Court Opinion

ID: 4564047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-09 19:00:06.422314+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:48.820402
License: Public Domain

ARMED SERVICES BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS

Appeal of --                                )
                                            )
DynCorp International, LLC                  )      ASBCA No. 62227
                                            )
Under Contract No. FA8617-17-C-6210         )

APPEARANCES FOR THE APPELLANT:                     Gregory S. Jacobs, Esq.
                                                   Erin L. Felix, Esq.
                                                    Polsinelli PC
                                                    Washington, DC

APPEARANCES FOR THE GOVERNMENT:                    Jeffrey P. Hildebrant, Esq.
                                                    Air Force Deputy Chief Trial Attorney
                                                   Erika L. Whelan Retta, Esq.
                                                    Trial Attorney

    OPINION BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE MELNICK GRANTING THE
   GOVERNMENT’S MOTION TO DISMISS AND DENYING APPELLANT’S
                MOTION TO SUSPEND PROCEEDINGS

        This appeal has challenged a Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting
System (CPARS) evaluation. Appellant, DynCorp International, LLC (DynCorp), has
sought a judgment ordering the correction of two marginal CPARS ratings issued as
part of an evaluation by the United States Air Force Materiel Command (government)
for the contract referenced above. DynCorp claimed the ratings were inaccurate and
unfair. The government seeks dismissal of the appeal as moot. It explains that the
contracting officer has recently withdrawn the entire CPARS evaluation for review and
to make any appropriate changes, taking into account DynCorp’s contentions. Thus,
the government says it has already satisfied DynCorp’s demands and there is nothing
more for the Board to do.

       DynCorp responds to the government’s request with its own motion. It does
not deny that the government has withdrawn the evaluation or that the appeal is moot.
Indeed, it says it supports the steps the government intends to take. But, instead of
dismissing the appeal DynCorp thinks the Board should retain jurisdiction and suspend
the proceeding until the government issues a revised evaluation. It complains about
the prejudice it might suffer should the government ultimately issue a second set of
marginal ratings. DynCorp says that it would have to maneuver through the contract
claim process again and file a new appeal with its associated pleading procedures. All
the while the new, ostensibly objectionable marginal ratings would influence agency
past performance reviews of DynCorp.
        Generally, a claim must be dismissed as moot when the issues presented are no
longer live. Rothe Dev. Corp. v. Dep’t of Defense, 413 F.3d 1327, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2005).
So, when it develops during litigation that the relief sought has been granted, or the
matters in controversy are no longer at issue, the case is moot and should be dismissed
for lack of jurisdiction. See Chapman Law Firm Co. v. Greenleaf Constr. Co., 490 F.3d
934, 939 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Holstein v. City of Chicago, 29 F.3d 1145, 1147 (7th Cir.
1994), cited in Rothe Dev. Corp., 413 F.3d at 1331. This dispute is no longer live given
that the government has withdrawn the CPARS evaluation and is reconsidering it in light
of DynCorp’s assertions. * DynCorp does not suggest that it seeks any other relief from
the Board. DynCorp’s request that we retain the appeal in a suspended status anyway
because it might disagree with a yet to be issued new evaluation reflects a concern
premised upon mere speculation. It is not grounded in a live dispute between the parties
that is properly before the Board. Because we lack jurisdiction over this moot appeal, we
are required to dismiss it. See Johns-Manville Corp. v. United States, 893 F.2d 324, 327
(Fed. Cir. 1989).

      Appellant’s motion to suspend proceedings is denied. The government’s
motion to dismiss is granted.

         Dated: August 28, 2020

                                                  MARK A. MELNICK
                                                  Administrative Judge
                                                  Armed Services Board
                                                  of Contract Appeals

(Signatures continued)

*   DynCorp does not argue that the “voluntary cessation” exception to the mootness
        doctrine applies here. We see no reason to conclude it should, given the
        presumption that the government will carry out its actions in good faith.
        See Chapman, 490 F.3d at 940.
                                            2
 I concur                                        I concur

 RICHARD SHACKLEFORD                             J. REID PROUTY
 Administrative Judge                            Administrative Judge
 Acting Chairman                                 Vice Chairman
 Armed Services Board                            Armed Services Board
 of Contract Appeals                             of Contract Appeals

     I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Opinion and Decision of the
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in ASBCA No. 62227, Appeal of
DynCorp International, LLC, rendered in conformance with the Board’s Charter.

      Dated: August 28, 2020

                                                 PAULLA K. GATES-LEWIS
                                                 Recorder, Armed Services
                                                 Board of Contract Appeals

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