Court Opinion

ID: 5139186
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-21 16:00:14.256103+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:15.804696
License: Public Domain

ARMED SERVICES BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS

Petition of -                                    )
                                                 )
Maersk Line, Limited                             ) ASBCA No. 62905-PET
                                                 )
Under Contract Nos. SPM300-10-D-3373             )
                    SPM300-12-D-3571             )

APPEARANCE FOR THE PETITIONER:                      Robert E. Korroch, Esq.
                                                     Williams Mullen
                                                     Norfolk, VA

APPEARANCES FOR THE GOVERNMENT:                     Daniel K. Poling, Esq.
                                                     General Counsel
                                                    Steven C. Herrera, Esq.
                                                    Lindsay A. Salamon, Esq.
                                                     Trial Attorneys
                                                     DLA Troop Support
                                                     Philadelphia, PA

                                  ORDER OF DISMISSAL

        Maersk Line, Limited (Maersk or contractor) filed a request, under Rule 1(a)(5),
for an order directing the contracting officer to render a decision on two December 22,
2020 certified claims no later than June 25, 2021. In response to contractor’s petition, the
government filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, alleging that only US
TRANSCOM and not the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA or government) was the
proper entity to issue a COFD. In its reply in support of the motion to dismiss, DLA
stated that the US TRANSCOM would “issue its COFD to Maersk.”

      On August 6, 2021, the Board ordered the petition stayed and the motion to
dismiss held in abeyance, pending issuance of the COFD by US TRANSCOM.
Furthermore, the Board stated

                [i]f the contracting officer fails to issue the COFD within 30
                days of the date of this Order, such failure will be deemed a
                decision by the contracting officer denying the claim, and the
                contractor may appeal to the proper Board or sue in the
                United States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to the
                Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. §§ 7103(f)(5) or 7104, as
                appropriate. If after the issuance of the COFD, the issues
              presented in the motion to dismiss remain, the parties may
              request the Board lift the suspension.

      After receiving no status update from the parties, the Board sent an Order on
November 19, 2021, requesting the parties provide a reason the appeal should not be
dismissed as moot, as more than 30 days had passed from the August 6, 2021 Order. In
response, appellant filed a request to withdraw the petition and dismiss without prejudice.

        As noted in the Board’s August 6, 2021 Order, if the contracting officer did not
issue its final decision within 30 days, the claim would be deemed denied. Although the
parties did not provide a status update on the issuance of the COFD, if it has not yet been
issued, the claim is still deemed denied as of September 6, 2021. As such, the petition is
now moot. This Order completes all necessary action by the Board.

       Dated: December 2, 2021

                                                 RICHARD SHACKLEFORD
                                                 Administrative Judge
                                                 Vice Chairman
                                                 Armed Services Board
                                                 of Contract Appeals

       I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Order of Dismissal of the Armed
Services Board of Contract Appeals in ASBCA No. 62905-PET, Petition of Maersk Line,
Limited, rendered in conformance with the Board’s Charter.

       Dated: December 2, 2021

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

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