Sigma Construction, Inc. v. United States

113 Fed. Cl. 13, 2013 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1451, 2013 WL 5435052
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedSeptember 30, 2013
DocketNo. 12-865
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 113 Fed. Cl. 13 (Sigma Construction, 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
Sigma Construction, Inc. v. United States, 113 Fed. Cl. 13, 2013 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1451, 2013 WL 5435052 (uscfc 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND FINAL ORDER

Braden, Judge.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND.1

On April 22, 2008, SIGMA Construction, Inc. (“Sigma” or “Plaintiff’) submitted a proposal in response to a Request For Proposals (“RFP”) No. GS-09P-07-NP-C-0005, issued by the United States General Services Administration (“GSA” or the “Government”). Compl. ¶ 6. The project was an 8(a)2 sole source procurement for a de[15]*15sign/build contract to install a roofing system on the Hawthorne Federal Building in Lawndale, California. Compl. ¶ 6. Sigma and GSA negotiated and agreed upon a final contract price of $979,588. Compl. ¶ 7. On May 30, 2008, Sigma was awarded GSA Contract No. GS-09P-08-NPC-0005 (“the Contract”). Compl. ¶ 8. The initial schedule required approval for shop drawings within 30 days, with roof construction to be completed 130 days thereafter. Compl. ¶ 7. On June 24, 2008, the initial Contracting Officer (“CO”) issued a letter confirming the GSA’s receipt of Sigma’s Performance and Payment Bonds and establishing November 6, 2008 completion date. Pl.’s Attach. 1.

Numerous incidents, however, delayed the scheduled construction. GSA did not timely approve Sigma’s performance bonds and shop drawings. Compl. ¶ 9. In addition, GSA requested that Sigma change access authorization for twenty-three workers, requiring fingerprints and a background investigation for each worker. Compl. ¶ 9. And, in May 2009, a dispute about the warranty occurred. Compl. ¶ 9.

On May 21, 2009, a new CO sent Sigma a Notice to Proceed for on-site work that stated: “because of factors out of [Sigma’s] control,” the Contract needed to be modified to reflect a new completion date of October 1, 2009. Pl.’s Attach. 1; see also Compl. ¶ 10.

On September 24, 2009, the GSA disclosed that a 2003 “Asbestos-Containing Material Field Survey Report” indicated that the roof contained toxic asbestos. Compl. ¶ 9. In re- ■ sponse, Sigma provided GSA with a cost proposal for asbestos abatement. Compl. ¶ 9.

On October 5, 2009, Sigma requested from GSA compensation for the increased costs of abatement and additional time required to complete the project. Compl. ¶ 11.

On April 6, 2010, the GSA terminated the Contract, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) 52.249-2(a) “Termination for Convenience of the Government— Fixed Price.” Compl. at ¶ 12.

On November 12, 2010, Sigma submitted a Request For Equitable Adjustment (“REA”) to the GSA for delay-related cost increases in the amount of $823,904. Compl. ¶ 13.

On February 18, 2011, the CO directed Sigma to submit a document combining the REA with a Termination Settlement Proposal. Compl. ¶ 14

On March 21, 2011, Sigma submitted a consolidated proposal requesting $86,106 as a Termination Settlement Proposal, together with the previously submitted REA for $823,904, for the combined amount of $1,116,220. Compl. ¶ 15. At the CO’s direction, Sigma included, in the combined amount, two prior GSA progress payments in the amount of $206,010. Compl. ¶ 15.

On September 19, 2011, Sigma submitted a separate certification of the March 21, 2011 Termination Settlement Proposal for $86,106. Compl. ¶ 16. Thereafter, the CO advised Sigma’s CEO that a GSA review and analysis of Sigma’s proposals was underway. Compl. ¶ 17. On November 22, 2011 the GSA sent via e-mail an attached signed letter offering “final settlement amount of $235,842, all items considered.” Compl. ¶ 17. Sigma rejected the offer. Compl. ¶ 17.

On December 1, 2011, the CO and Sigma’s CEO negotiated a $485,000 settlement in a telephone conference, in addition to the $206,210 GSA previously paid as progress payments. Compl. ¶¶ 18-19. The CO advised Sigma’s CEO that a written confirmation of this amount would be forthcoming. Compl. ¶ 19.

On December 6, 2011, the CO e-mailed Sigma a letter confirming that the December 1, 2011 agreement would be issued as a “final supplemental modification to the [C]ontract.” Pl.’s Attach. 3; see also Compl. ¶ 20. The letter also stated that “[t]he supplemental modification finalizing the settlement agreement under the [C]ontract will be transmitted to you for your signature prior to final execution by the Government.” Pl.’s Attach. 3.

But, on January 30, 2012, the CO sent an e-mail letter to Sigma stating that “the final modification requires a review by the GSA’s Regional office.” Compl. ¶ 23.

On April 20, 2012, the CO sent another email. The CO advised Sigma that, pursuant [16]*16to GSA’s internal review, the GSA concluded that the “[December 1, 2011] negotiated settlement has not been deemed acceptable and w[ould] not be approved without a complete third party audit.” Pl.’s Attach. 4; see also Compl. ¶ 24. The CO also stated that the GSA would like to reopen negotiations to avoid an audit. Pl.’s Attach. 4; Compl. ¶ 24.

On April 24, 2012, Sigma responded by email that it considered the December 1, 2011 agreement final and declined to renegotiate. Compl. ¶25. On May 30, 2012, Sigma’s counsel sent a letter to GSA stating that the settlement contract modification required GSA to pay Sigma $485,000. Compl. ¶26. On June 22, 2012, the CO reaffirmed GSA’s position and informed Sigma that the GSA had initiated an audit. Compl. ¶ 26.

On August 13, 2012, Sigma’s CEO mailed the CO a certified claim requesting payment of $485,000, plus interest. Compl. ¶ 29; Pl.’s Attach. 5. Sigma also requested that the CO “issue a written final decision on this claim.” Compl. ¶ 29; Pl.’s Attach. 5.

On September 13, 2012, GSA’s Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) contacted Sigma for information. Compl. ¶30. Sigma responded that an audit was unnecessary because Sigma previously provided a REA and the Termination Settlement Proposal to the CO, as well as a certified invoice for the negotiated amount. Compl. ¶30. On that same date, Sigma mailed a second copy of the CDA claim to the CO via registered mail. Compl. ¶ 3 1.

On September 20, 2012, the OIG advised Sigma by e-mail that the Termination Settlement Proposal was not valid and requested additional information about Sigma’s delay claim. Pl.’s Attach. 6; see also Compl. ¶ 32.

On October 29, 2012, Sigma contacted the CO again, reasserting the August 13, 2012 claim for $485,000 and requesting a final written decision. Compl. ¶ 35.

On November 13, 2012, after receiving no reply from the CO, Sigma mailed a third certified copy of Plaintiffs August 13, 2012 claim. Pl.’s Attach. 8; see also Compl. ¶ 36. As of December 12, 2012, the GSA did not respond. Compl. ¶ 37.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY.

On December 12, 2012, Sigma filed a Complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims seeking: (1) judgment under the Declaratory Relief Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201 (Compl. ¶¶ 38-40); (2) mandamus under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706 (Compl. ¶¶ 41-44); and (3) $485,000 plus costs for GSA’s breach of the December 1, 2011 settlement agreement. Compl. ¶¶ 45-54.

On April 19, 2013, the Government filed a Motion To Dismiss, pursuant to Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6).

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