Universal Fiberglass Corp. v. United States

537 F.2d 393, 22 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,362, 210 Ct. Cl. 206, 1976 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 12
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedJune 16, 1976
DocketNo. 85-70
StatusPublished
Cited by36 cases

This text of 537 F.2d 393 (Universal Fiberglass Corp. 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
Universal Fiberglass Corp. v. United States, 537 F.2d 393, 22 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,362, 210 Ct. Cl. 206, 1976 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 12 (cc 1976).

Opinion

Nichols, Judge,

delivered tbe opinion of the court:

This is a contract action wherein this court, by cross motions for summary judgment, has been asked to review a decision of the General Services Administration (GSA) Board of Contract Appeals (Board), 71-1 BCA ¶ 8901, in accordance with the standards of the Wunderlich Act, 41 U.S.C. Secs. 321-22 (1970). Defendant has counterclaimed for $2,363,508.04, plus interest. Trial Judge Bernhardt has submitted a recommended decision and conclusion of law in accordance with Rule 166(c). We agree with the result as to the main question, the termination for default, but arrive at it for different reasons. We differ as to his disposition of the counterclaims.

I.

On August 31, 1964, the Government solicited bids for the purchase of 12,714 mailsters (small 3-wheel mail delivery trucks). The original delivery schedule, as amended by Special Notice No. 1 to Prospective Bidders, called for the contractor to have a pilot model available for inspection not later than June 27, 1965, and to achieve a production [210]*210rate of 75 units per day by July 27, 1965. Universal Fiberglass Corporation (UFC), the plaintiff, was the lowest bidder; however, representatives of the GSA were reluctant to award it the contract because of concern over its ability to perform. On the basis of the Small Business Administration’s certification of competency, the GSA 'awarded the contract to UFC on January 27, 1965. After the contract was awarded to UFC, the Government repeatedly warned the contractor that failure to meet the delivery schedule would be grounds for termination of the contract.

On April 14, 1965, the Government accepted the pilot model, but plaintiff was unable to deliver any vehicles by July 27, 1965. In fact, plaintiff did not have the parts nor a delivery schedule of parts from suppliers to enable it to produce 75 mailsters per day and would not have been able so to produce until December 1965. The Government, in a memorandum dated October 29,1965, formalized an Amendment No. 2, to the contract on November 29, 1965, agreeing to a time extension excusing 90 days of delay from July 27, 1965. A “final revised delivery” schedule was accepted as proposed by the contractor which called for a gradual increase in the rate of production and established “benchmarks” of delivery achievement:

December 24,1965-30 vehicles per day

January 7,1966- 52 vehicles per day

January 21,1966-75 vehicles per day

By December 24,1965, the first “benchmark” had not been reached. Although 366 acceptable vehicles should have been delivered by December 28, 1965, only 127 had in fact been accepted. On January 28,1966, the parties agreed to another time extension as follows:

March 16, 1966- 30 vehicles per day

March 28, 1966- 52 vehicles per day

April 11, 1966- 75 vehicles per day

Plaintiff was unable to meet the revised schedule and the Government then agreed to yet another adjustment:

April 21, 1966- 30 vehicles per day

May 3, 1966- 52 vehicles per day

May 17, 1966- 75 vehicles per day

[211]*211On April 8, 1968, a fire partially destroyed portions of' plaintiff’s plant. Tbe April 21, 1966, “benchmark” was not fully met; however, the contractor was resuming production and supplied the Government with approximately twenty vehicles per day by April 28,1966. As of that date, plaintiff had 208 vehicles in various stages of production.

During 1966, many of the vehicles delivered were deficient. The repair facilities were inadequate, despite the Government’s repeated demands upon plaintiff to provide repairs in accordance with the contract.

In May 1966, negotiations ensued between all parties to determine the precise nature of necessary specifications changes, the price adjustment and possible extensions of the delivery schedule. On August 9,1966, Amendment No. 4 was executed which changed the specifications to include certain safety features in compliance with the new Federal Safety Standards. All vehicles produced after September 27, 1966, were to have these new features, which included a four wheel instead of a three wheel design, requiring the scrapping of many parts. The Amendment required the contractor to furnish the contracting officer with a revised delivery schedule no later than October 1,1966.

A pilot model incorporating the Amendment No. 4 changes was conditionally approved by the Government on September 30,1966. The Government was doubtful about plaintiff’s ability to perform the contract, however, because of an audit performed by a Government accountant which concluded that plaintiff was insolvent.

Plaintiff was unable to furnish a revised delivery schedule by 'October 1, 1966. It had informed the Government of its difficulties in obtaining the component parts required by Amendment 4. On October 1, the Government asked plaintiff to furnish its proposed revised delivery schedule and advised plaintiff that the responsibility for securing the necessary parts was the plaintiff’s. On October 12, 1966, the Government again requested immediate submission of a revised delivery schedule.

On November 1, 1966, the Commissioner of the Federal Supply Service wrote the plaintiff, citing the results of the [212]*212September audit and asked the plaintiff to furnish a detailed arrangement for completion of the contract. Plaintiff responded by letter of November 14, 1966, alleging that the Government was responsible for its increased costs and that the contract might be impossible to perform.

Plaintiff was forced virtually to close down its production lines in the plant after September 27, 1966, and to lay off most of its labor force. As of September 27, 1966, plaintiff had a production force of about 220. Plaintiff’s records indicate an expenditure of $82,140 for hourly and salaried employees during the 2 months preceding termination on December 2, 1966. Some of this activity consisted of ordered and expediting parts. Other activity consisted of processing 44 vehicles manufactured under the old specifications before September 27,1966, for delivery to the Government. Towards the end of October plaintiff briefly restarted production line in an effort to complete 11 vehicles under the new specifications, but the lack of required parts prevented their completion. During October 1966, plaintiff continued on a reduced scale the manufacture of fiberglass bodies for the vehicle, but thereafter this too was discontinued. The plaintiff’s records reflect that during the first half of November 1966, plaintiff had 24 hourly employees who worked a total of 1,134% manhours on various days, and in the last half of November it had 19 hourly employees who worked a total of 1,112% manhours on various days. No vehicles were ever produced by plaintiff under the new specifications imposed by Amendment No. 4, except a pilot model. Plaintiff had stopped production and would have had great difficulty in continuing the contract. Plaintiff had lost $1,400,000 on the contract by March 31,1966, and would have sustained an even greater loss had the contract been completed. The Government understood that several parts suppliers were refusing plaintiff’s orders because of its poor financial condition. Plaintiff was not ready, willing and able to perform the contract because of its inadequate financial condition.

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Bluebook (online)
537 F.2d 393, 22 Cont. Cas. Fed. 80,362, 210 Ct. Cl. 206, 1976 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 12, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/universal-fiberglass-corp-v-united-states-cc-1976.