture of 300,000 small arms ammunition cases, intended for use with M-16 rifles, at the unit price of $1.79, with plaintiff to deliver 3,200 units (called the First Article samples) by January 29, 1973, with deliveries thereafter in monthly increments of 50,000 beginning on April 4, 1973, with the final delivery of 46,800 due September 1, 1973.

Plaintiff failed to produce the initial 3,200 units by January 29, 1973. It did produce and deliver to defendant 3,300 units by March 9, 1973. At a net unit price of $1.29 (deducting from the contract unit price of $1.79 the agreed value of Government-furnished material at $0.50 per unit), defendant owes plaintiff for the 3,300 units the sum of $4,257, which is allowed as a credit to plaintiff on the total excess reprocurement costs. On March 15, 1973, plaintiff advised defendant that it could not financially complete the contract and requested a no-cost termination.

In its limited production experience, plaintiff discovered that it lacked sufficient plant, equipment and personnel to attain the production rate estimated in its bid. It did not [677] take steps to increase output because completion of the contract would have bankrupted the company. It decided against instituting two shifts of contract work, rather than one per workday, because of health problems it would create for its president and vice president and because of lack of other supervisory personnel.

On February 14, 1973, defendant’s contracting officer and two other representatives of defendant met with plaintiffs president and discussed the status of the contract. Plaintiff attributed production problems to delays in receipt of components and machinery and advised that it could produce only 25,000 cases per month, in contrast to the 50,000 units per month required by the contract delivery schedule. It was then that plaintiff advised the contracting officer that it could not arrange a second shift of contract work; and that its plant space would not permit the addition of further personnel and machinery. The contracting officer advised plaintiff that its proposed production was unacceptable.

On March 1, 1973, defendant had plaintiffs plant inspected by an industrial specialist to estimate production capability. Plaintiff had only 27 machines, with six sewing operators and one packer then working one shift. It was concluded that plaintiff had the plant capacity with one shift of adequate employees to produce 14,000 cases per month, and possibly 25,000 per month with a two-shift operation. Plaintiff advised that it could not provide two shifts. The industrial specialist estimated that plaintiff would require 90 to 100 machines, operating two shifts, to meet the contract delivery schedule of 50,000 cases per month, and that plaintiff did not have sufficient plant capacity to accommodate the additional equipment.

By letter dated March 3, 1973, plaintiff advised defendant’s contracting officer that it had figured the contract item incorrectly, that it should have been advised that it was too low in its price before and not after the contract award; requested an increase in the total unit price from $1.79 to $2.29; stated that if such increase Were not allowed contract termination would be requested; and that if plaintiff were assessed reprocurement costs in the amount of the difference between its price and the next higher bidder, plaintiff would be put out of business.

[678] By telegram dated March 8, 1973, defendant’s contracting officer denied plaintiffs request for a price increase and issued a 10-day cure notice that plaintiff furnish information that it would correct the condition endangering performance of the contract in accordance with its terms, or else defendant would terminate the contract for default.

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National Line Co. v. United States, 607 F.2d 978, 26 Cont. Cas. Fed. 83,394, 221 Ct. Cl. 673, 1979 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 267 (cc 1979).

607 F.2d 978 (National Line Co. v. United States) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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