Opinion ID: 1484430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: DSPC solicits Kuhn's bid and the parties sign a contract.

Text: DSPC, a corporate entity of the State of Delaware, owns and operates the Port of Wilmington. DSPC drafted a contract, and solicited fixed price bids to reconstruct a wharf at the Port of Wilmington. On March 29, 2007, Kuhn submitted the lowest bid, and DSPC awarded Kuhn the contract. The referee clause, § 7.2.1 of the contract between DSPC and Kuhn, provides that The Director, or his designee, shall act as referee in all questions arising under the terms of the Contract between the parties hereto, and the Decision of the Director shall be final and binding. On all questions concerning the interpretation of Plans and Specifications, the acceptability, quality and quantity of materials or machinery furnished and work performed, the classification of material, the execution of the work and the determination of payment due or to become due, the decision of the Director, or his designee, shall be final and binding. While the contract does not define `questions,' as used in the referee clause, it does define `claims:' A Claim is a demand or assertion by one of the parties seeking, as a matter of right, adjustment or interpretation of Contract terms, payment of money, extension of time or other relief with respect to the terms of the Contract. The term Claim also includes other disputes and matters in question between the Owner and Contractor arising out of or relating to the Contract. Claims must be initiated by written notice. The responsibility to substantiate Claims shall rest with the party making the Claim. The Contract also contains a number of standardized forms including Association for International Arbitration (AIA) Form 201. Contractors routinely use AIA Form 201, which sets out the rights of parties in arbitration. DSPC initially included this form in § 4.6, but struck it, along with other substantive arbitration provisions. Article 3 of the contract provides that for any action or proceeding arising out of the project, the parties consent to suit in either Delaware's state courts or federal court in Delaware.