Court Opinion

ID: 8488294
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-21 18:01:19.858389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:50:09.717949
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

    NEWIMAR, S.A.,

                     Plaintiff,

                         v.                                No. 21-cv-1897

    THE UNITED STATES,                                     Filed Under Seal: November 14, 2022
                     Defendant,                            Publication: November 17, 2022 1
                         and

    J&J MAINTENANCE, INC.,

                     Intervenor-Defendant

                                  MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

        On May 12, 2022, this Court entered Judgment in favor of Defendants (ECF No. 61) in a

bid protest action brought by Newimar, S.A. (Plaintiff or Newimar). Five months later, on October

12, 2022, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Stay of this Court’s Judgment Pending Appeal (Motion or

Motion to Stay). See ECF No. 67 (Mot.). Specifically, Plaintiff seeks a stay while the United

States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) considers Plaintiff’s appeal, filed

on June 22, 2022. Mot. at 30. 2 Plaintiff also urges this Court to enjoin Defendant United States

(Defendant or the Government) and Intervenor-Defendant J&J Maintenance, Inc. (J&J) from

1
  This Memorandum and Order was filed under seal in accordance with the Protective Order
entered in this case (ECF No. 12) and was publicly reissued after incorporating all redactions
proposed by the parties. (ECF No. 73.) The sealed and public versions of this Memorandum and
Order are otherwise identical, except for the publication date and this footnote.
2
 Citations throughout this Memorandum and Order reference the ECF-assigned page numbers,
which do not always correspond to the pagination within the document.
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taking further steps to implement or begin performance under the protested contract award pending

Plaintiff’s Appeal. Id.

       Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay lacks merit. Accordingly, for the reasons described in this

Memorandum and Order, Plaintiff’s Motion is DENIED.

                                        BACKGROUND

       The facts of this dispute are detailed in this Court’s May 12, 2022 Memorandum and Order.

See Newimar S.A. v. United States, 160 Fed. Cl. 97 (2022) (Opinion); ECF No. 61 (Judgment).

For context, the Court briefly summarizes below the procedural history pertinent to the Motion.

       The U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) maintains the infrastructure for U.S. Naval

Station (NAVSTA) Rota along the Bay of Cádiz in Rota, Spain, which includes “a 670-acre

airfield, four active piers, hundreds of facilities, and approximately 373 family housing units.”

Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 107. Plaintiff, the incumbent civilian contractor at NAVSTA Rota for

the last 25 years, filed this post-award bid protest on September 23, 2021 to challenge the Navy’s

contract award to J&J for future base operations support (BOS) services at NAVSTA Rota. Id. at

107. On May 12, 2022, after consideration of the parties’ briefs and after a lengthy and thorough

oral argument, this Court upheld the Navy’s award to J&J, denying Plaintiff’s Motion for

Judgment on the Administrative Record (MJAR), and granting the Government’s and J&J’s Cross-

MJARs. Id. at 142. On June 22, 2022, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal. ECF No. 64. On

September 15, 2022, Plaintiff subsequently filed its opening appellate brief in the Federal Circuit;

Plaintiff, however, did not move the Federal Circuit for an expedited briefing schedule pursuant

to Federal Circuit Rule 27(c). Newimar S.A. v. United States, No. 22-1949, D.I. 16 (Fed. Cir. Sept.

15, 2022); see also Mot. at 7 (stating Plaintiff is not “formally requesting expedited relief” before

the Federal Circuit).

                                                                                                   2
       Since 2021, Plaintiff has continued to service NAVSTA Rota under a series of bridge

contracts with the Navy. See Declaration of Erin R. Quimby, United States Contracting Officer

(ECF No. 69-1) (Def.’s Aff.), ¶ 3. Plaintiff’s current bridge contract is set to terminate on

December 31, 2022. Id.; Mot. at 8. The Navy declined to further renew Plaintiff’s bridge contract,

and instead intends to proceed with its transition of the awarded contract to J&J, consistent with

this Court’s ruling. Def.’s Aff., ¶ 3; Mot. at 8–9. The contract award incorporates a 45-day phase-

in period for J&J, which the Navy intends to commence on November 16, 2022. Id.; see

Defendant’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for a Stay Pending Appeal (ECF No. 69) (Def.’s Resp.)

at 3. Plaintiff filed the present Motion to Stay only after it had received notice on September 30,

2022 of the Navy’s intention to transition the work to J&J and forgo renewal of another bridge

contract with Plaintiff. Def.’s Aff., ¶ 3; see ECF No. 71-3 (Navy letter to Plaintiff, dated

September 30, 2022).

                             APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS

       Plaintiff’s Motion seeks both a stay of this Court’s Judgment and entry of an injunction

pending resolution of its appeal by the Federal Circuit. Mot. at 30. Rule 62(d) of the Rules of the

United States Court of Federal Claims (Rule(s)) states that “[w]hile an appeal is pending from an

interlocutory order or final judgment . . . the court may suspend, modify, restore, or grant an

injunction on terms for bond or other terms that secure the opposing party’s rights.” Rule 62(d).

The imposition of such relief pending appeal is an exercise of judicial discretion that depends upon

the circumstances of the particular action. See ePlus, Inc. v. Lawson Software, Inc., 431 F. App’x

920, 920 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 433 (2009)) (noting that the

decision to stay a permanent injunction pending appeal “is not a matter of right [b]ut instead an

exercise of judicial discretion”).

                                                                                                  3
       The relief Plaintiff seeks here “is an ‘extraordinary and drastic remedy,’ which is not

granted lightly.” ACI Techs., Inc. v. United States, 162 Fed. Cl. 39, 43 (2022) (quoting G4S Secure

Integration LLC v. United States, 159 Fed. Cl. 249, 254–55 (2022)); see RLB Contracting, Inc. v.

United States, 120 Fed. Cl. 681, 682 (2015) (“An injunction pending appeal is an extraordinary

remedy and will not be lightly granted.”) (citing Acrow Corp. of Am. v. United States, 97 Fed. Cl.

182, 183 (2011)). As the movant, Plaintiff “bears the burden of showing the circumstances justify

an exercise of the court’s discretion . . . .” Beard v. United States, 451 F. App’x 920, 921 (Fed.

Cir. 2011); see also ACI Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 43 (quoting Telos Corp. v. United States, 129 Fed.

Cl. 573, 575 (2016)) (noting that “the party moving for a stay ‘carries the burden of establishing

the propriety of an injunction pending appeal . . . .’”).

       While trial courts have discretion to issue stays or other injunctive relief pending appeal,

courts should consider:

       (1) whether the movant has made a strong showing that it is likely to succeed on
       the merits; (2) whether the movant will be irreparably injured absent an injunction;
       (3) whether issuance of the injunction will substantially injure the other interested
       parties; and (4) where the public interest lies. 3

ACI Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 43 (quoting Telos Corp., 129 Fed. Cl. at 575). Courts acknowledge

that the first two factors are generally of primary importance to a court’s inquiry. See Acrow Corp.

of Am., 424 F. App’x at 948 (noting the first two factors are “the most critical”); see also Standard

Havens Prods., Inc. v. Gencor Indus., Inc., 897 F.2d 511, 512 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (noting courts need

not afford the factors equal weight). Courts, however, “adopt a flexible approach to balancing the

four factors,” as they “do not form a rigid set of rules for determining whether a stay is

appropriate.” JWK Int’l Corp. v. United States, 49 Fed. Cl. 364, 366 (2001); see also ACI Techs.,

3
 Concerns over factor 3 (harm to other interested parties) and factor 4 (the public interest) “merge
when the Government is the opposing party.” Nken, 556 U.S. at 435.
                                                                                                   4
162 Fed. Cl. at 43 (quoting E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 835 F.2d

277, 278 (Fed. Cir. 1987)) (noting that the court must “assess[] [a] movant’s chances for success

on appeal and weigh[] the equities as they affect the parties and the public”) (internal quotations

omitted).

       In lieu of demonstrating a strong likelihood of success on the merits under factor 1, the

movant may instead demonstrate a “substantial case” of success on the merits “provided the other

factors militate in movant’s favor.” Standard Havens Prods., 897 F.2d at 513 (citing Hilton v.

Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 778 (1987)) (emphasis in original); see also ACI Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at

43. Thus, a court may still order a stay pending appeal if the moving party demonstrates a

“substantial case” on the merits, and all other factors weigh “decidedly toward the moving party.”

ACI Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 44 (quoting G4S Secure Integration, 159 Fed. Cl. at 255); see also

JWK Int’l Corp., 49 Fed. Cl. at 366 (“The stronger the showing of likelihood of success on the

merits, the less heavily the balance of harms need tip in [the movant's] favor. Conversely, if the

harm factors weigh heavily in [the movant's] favor, [the movant] only needs to demonstrate a

substantial case on the merits.”).

       Although the “substantial case” standard permits movants to demonstrate a lesser showing

of success on the merits in particular circumstances, it “is no free ride.” ACI Techs., 162 Fed. Cl.

at 44. A “substantial case” on the merits requires more than a “fair” or “better than negligible

chance” of success. Standard Havens Prods., 897 F.2d at 515. The movant must demonstrate that

the question raised “is novel or close” or that the movant has highlighted questions on the merits

“so serious, substantial, difficult and doubtful, as to make them a fair ground for litigation.” ACI

Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 44 (internal citations omitted). Indeed, a mere allegation that the

Government or a court erred does not alone satisfy the “substantial case” standard. Id. at 47. “A

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party seeking a stay must do more than simply claim the trial court got it wrong; it must present a

good faith argument that substantial doubt exists over the trial court's decision.” Obsidian Sols.

Grp., LLC v. United States, No. 20-1602C, 2021 WL 1688892, at *4 (Fed. Cl. Apr. 27, 2021)

                                          DISCUSSION

       This Court must deny Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay. As an initial matter, Plaintiff’s delay in

filing its Motion and its decision to forgo expedited briefing before the Federal Circuit provides

sufficient justification to deny Plaintiff’s Motion.     Even considering the merits, however,

Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay must be denied, as Plaintiff fails to demonstrate a strong or substantial

case on the merits that would warrant the entry of a stay or injunctive relief pending resolution of

Plaintiff’s appeal before the Federal Circuit.

I.     Plaintiff’s Delayed Motion to Stay and Decision to Proceed Before the Federal Circuit
       on a Non-Expedited Basis

       After close review of both the record and the timing of Plaintiff’s filings, it is evident to

this Court that Plaintiff’s Motion represents a last-minute effort by Plaintiff to recover from

gamesmanship gone awry. It appears that Plaintiff made the strategic decision to delay filing a

motion to stay this Court’s Judgment apparently in the hope, or with the expectation, that the Navy

would further extend Plaintiff’s bridge contract for the duration of the appeal. See Def.’s Aff., ¶ 3

(“Soon after receiving notice of the Navy’s intent to proceed with transition [to J&J], Newimar

filed with this Court a Motion to Stay Performance pending the appeal before the Federal

Circuit.”). In doing so, Plaintiff chose to disregard the reasonably foreseeable financial and

business risks frequently incurred when an incumbent loses a bid to renew a significant contract.

See, e.g., Telos Corp., 129 Fed. Cl. at 578 (recognizing lost profits and adverse consequences to

employees as “the unavoidable results of [a] contract coming to an end”). On September 30, 2022,

Plaintiff learned from the Navy that its gamble had failed, and the latest bridge contract would not

                                                                                                   6
be extended past December 31, 2022. See Def.’s Aff., ¶ 3; Mot. at 8. Yet, this outcome was

foreseeable. Indeed, Plaintiff could have predicted this outcome as early as May 12, 2022, when

this Court issued its Opinion and entered Judgment in favor of Defendants. See Newimar, 160

Fed. Cl. at 107–08. It was reasonably foreseeable from a business, strategic, and economic

perspective that the Navy might opt not to renew Plaintiff’s bridge contract after this Court had

upheld the propriety of the award to J&J. See Id. Plaintiff should have anticipated this risk and,

by engaging in prompt motion practice, potentially could have mitigated the financial

consequences of losing its incumbency.

       Plaintiff, however, failed to take these precautionary measures. Instead, Plaintiff waited

for five months, until approximately two months before the bridge contract’s termination date, to

file this Motion. See Mot. at 8–9. Plaintiff belatedly alleges that the financial strains it could and

should have foreseen months ago now constitute irreparable harm warranting a stay of this Court’s

Judgment and injunctive relief. See id. at 27–28. Plaintiff cannot have it both ways, and this Court

will not so reward Plaintiff based on such a record. See, e.g., CRAssociates, 103 Fed. Cl. at 27

(noting that “self-inflicted harm . . . [is] not the sort of consideration that ought to give rise to a

stay”). In reviewing the record, this Court identifies two primary timing issues which, taken

together, compel this Court to deny Plaintiff’s Motion.

       First, the timing of Plaintiff’s Motion counsels strongly against entering injunctive relief.

The timing of a party’s motion to stay pending appeal is a consideration in deciding whether entry

of a stay or injunctive relief pending appeal is warranted. See, e.g., HVF West, LLC v. United

States, 148 Fed. Cl. 45, 57 (2020) (noting movant’s seven-week delay in filing motion to stay

pending appeal contributed to decision to deny the motion); Lawson Env’t Servs., LLC v. United

States, 128 Fed. Cl. 14, 19 (2016) (holding movant’s two-month delay in filing motion to stay

                                                                                                     7
pending appeal undermined its claim of irreparable harm). Plaintiff filed the present Motion to

Stay on October 12, 2022, precisely five months after the Court had issued its Memorandum and

Order and entered Judgment in favor of the Government and J&J. See ECF No. 67; Newimar, 160

Fed. Cl. at 108. Plaintiff’s five-month delay in filing its Motion to Stay far exceeds the seven-

week and two-month intervals considered untimely in HVF West and Lawson Environmental

Services, respectively. 4 HVF West, 148 Fed. Cl. at 57; Lawson Env’t Servs., 128 Fed. Cl. at 19.

Had Plaintiff harbored sincere concerns over the allegedly catastrophic financial consequences

that it could incur resulting from Judgment issued in favor of Defendants, it should have acted

swiftly to file a Motion to Stay at that time. That Plaintiff did not file earlier — and waited for

such a prolonged period to do so — suggests its choice to delay was strategic. It is evident that

Plaintiff intended to prolong its ability to service NAVSTA Rota and only seeks injunctive relief

now because the Navy recently informed Plaintiff that it would not further extend Plaintiff’s latest

bridge contract.

          Second, Plaintiff’s portrayal of imminent and irreparable harm absent a stay is further

belied by its failure to pursue an expedited appeal before the Federal Circuit. Federal Circuit Rule

27(c) permits a party to move for accelerated consideration of its appeal by filing a Motion to

Expedite. Fed. Cir. Rule 27(c). The Practice Notes to Federal Circuit Rule 27 indicate that such

a motion “should be filed immediately after docketing . . . [and] is appropriate where the normal

briefing and disposition schedule may adversely affect one of the parties, as in appeals involving

preliminary or permanent injunctions or government contract bid protests.” Fed. Cir. R. 27

Practice Notes (emphasis added). These Practice Notes reflect that a party in Plaintiff’s position

(i.e., a party to a government contract bid protest allegedly harmed by delays inherent in the

4
    While not binding, these decisions are instructive.
                                                                                                  8
resolution of an appeal) may benefit from expedited briefing. Id. Yet, Plaintiff never filed a

motion to expedite its appeal in the Federal Circuit, and apparently does not plan to do so. Mot.

at 7 (acknowledging Newimar is not “formally requesting expedited relief” before the Federal

Circuit). Plaintiff’s failure to do so further underscores the failed strategic choice that accompanies

Plaintiff’s seemingly sudden allegations of irreparable harm.

        Such timing issues, alone, provide ample justification to deny Plaintiff’s Motion.

Nevertheless, for purposes of completeness, this Court also considers Plaintiff’s merits-related

arguments raised by its Motion, all of which fail to warrant entry of a stay or injunctive relief

pending appeal.

II.     Plaintiff Fails to Demonstrate a Likelihood of Success on the Merits

        Even assuming arguendo that Plaintiff’s tardiness does not necessitate denial of the Motion

to Stay, this Court must still deny Plaintiff’s Motion because it fails to raise any issue or question

so novel or close as to warrant the extraordinary remedy of injunctive relief pending appeal.

Plaintiff insists it has presented, if not a strong case, at least a substantial case on the merits because

its Motion and appeal allegedly present issues of first impression. See Plaintiff’s Reply to

Defendant’s and Intervenor-Defendant’s Oppositions to Motion to Stay (ECF No. 71) (Pl.’s Reply)

at 3. Yet, Plaintiff fails to articulate which of its arguments represents an issue of first impression,

and this Court is aware of none. Indeed, Plaintiff’s Motion merely reiterates the identical concerns

and arguments that Plaintiff raised in its MJAR, all of which this Court previously addressed and

rejected. See generally Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 97. Plaintiff cannot demonstrate a strong or

substantial case on the merits via either reiteration of its previously-asserted MJAR arguments or

via general disagreement with this Court’s reasoning. See Lawson Env’t Servs., 128 Fed. Cl. at 17

(acknowledging that when a movant “seeks to ‘relitigate several issues that the opinion addressed

                                                                                                         9
fully and resolved,’” the Court will deny an injunction) (internal citations omitted); Obsidian Sols.

Grp., 2021 WL 1688892, at *4 (“A party seeking a stay must do more than simply claim the trial

court got it wrong; it must present a good faith argument that substantial doubt exists over the trial

court's decision.”).

        Plaintiff alleges this case is a close call and offers four arguments in support of its alleged

strong or substantial case on the merits. This Court has closely reviewed the arguments presented

by Plaintiff’s Motion and has additionally reviewed its Memorandum and Order in whole. After

such review, this Court holds Plaintiff fails to demonstrate a strong or substantial case on the

merits, and accordingly that its Motion to Stay must be denied.

        A. J&J’s Registration Status with the Spanish Registro Mercantil and Spanish “W”
           Tax Number

         Plaintiff argues that the Government, and this Court, erred in deeming J&J a responsible

contractor because J&J allegedly failed to (1) register with the Spanish Registro Mercantil or (2)

obtain a proper Spanish “W” tax number during the procurement process. Mot. at 10–19. Plaintiff

asserted the identical arguments, however, in its MJAR, and this Court addressed and ultimately

rejected such arguments. See Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 124–28. Plaintiff’s arguments on the

Registro Mercantil and the Spanish “W” tax number were rejected on two unique bases. Id. First,

Plaintiff waived these arguments by asserting them for the first time in its reply brief. See id. at

124. Second, this Court held that even if such contentions were not waived, Plaintiff’s arguments

would still be unavailing on the merits. Id. at 124 n.13 (citing Qwest Gov’t Servs., Inc. v. United

States, 112 Fed. Cl. 24, 36–37 (2013)). Assuming arguendo that such arguments were not waived,

the Court ultimately concluded compliance with the Spanish Registro Mercantil registration

requirements and the Spanish “W” tax number constituted “contract administration matter[s]

beyond this Court’s bid protest jurisdiction.” Id. at 125.

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                       1. Waiver

       As noted, this Court held that Plaintiff waived its arguments on J&J’s Registro Mercantil

registration status and the Spanish “W” tax number by failing to raise these arguments until its

reply brief. Id. at 124. Plaintiff marginally addresses the waiver issue in its briefing for the present

Motion to Stay, 5 vaguely pointing to arguments made in Plaintiff’s appellate brief to conclude that

“there is a substantial likelihood that the Federal Circuit overrules the Court’s holdings on waiver

as well as Newimar’s substantive arguments.” Pl.’s Reply at 4. Yet, Plaintiff’s argument is

conclusory and does not explain how its waiver arguments support a strong or substantial case on

the merits here or why the Federal Circuit would likely overrule this Court’s prior waiver

determination. See id. Further, Plaintiff does not distinguish clear Federal Circuit precedent

holding issues initially raised on reply before a trial court are waived. See Stauffer v. Brooks Bros.

Grp., Inc., 758 F.3d 1314, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (citing Fresenius USA, Inc. v. Baxter Int’l, Inc.,

582 F.3d 1288, 1295–96 (Fed. Cir. 2009)) (appellant waived arguments initially raised in reply

brief before the district court); Novosteel S.A. v. U.S., Bethlehem Steel Corp., 284 F.3d 1261, 1273–

74 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (holding that appellant waived argument raised for the first time in a reply brief

before the district court). This Court properly considered the Federal Circuit’s Novosteel decision

in its May 12, 2022 Memorandum and Order and accordingly deemed Plaintiff’s arguments

procedurally waived. Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 124.

                       2. Merits

       As noted, even if Plaintiff had not waived its arguments concerning Spanish registration

requirements, Plaintiff’s arguments would still fail on the merits. Plaintiff contends this Court

5
 Plaintiff only addressed the Court’s waiver holding in its reply in support of its Motion to Stay,
not in its initial Motion. See Pl.’s Reply at 4.
                                                                                                     11
failed to adequately consider emails between the Navy and J&J which discuss Spanish registration

requirements. See Mot. at 15–16. In its Memorandum and Order, however, this Court considered

the full Administrative Record and the express terms of the Revised Solicitation and Amendment

0008, which were clear and unambiguous. Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 119–20, 125–27. This Court

accordingly held that the deadline for submission of requisite permits and licenses by the awardee

was “[p]rior to the start of performance,” consistent with the Revised Solicitation and applicable

law. Id. at 125–27 (internal quotations omitted). Far from suggesting an inadequate perusal of the

Administrative Record, the Court’s May 12, 2022 Memorandum and Order explains in detail that

the Government properly excluded consideration of these Spanish registration requirements from

its responsibility assessment; simply put, the clear terms of the Revised Solicitation and

Amendment 0008 did not require bidders to prove satisfaction of the registration requirement at

the time of bid-submission. See id. at 125 (quoting Advanced Am. Constr., Inc. v. United States,

111 Fed. Cl. 205, 223 (2013)) (“Requirements that ‘are not required to be satisfied by the

contractor until after the contract is awarded’ are therefore not considered responsibility

requirements.”).

       Additionally, Plaintiff also reiterates concerns over the alleged significance of the Navy’s

consideration of guidance from the U.S. Section of the Permanent Committee on the necessity of

meeting Spanish registration requirements under the Agreement on Defense Cooperation (ADC).

Mot. at 14–15. As explained in this Court’s Opinion, after the Spanish Section of the Permanent

Committee objected that J&J had not yet registered with the Registro Mercantil, the U.S. Section

of the Permanent Committee clarified that registration with the Registro Mercantil was not a

prerequisite to awarding a contract under a solicitation. Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 119 (citing AR

14789–91) (emphasis added). Instead, any awardee under the solicitation would need to have such

                                                                                                12
a license prior to the start of performance. Id. (emphasis added). The Navy appropriately relied

on this clarification, and this Court remains unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay that its

holding is incorrect. Id.

       Finally, Plaintiff contends that this Court ignored important parts of the Administrative

Record and incorrectly “conclude[ed] that the Navy could substitute the U.S. Section’s analysis

under the limited vetting process for its own duty to affirmatively determine compliance” with all

Responsibility criteria. Mot. at 19. As explained in this Court’s Opinion, this Court lacks

jurisdiction to address any alleged non-compliance with the ADC or the specific “allegation that

the Spanish Section [of the Permanent Committee] did not approve J&J as an offeror” due to J&J’s

registration status at that time. Id. at 127–28. Those arguments “depend on interpretation of a

specific provision of [the ADC] rather than anything in the Revised Solicitation.” Id. Because

these arguments “derive[] [their] existence so exclusively and substantially” from the ADC, an

“executive agreement that operates ‘in the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty,’” this Court

lacks jurisdiction to consider these arguments at all. Id. (quoting the ADC, ch. 1, art. I, ¶ 1). This

Court, therefore, exercised judicial restraint in declining to address Plaintiff’s arguments pertaining

to the ADC. Again, the Court is unpersuaded by Plaintiff’s Motion.

       This Court reviewed its holding and analysis anew in considering Plaintiff’s Motion. The

Opinion includes a thorough analysis of the Administrative Record and reflects that the Court

correctly rejected, on two separate bases, Plaintiff’s merits argument that J&J was not qualified to

be the awardee due to an alleged failure to meet the Spanish registration requirements. In sum,

Plaintiff’s Motion to Stay rehashes unpersuasive arguments concerning Spanish registration

requirements and does not demonstrate a strong or substantial case on the merits that would

warrant the requested relief.

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       B. Undisclosed Evaluation Criterion

       Plaintiff disagrees with the Court’s holding that the Navy did not evaluate offers using an

undisclosed criterion, specifically a criterion concerning the number of previously performed

projects. See Mot. at 20–22. Again, Plaintiff’s Motion expresses discontent with the Court’s ruling

but ultimately offers no new or compelling facts or law that could amount to a strong or substantial

case on the merits. For example, the Revised Solicitation allowed the Navy to evaluate the “depth

and breadth” of offerors’ relevant experience. Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 129. Plaintiff contends

in its Motion that the Court erred in interpreting the term “breadth” to connote numerosity, thereby

finding the Navy properly considered the number of offerors’ past projects. Mot. at 20–21; see

Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 129. Yet, Plaintiff cannot present a strong or substantial case on the

merits simply by expressing disagreement with this Court’s reasoning below; it must instead

explain why the Federal Circuit would also likely disagree with this Court’s holding. See Obsidian

Sols. Grp., 2021 WL 1688892, at *4. It has not done so. Further, as this Court noted, “[a]gencies

have ‘great discretion in determining the scope of an evaluation factor.’” Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl.

at 128 (quoting Maint. Eng’rs v. United States, 50 Fed. Cl. 399, 415 (2001)). For Plaintiff to

succeed on the merits related to this issue, it must demonstrate, inter alia, that the agency used a

“significantly different basis in evaluating the proposals than was disclosed.” Id. (quoting

Harmonia Holdings Grp., LLC v. United States, 153 Fed. Cl. 245, 255 (2021)). Beyond making a

few conclusory statements to this point, Plaintiff’s Motion fails to meet this burden.

       This Court also rejected Plaintiff’s argument that the Navy’s contract award involved

undisclosed evaluation criterion because, even if true, Plaintiff suffered no prejudice. Id. at 131-

32. It is well-established that to succeed in a bid protest, a plaintiff must demonstrate that it

suffered prejudice; namely that there was a “substantial chance it would have received the contract

award but for [the Government’s] error.” Banknote Corp. of Am. v. United States, 56 Fed. Cl. 377,
                                                                                                 14
380 (2003) (quoting Alfa Laval Separation, Inc. v. United States, 175 F.3d 1365, 1367 (Fed Cir.

1999)) (internal quotations omitted); see also Statistica, Inc. v. Christopher, 102 F.3d 1577, 1581

(Fed. Cir. 1996) (alteration in original) (emphasis in original) (internal quotations omitted)

(quoting C.A.C.I., Inc.-Fed. v. United States, 719 F.2d 1567, 1574–75 (Fed. Cir. 1983)) (“To

establish competitive prejudice, a protester must demonstrate that but for the alleged error, there

was a substantial chance that [it] would receive an award—that it was within the zone of active

consideration.”). Plaintiff’s Motion briefly discusses its concerns with this Court’s lack of

prejudice holding but does not clarify why the holding was incorrect. Mot. at 22. Plaintiff merely

makes the conclusory statement that because the procurement involved “only two bidders that

were weighted equally on all the listed factors, the use of the undisclosed factor was clearly

instrumental in J&J receiving the contract award . . . .” Mot. at 22. Plaintiff’s position, however,

ignores the Administrative Record, which indicates that while the contractors received the same

adjectival ratings across all four evaluation factors, the Government identified several significant

advantages in J&J’s proposal that justified the award. Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 131–32. In

addition, J&J’s proposal offered a lower price, and the Revised Solicitation dictated “[t]he

importance of price [would] increase if the Offerors’ non-price proposals [were] considered

essentially equal in terms of overall quality.” Id. at 132 (citing Tab 50 at AR 10723, 10730–31).

Thus, for the reasons explained in the Court’s Opinion, Plaintiff would have lost the award,

regardless of whether the Government had considered the alleged unstated evaluation criterion. Id.

       Accordingly, even if the Federal Circuit were to agree with Plaintiff that the Government

had applied an unstated evaluation criterion, for the reasons stated above and in this Court’s

Memorandum and Order, Plaintiff nevertheless would be unsuccessful on the merits of its

undisclosed criterion argument because it has failed as a matter of law to sufficiently demonstrate

                                                                                                 15
prejudice stemming from the use of the criterion. Plaintiff’s argument concerning an unstated

evaluation criterion, therefore, does not raise a strong or substantial case on the merits.

       C. Unbalanced Pricing Analysis and Consideration of ELINs

       Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in deeming the Navy’s unbalanced pricing analysis

reasonable. Mot. at 22–27. Plaintiff’s Motion, once again, simply rehashes arguments this Court

has already rejected. See Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 139–41. A movant does not present a strong

or substantial case on the merits when it “simply reiterates its objections to the [Government’s]

decision and the Court’s denial of judgment on the administrative record in Plaintiff’s favor.” ACI

Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 47. This is particularly true where, as here, the bid protest was a “routine”

challenge to the agency’s evaluation and the issues “before the Court were neither ‘novel [n]or

close.’” See id. (quoting Acrow Corp., 97 Fed. Cl. at 184).

       This Court engaged in a thorough review of the Government’s unbalanced pricing analysis.

Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 139–41. In reviewing the Navy’s methodology, this Court appropriately

noted its role was “not to test whether there is a better, faster, or otherwise more correct way to

analyze unbalanced pricing; rather it [was] the Court’s task to determine whether the Navy’s

unbalanced pricing analysis is reasonable and its conclusions rational.” Id. at 139 (quoting IAP

World Servs., Inc. v. United States, 153 Fed. Cl. 564, 567 (2021)). Acknowledging that an

agency’s methodology is “a matter within the sound exercise of the agency’s discretion,” id. at

141 (quoting Logistics Health, Inc. v. United States, 154 Fed. Cl. 51, 85 (2021)), the Court limited

its inquiry to “whether there is any statutory or regulatory provision that precludes [the adopted

methodology].” Id. at 139–140 (quoting Tyler Constr. Grp. v. United States, 570 F.3d 1329, 1333

                                                                                                  16
(Fed. Cir. 2009)). 6 Ultimately, Plaintiff failed to identify a single law or regulation prohibiting the

pricing analysis technique the Navy adopted and has still yet to do so. 7 Id. at 140. The Court also

specifically addressed and rejected Plaintiff’s assertion that the terms of the Revised Solicitation,

the FAR, and relevant case law mandated an unbalanced pricing analysis at the exhibit line item

number (ELIN) level. Id. This Court interpreted the definition of “line item” as employed in FAR

§ 2.101 and the Revised Solicitation, confirmed ELINs did not meet the stated definition, and held

accordingly that the Navy’s unbalanced pricing analysis was reasonable and not contrary to law.

Id. Plaintiff’s objections to the Court’s holding, therefore, amount to nothing more than a

difference of opinion on statutory interpretation and do not raise a strong or substantial case on the

merits. See Mot. at 24–25.

6
  Plaintiff argues that this Court misapplied Tyler Construction Group v. United States, stating the
standard articulated in the case is limited to a “far more specific determination restricted to IDIQ
contracts for construction procurement.” Mot. at 22–23 (citing 570 F.3d 1329, 1333 (Fed. Cir.
2009)). Plaintiff raised this argument previously in its MJAR to no avail, and it proves equally
unsuccessful here. Indeed, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has previously applied the Tyler
Construction standard to evaluate an agency’s unbalancing analysis. See, e.g., IAP, 153 Fed. Cl.
at 569. Similarly, this Court did not err in applying the same standard to consider the
Government’s unbalancing analysis in this bid protest. Plaintiff’s Motion does not raise a strong
or substantial case on this basis that would merit a stay or injunctive relief.
7
  Plaintiff points to Academy Facilities Management v. United States to argue that the Navy has
previously considered ELINs to constitute “line items” for the purpose of unbalanced pricing
analyses. See Mot. at 26 (citing 87 Fed. Cl. 144, 543–54 (2009)). As an initial matter, “this Court
is not bound by the decisions of other judges on the Court of Federal Claims.” Almanza v. United
States, 136 Fed. Cl. 290, 296 (2018). Further, presenting a single case demonstrating that an
unbalanced pricing analysis may occur at the ELIN level does not establish that every unbalanced
pricing analysis must occur at the ELIN level. Indeed, and as this Court noted, other U.S. Court
of Federal Claims decisions have approved the use of unbalanced pricing methodologies
examining CLIN-level pricing. See Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 140 (citing IAP World Servs., 153
Fed. Cl. at 567–72) (endorsing the Navy's assessment of unbalanced pricing at the CLIN level,
rather than the ELIN level, in a fixed-price procurement). The Navy had discretion to choose how
to perform its unbalanced pricing analysis for this procurement, including the choice to analyze at
the CLIN level, so long as the chosen methodology was reasonable. See Logistics Health, 154
Fed. Cl. at 83–86. Plaintiff’s reliance on Academy Facilities Management is uncompelling.
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       D. Plaintiff’s Successful Prior Protest of the Original Solicitation

       Perhaps most unconvincingly, Plaintiff suggests its previous, successful protest of the

Original Solicitation “weighs in favor of the likelihood of Newimar’s success on the merits.” Mot.

at 27. Plaintiff’s prior protest of a solicitation that was later amended has no bearing on Plaintiff’s

likelihood of success on the merits in this appeal. Indeed, Plaintiff’s initial protest of the Original

Solicitation was based on distinct grounds than those considered in this Court’s May 12, 2022

Memorandum and Order concerning the Revised Solicitation. Plaintiff’s Motion does not provide

this Court with any reason to grant the requested relief on this basis.

III.   Plaintiff’s Alleged Irreparable Harm in the Absence of Injunctive Relief Does Not
       Outweigh Harms to the Government and J&J

       As Plaintiff failed to present a strong or substantial case on the merits, Plaintiff’s Motion

could be denied absent consideration of the relative harms to the parties. See HVF West, 148 Fed.

Cl. at 57 (noting that “the first factor—likelihood of success or, at a minimum, substantial case—

is essential,” so harm to the movant is irrelevant if the movant fails to demonstrate a case on the

merits). Nevertheless, even if Plaintiff could demonstrate a strong or substantial case on the merits,

the balance of hardships between Plaintiff, the Government, and J&J still points decidedly against

granting Plaintiff’s Motion.

       A. Plaintiff’s Harm

       A movant’s “burden of showing irreparable harm in this context is steep.” Obsidian Sols.

Grp., 2021 WL 1688892, at *4. Any injury alleged must be “both certain and great,” and the

movant must convey that the hardship will have an “immediate and substantial impact.” ACI

Techs., 162 Fed. Cl. at 48 (internal quotations and citations omitted). “No federal contractor has

a right to maintain its incumbency in perpetuity,” and the loss of an incumbent contract does not,

on its own, constitute irreparable harm. CRAssociates, 103 Fed. Cl. at 26; see also G4S Secure

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Integration, 159 Fed. Cl. at 262 (same proposition). The movant, therefore, must allege harms

beyond those “any incumbent would experience upon the loss of a successor contract,” as losing

a contract, even an important contract, is a risk that every incumbent contractor faces.

CRAssociates, 103 Fed. Cl. at 26; see NetCentrics Corp. v. United States, 145 Fed. Cl. 371, 377

(2019) (quoting Navient Sols., LLC v. United States, 141 Fed. Cl. 181, 185 (2018)) (“NetCentrics's

‘financial strain,’ like that of any incumbent contractor that is unsuccessful in a new competition,

‘is the unavoidable result of its [contract] coming to an end.’”).

       Courts consider economic loss as evidence of irreparable harm if it “threatens the survival

of a movant’s business.” Obsidian Sols. Grp., 2021 WL 1688892, at *4 (quoting Sierra Mil.

Health Servs., Inc. v. United States, 58 Fed. Cl. 573, 582 (2003)). Yet, the movant must provide

facts or evidence to support its assertions of harm and cannot rely only “on attorney argument to

establish irreparable injury.” Id. (quoting Chromalloy San Diego Corp. v. United States, 145 Fed.

Cl. 708, 744 (2019)).

       Plaintiff’s allegations of irreparable harm stem predominately from its dependence on the

NAVSTA Rota contract as its main source of revenue. Plaintiff alleges it derives 90 percent of its

revenue from the services it provides at NAVSTA Rota, and that 122 of Plaintiff’s 172 employees

work exclusively under the bridge contract set to expire on December 31, 2022. Mot. at 27.

Plaintiff argues it will face “catastrophic” harm and “may cease to exist” if “forced to halt work

after the bridge contract without a decision on appeal.” Id. at 27–28. According to Plaintiff, it

could not “financially absorb the costs associated with halting work” or recover any revenue lost

between the bridge contract expiration date and the Federal Circuit’s decision. Id. These risks,

Plaintiff argues, constitute irreparable harm worthy of injunctive relief pending appeal.

                                                                                                 19
       Plaintiff’s arguments are unavailing. Plaintiff fails to provide any meaningful evidence to

support its contention that it would cease to exist without a stay pending appeal, and, in fact,

evidence supports the contrary. 8 Instead, Plaintiff offers conclusory statements and bald assertions

by its counsel, without further elucidating how the alleged harms are immediate or certain. See

Obsidian Sols. Grp., 2021 WL 1688892, at *4. Further, Plaintiff acknowledges that in addition to

the services it provided under the BOS Contract, it previously engaged in several construction

8
  Plaintiff’s Motion mischaracterizes the holding in Swift & Staley Inc. v. United States. 159 Fed.
Cl. 731 (2022). There, the court noted that a movant demonstrated irreparable harm where the
protested contract made up a “significant percentage of [movant’s] revenue,” and the movant
would lose its ability to compete without a stay. Id. at 735–36. Far from declaring that “the loss
of a government contract constitutes irreparable harm . . . particularly when an incumbent
contractor depends on the contract for its survival,” as Plaintiff suggests, the court in Swift & Staley
reinforced the notion that the balance of harm must tilt decidedly in the movant’s favor to warrant
injunctive relief. Mot. at 28; Swift & Staley, 159 Fed. Cl. at 735–36. That is not the case here,
where Plaintiff has provided conclusory and unsupported statements concerning alleged
harm. Plaintiff supports its claim of harm with an affidavit — referenced again only in Plaintiff’s
Reply in support of the Motion to Stay — from its President. See Pl.’s Aff. This affidavit,
however, is almost a year old and does not discuss Plaintiff’s current allegation of harm. Id. at 3
(affidavit executed November 23, 2021). Nor could it. Indeed, the affidavit does not account for
intervening events that may minimize Plaintiff’s claimed harm, including the award of a $5 million
DOD contract, which, Plaintiff acknowledges, “was not in effect at the time” it initially lodged its
protest. Pl.’s Reply at 5. The affidavit’s weight has thus been substantially diluted by the passage
of time. In contrast, the Government and J&J have provided recent declarations specifically
documenting the robust harms they will experience should this Court grant a stay pending appeal.

Plaintiff’s treatment of PDS Consultants, Inc. v. United States is similarly misleading, as Plaintiff
ignores significant differences between the facts in PDS Consultants and the circumstances of this
case. 133 Fed. Cl. 810 (2017). All parties and the court in PDS Consultants agreed that the
movant’s appeal presented a question of first impression and constituted a substantial case on the
merits. Id. at 817. As discussed above, the same cannot be said for Plaintiff’s Motion, which fails
to allege a likelihood of success on appeal and is vigorously contested. Additionally, only the
movant in PDS Consultants alleged any concrete harm that would occur absent a stay pending
appeal: the government chose not to enumerate any harms that would occur under a stay, and the
court considered the opposing party’s alleged harms highly speculative. Id. at 818. The court’s
decision, therefore, did not depend on the percentage of movant’s revenue associated with the
contract under protest; instead, the court determined that the evidence before it concerning balance
of harms favored the movant. Id. Like the court in PDS Consultants, this Court has analyzed the
evidence – as opposed to attorney argument – presented by Plaintiff’s Motion concerning balance
of harms and finds in favor of the Government and J&J.
                                                                                                     20
projects with the Navy at NAVSTA Rota. Declaration of Antonio Marcos Rodriguez, Newimar

President (ECF No. 71-1) (Pl.’s Aff.), ¶¶ 5–9. Yet, Plaintiff fails to explain why, should it lose the

BOS contract, Plaintiff could not pursue other similar construction projects in the future. Indeed,

the calamitous tone of Plaintiff’s arguments on harm is further belied by the fact that the U.S.

Department of Defense awarded Plaintiff a five-and-a-half-year custodial services contract worth

over $5 million on June 14, 2022. See Defendant-Intervenor’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion to

Stay (ECF No. 70) (J&J’s Resp.) at 25; see Pl.’s Reply at 5 (acknowledging Plaintiff won this new

contract). This contract not only ensures that Plaintiff will receive revenue over the next five years,

but it also demonstrates that Plaintiff can sign new service contracts going forward.

       Accordingly, Plaintiff has not demonstrated sufficient irreparable harm to justify a stay or

injunctive relief pending appeal.

       B. The Government’s Harm

       Unlike Plaintiff, the Government has alleged substantial harms incurred during Plaintiff’s

bid protest that would continue under a stay. See Def.’s Aff. Injunctive relief pending appeal is

disfavored where it would force the Government to endure additional costs or financial and

operational burdens, such as resorting to other, more expensive contracts than the contract award

under protest. See, e.g., NetCentrics Corp., 145 Fed. Cl. at 377 (denying an injunction which, if

granted, would require the government to pursue six sole-source emergency contracts rather than

the single contract award under protest); Sigmatech, Inc. v. United States, 136 Fed. Cl. 346, 354

(2018) (recognizing that an injunction would exacerbate harm to the government when the bid

protest had already “delayed the [government’s] ability to obtain lower-priced and better-value

services” elsewhere); Akima Intra-Data, LLC v. United States, 120 Fed. Cl. 25, 29 (2015) (denying

                                                                                                    21
an injunction that would require the government to “conduct another procurement and incur

unwarranted costs”).

       The Government filed a declaration supporting that it has experienced similar harms. See

Def.’s Aff.   Since January 2021, the Government and Plaintiff have operated under non-

competitive, single-source bridge contracts that were $100,000 to $120,000 more expensive per

month than J&J’s proposed pricing under the awarded contract. Id. ¶ 6. The bridge contracts’

price premiums resulted in approximately $2.5 million in additional costs that the Government

would not have incurred absent Plaintiff’s protest, and which the Government anticipates will grow

if the Court grants Plaintiff’s Motion. Id. ¶¶ 6–7. In this manner, Plaintiff has financially

benefitted from its bid protest for nearly two years at the expense of the Government. See G4S

Secure Integration, 159 Fed. Cl. at 263–64 (considering whether an incumbent contractor has

benefitted from the delay caused by its protest in balancing the harms experienced by each party).

Additionally, any negotiation process for a third bridge contract would likely introduce added

administrative and financial burdens, as the Government must request special approval for each

sole-source contract and procure funding on a more frequent basis than under the contract awarded

to J&J. Def.’s Aff., ¶ 9.

       Furthermore, the Government has demonstrated that under the current bridge contract,

Plaintiff is providing the Navy with a narrower scope of services than outlined in its Revised

Solicitation and award to J&J. Def.’s Resp. at 9–10. The protested contract added several

programs not previously included in the incumbent contract, which the Navy allegedly cannot

accommodate under a bridge contract; these include an infrastructure condition assessment

program, an inventory management program, and a new work order system for family housing

projects. Id. Granting Plaintiff’s Motion would force the Government to procure a third bridge

                                                                                               22
contract and delay implementation of these programs for an additional six to twelve months

pending the appeal. Id. Plaintiff’s Motion alleges that its harm far outweighs that experienced by

either the Government or J&J because granting the “requested stay would merely maintain the

status quo.” Mot. at 28; see Swift & Staley, 159 Fed. Cl. at 735 (granting a stay where the

Government “expressed its willingness to maintain the status quo and has demonstrated that it is

able to effectively continue operations . . . during the pendency of this litigation”). Yet the addition

of these new programs to the Revised Solicitation signaled the Navy’s desire to deviate from the

status quo and add new services to NAVSTA Rota, which it cannot efficiently do under a stay or

bridge contract. 9 These constitute concrete, substantial harms, supported by evidence before this

Court, that are likely to occur if this Court grants Plaintiff’s Motion.

        C. J&J’s Harm

        Plaintiff alleges that a stay would not inflict substantial harm on J&J because J&J has

“performed no work at the Rota base” to date, and the stay would only delay J&J’s performance

until the Federal Circuit issues its decision. Mot. at 29. However, “delay in performing and

9
  Plaintiff argues that the “changes clause” incorporated in its bridge contract with the Navy would
allow the Navy to alter the processes currently in place at NAVSTA Rota to implement newly
desired programs. Pl.’s Reply at 8–9. Plaintiff does not cite to the specific provisions of the bridge
contract to which it is referring, so it is difficult for this Court to assess the validity of this argument.
See id. Nevertheless, the argument mischaracterizes the Government’s position. The Government
does not allege that it cannot contractually implement these changes under a bridge contract.
Def.’s Resp. at 10. Instead, the Government merely contends that “due to the significant effort
involved in setting up these programs, the Navy cannot effectively add these programs to a short-
term bridge contract.” Id. In other words, it would be inefficient for the Government to initiate
this process under a bridge contract of limited duration, particularly when the Government already
selected an offeror whose proposal offered the Government better value and to whom the
Government would later have to transition these processes. The Government and the public have
an interest in allowing the Government to “use the more efficient and less expensive contract while
the matter is before the court of appeals.” NetCentrics Corp., 145 Fed. Cl. at 378. With respect
to these new programs, the Government has demonstrated that its contract with J&J offers the
“more efficient and less expensive” alternative. Def.’s Aff., ¶¶ 5–6.
                                                                                                          23
profiting from” an awarded contract “weighs against injunctive relief.” G4S Secure Integration,

159 Fed. Cl. at 263 (citing Telos, 129 Fed. Cl. at 579 and CRAssociates, 103 Fed. Cl. at 28).

Plaintiff’s stance also ignores the considerable administrative burden that J&J has already endured

in preparing to assume the NAVSTA Rota services contract.                See J&J’s Resp. at 37–40;

Declaration of                                 , Director of International Operations for J&J (ECF

No. 70-2) (J&J’s Aff.). J&J has already hired key personnel for the NAVSTA Rota contract,

                                                                                                  J&J’s

Resp. at 37–40; J&J’s Aff., ¶ 9; see Akima Intra-Data, 120 Fed. Cl. at 29 (recognizing harm where

the awardee “has already begun hiring key personnel and incurred recruiting, compensation,

training, and travel costs”). J&J

reasonably contends that these employees “will be caught in limbo” if this Court grants a stay,

with no work to do in Spain                                        . J&J’s Resp. at 39; see J&J’s Aff.,

¶ 9. Not only would a stay place a heavy toll on J&J, but it also would likely create administrative

difficulties for J&J, which would need to determine where to send its employees and how to pay

them. J&J’s Resp. at 39; see J&J’s Aff., ¶ 9. J&J’s demonstrated harm, therefore, weighs against

issuing a stay pending appeal or injunctive relief.

IV.     Granting Plaintiff’s Motion Would Subvert the Public Interest

        Contrary to Plaintiff’s contentions, public interest counsels against granting Plaintiff’s

Motion. Plaintiff alleges that public interest favors injunctive relief in this instance, in part, due to

Plaintiff’s consistently favorable ratings as the incumbent contractor over the past 25 years. Mot.

at 29. Plaintiff also suggests that public interest would disfavor the “wasted effort,” which, it

contends, would occur if Plaintiff ultimately won its appeal after the Government had transitioned

to another contractor. Id. at 29–30. These arguments are unpersuasive, as they imply that J&J did

                                                                                                      24
not represent the “best value” offeror or that the award to J&J was somehow unlawful or improper.

This Court already held the Navy’s contract award to J&J proper in its May 12, 2022 Memorandum

and Order, and Plaintiff’s Motion has failed to raise any new issues or questions on the merits that

meaningfully challenge this Court’s ruling. See Newimar, 160 Fed. Cl. at 121. The Navy

concluded that J&J’s proposal represented a better value than Plaintiff’s proposal, and there is “a

substantial public interest in allowing the government to proceed with contracts awarded . . . to the

contractor offering the best value.” JWK Int’l Corp., 49 Fed. Cl. at 370.

       Further, the FAR promotes the use of “full and open competition” in government

procurements, which cannot occur if the Government continues granting Plaintiff sole-source, non-

competitive bridge contracts. See FAR, Part 6; JWK Int’l Corp., 49 Fed. Cl. at 370. As the

Government is the opposing party in this matter, the Government’s harms factor into the Court’s

assessment of public interest. Nken, 556 U.S. at 435 (“The third and fourth factors, harm to the

opposing party and the public interest, merge when the Government is the opposing party.”).

Plaintiff’s bridge contracts have already cost the Government an additional $2.5 million and cannot

accommodate the new services the Navy sought in its Revised Solicitation and award to J&J.

Def.’s Aff., ¶ 6. The public has an interest in permitting the Government to operate under the most

efficient and cost-effective contract that satisfies its services needs during the appellate process.

See NetCentrics Corp., 145 Fed. Cl. at 378 (“[T]he public interest would be served by allowing

the government to use the more efficient and less expensive contract while the matter is before the

court of appeals.”). Furthermore, Plaintiff is the only party that would benefit from a stay. See

JWK Int’l Corp., 49 Fed. Cl. at 370 (expressing concern when “the only party to benefit” from

granting the requested injunctive relief and further delaying contract performance “would likely

                                                                                                  25
be the incumbent contractor”). Ultimately, the public interest does not favor granting Plaintiff a

stay or injunctive relief.

                                        CONCLUSION

        For the reasons described above, Plaintiff’s Motion fails to establish that a stay or

injunctive relief pending appeal is warranted. Accordingly, this Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion

for Stay of Judgment Pending Appeal (ECF No. 67).

        The parties are directed to CONFER and FILE a Notice within three days of this

Memorandum and Order, attaching a proposed public version of this Sealed Memorandum and

Order, with any competition-sensitive or otherwise protected information redacted.

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                               Eleni M. Roumel
                                                               ELENI M. ROUMEL
                                                                     Judge

Dated: November 14, 2022
Washington, D.C.

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