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In StructSure Projects, Inc., ASBCA No. 62927, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (Board) granted an appeal seeking recovery for increased costs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The underlying task order involved design and alteration services for existing medical facilities at Travis Air Force Base, and included a specific Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) for the provision of temporary phasing facilities that the Government could use while the construction work was ongoing.  When the pandemic began in March 2020, StructSure and its subcontractors had to stop their on-site construction work for 44 days because the Government had limited base access for contractors deemed to be not mission-essential.  StructSure later sought schedule and monetary relief, but the Government only granted schedule extensions under the Default clause.

StructSure eventually submitted a monetary claim for the additional costs associated with renting furniture and equipment for the temporary phasing facilities because the schedule extensions meant that it would continue to incur cost beyond the original period of performance.  Although the Government had continued to use the facilities during the stop-work period, the Government denied the claim on the basis that the base closure was a sovereign act rather than a change, and also because the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was not intended to provide this type of relief on a fixed-price task order.

On appeal before the Board, the Government again raised the sovereign acts defense. Neither party disputed that the base closure was a “public and general sovereign act,” and the Board agreed that the closure delayed completion of the construction activity.  However, the Board found that the sovereign acts doctrine did not apply, because the COVID restriction did not prevent StructSure from delivering the temporary phasing facilities.  The Board found that StructSure was entitled to compensation because StructSure delivered, and the Government utilized, the temporary facilities during the delay period and during the extension granted due to the COVID delay.

This decision is a significant reminder that, even where a sovereign act is involved, contractors still may be entitled to recover for certain increased costs of performance.  Contractors should examine the circumstances and impacts carefully to ensure that they request equitable adjustments to the contract price where appropriate.

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Photo of Michelle Coleman Michelle Coleman

Michelle D. Coleman is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s renowned Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and…

Michelle D. Coleman is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s renowned Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and requests for equitable adjustments, terminations, prime-sub disputes, other transaction authority, and AI.

Michelle also has an active pro bono practice, representing clients as an attorney volunteer with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Michelle has helped multiple clients receive long term housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program and other permanent voucher programs. In addition to being a volunteer, Michelle serves as an ambassador and as co-chaired the firm’s fundraising campaign for the Clinic for the last two years.

Prior to working at Crowell & Moring, Michelle served as an attorney in the Air Force’s Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, where she provided acquisition and litigation risk advice on procurements valued over $14 billion on major Air Force procurements. She also served as a trial attorney in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate. As a trial attorney, Michelle litigated complex contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As an Air Force litigator, Michelle litigated a broad range of issues before the ASBCA, including organizational conflicts of interest; small business issues; price realism analysis; past performance; NAICS code issues; technical acceptability; nonmanufacturing rule, brand name, or equal issues; construction claims; commercial items; terminations; assignment of claims; reprocurement; limitation of funds; release; differing site conditions; setoffs/withholding; and evidentiary issues. Among the construction cases, Michelle litigated a $28 million Air Force design-build construction claim involving complex differing site conditions and delay issues, and she also litigated and won a claim for alleged defective specifications, undisclosed information, constructive interpretation, and technical impossibility for a contract for the design and construction of an Air Force dynamic break test stand.

Before her Air Force career, Michelle was employed by a defense contractor, where she gained valuable government contract experience in her roles as a business analyst and a subcontracts administrator. Michelle’s government and contractor experience gives her the unique ability to take both parties’ perspectives into consideration when providing advice on government contract issues.

Photo of John Nakoneczny John Nakoneczny

John Nakoneczny is an associate in the Government Contracts Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office.

John represents and counsels contractors from diverse industries on contract disputes and other government contract matters. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, he clerked at the…

John Nakoneczny is an associate in the Government Contracts Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office.

John represents and counsels contractors from diverse industries on contract disputes and other government contract matters. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, he clerked at the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, where he supported its judges in resolving and mediating appeals under the Contract Disputes Act. John earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where he was the president of the Government Contracts Student Association and on the Federal Circuit Bar Journal. While in law school, John served as a legal intern at the U.S. General Services Administration and the Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division. Upon graduation, John was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award.