United States v. General Electric Corporation

727 F.2d 1567, 31 Cont. Cas. Fed. 72,180, 1984 U.S. App. LEXIS 14861
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit·Decided February 28, 1984·No. Appeal 83-830·Published·Cited by 82 cases

Opinions

KELLAM, Senior District Judge.

The decision of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (Board), ASBCA 24913, awarding General Electric Company the right to an adjustment in the price of aircraft engines delivered for foreign military sales, is affirmed.

BACKGROUND

The United States Air Force (Air Force) contracted with General Electric Company for the supply of jet engines destined for foreign military sales (FMS), pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. § 2751 et seq. and subsequent sections. In accordance with the statutes and regulations, contractors, including General Electric, were required to negotiate annual advance agreements establishing ceilings for the recovery of independent research and development (IR & D) and bid and proposal (B & P) costs. Funds for IR & D and B & P costs were unavailable, absent an advance agreement.1 Such advance agreement was provided for under P.L. 91-441 which provided that no payment for IR & D or B & P costs could be made to any company for which an advance agreement was required, “except pursuant to the terms of that agreement.” P.L. 91-441, § 203(a)(3), 84 Stat. 905. U.S.Code Cong, and Adm.News 1970, Volume 1, page 1055. Contractors disputed the applicability of such restrictions to FMS. In keeping with this requirement and in an effort to protect against overceiling IR & D and B & P costs, the subject contracts with General Electric, and other contracts with other contractors, at the insistence of the contractors, included a provision that if it was finally determined by the Department of Defense (DOD) that FMS contracts were not subject to the ceiling limitations, then the allocation of contractors’ IR & D and B & P expenditures would not be limited by the advance agreement. Because the parties were aware that some change in the DOD policy concerning the treatment of IR & D and B & P costs might occur during the term of the contract, General Electric negotiated a savings clause in its 1978 and 1979 contracts. The language in each contract was similar. For the purposes of this opinion, we set out in the footnote the language from the 1978 contract.2

In October 1978, DOD revised its regulations exempting FMS contracts from IR & D and B & P ceilings. Subsequently, General Electric submitted its claim for payment of overceiling IR & D and B & P costs allocable to its FMS contracts. The contracting officer denied this claim on the ground that the change was only applicable to new contracts entered into after the date of the change in the regulations. On appeal the ASBCA held that the savings clause was triggered by the change in policy when the DOD determined that P.L. 91-441 was not applicable to FMS contracts and General Electric was therefore entitled to recover its actual IR & D and B & P costs.

The government’s appeal raises the issue of jurisdiction and whether the findings are based on substantial evidence.

[1565] so as to provide more flexibility by allowing the Reserve representation on such boards to be established by regulation ....

[1569] OPINION

I.

The government’s challenge to jurisdiction is two pronged. First, it says ASBCA could not enter judgment against the United States under a non-appropriated fund contract, and secondly, the claim was not properly certified when submitted to the contracting officer. These issues will be dealt with separately, and in reverse order.

A.

The ASBCA decision contains the following Finding of Fact:

129. By letter to ASD dated 13 November 1979, signed and certified by Mr. Ta-marro, GE submitted and requested a contracting officer’s decision on its claim for payment of overceiling IR & D/B & P costs allowable to FMS procurements under the captioned contracts. The total amount claimed for FMS engines delivered in both 1978 and 1979 was $3,512,-774. GE’s claim was received by the contracting officer on or about Friday, 16 November 1979 (GR4, tab A-5).

In its reply brief the government for the first time raises the issue that ASBCA was without jurisdiction to entertain the appeal because General Electric failed to properly certify the claim submitted to the contracting officer.

The Contract Disputes Act of 1978 became effective November 1, 1978, and applied to contracts entered into 120 days after November 1, 1978, with the right of the contractor to elect to proceed under the Act with respect to any claim pending before the contracting officer or initiated thereafter. 41 U.S.C. § 601 and subsequent sections. All claims by a contractor against the government relating to a contract are subject to decision of the contracting officer. 41 U.S.C. § 605(a). Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. § 605, the claim must be in writing and where for more than $50,000.00, as in the case here, the contractor shall certify that the claim is made in good faith, that the supporting data are accurate and complete to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that “the amount requested accurately reflects the contract adjustment for which the contractor believes the government is liable.” 41 U.S.C. § 605(c)(1). (Emphasis added)

The government argues that GE’s certification statement of November 13, 1979, fails to state the amount of its claim and fails to include the above-quoted words, particularly the belief in the government’s liability. GE argues that the government’s position is formalistic and that when the November 13, 1979 statement is read in its entirety, including referenced documents, the statutory requirements are satisfied. We agree. The government’s view that the certification statement requires a claimant to swear to a belief in a legal theory of recovery is meritless.

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United States v. General Electric Corporation, 727 F.2d 1567, 31 Cont. Cas. Fed. 72,180, 1984 U.S. App. LEXIS 14861 (Fed. Cir. 1984).

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