ASBCA 61671

ARMED SERVICES BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS Appeal of -- ) ) Sea Cycle Construction Company ) ASBCA No. 61671 ) Under Contract No. W91 B4L-1 O-C-0229 ) APPEARANCE FOR THE APPELLANT: Mr. Abdul J abar Vice President APPEARANCES FOR THE GOVERNMENT: Raymond M. Saunders, Esq. Army Chief Trial Attorney MAJ Bruce H. Robinson, JA Trial Attorney OPINION BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE PROUTY ON APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION After we dismissed this appeal for lack of jurisdiction because appellant, Sea Cycle Construction Company (Sea Cycle), had not certified its claim, which was for more than $100,000, Sea Cycle sent an email to the Board explaining that it did not understand the concept of certifying a claim and that it wished to seek less than $ i 00,000 if that would resolve the jurisdictional problem that it faced. By order dated October 23, 2018, we deemed this email to constitute a request for reconsideration. We are sympathetic to Sea Cycle, but must deny the motion for reconsideration. As explained in our decision dismissing this appeal, if a contractor seeks more than $100,000 in a claim to the government, it must certify that claim using language that comports with the requirements of the Contract Disputes Act in 41 U.S.C. § 7103(b). If it fails to do so, as it did here, we do not possess jurisdiction to consider the appeal of the denial of the claim. See Kandahar Gravel Supplies and Logistics, ASBCA No. 60531, 17-1 BCA ,i 36,688 at 178,632. Although we appreciate that Sea Cycle may not have understood the finer points of the law involving our jurisdiction, the contract at issue here incorporated by reference the standard Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.233-1, DISPUTES (MAY 2014) clause (see R4, tab 1 at 18, incorporating the Disputes clause). That regulatory provision requires the certification for claims greater than $100,000 and includes the language to be inserted into a claim letter effecting the certification for such claims. See FAR 52.233-l(d)(2)(i), (iii). We regret that Sea Cycle may have been confused, but the certification requirement is jurisdictional and the contract did spell it out. We may not waive compliance with it. Likewise, we have no basis to grant relief less than $100,000 if the original uncertified claim was for greater than $100,000. Once a contractor has requested more than $100,000 in relief in its claim, we may not remedy its jurisdictional flaw by granting a lesser amount of damages. See WM Schlosser Co. v. United States, 705 F.2d 1336, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 1983) (Board without authority to waive certification requirement for jurisdiction); cf Warchol Constr. Co. v. United States, 2 Cl. Ct. 384 (1983). We grant motions for reconsideration only "if we have made a genuine oversight that affects the outcome of the appeal." Relyant, LLC, ASBCA No. 59809, 2018 WL 4855178 at *2 (ASBCA Sept. 20, 2018). This is not such a case. The request for reconsideration is denied. Dated: October 25, 2018 J. REID PROUTY Administrative Judge Vice Chairman Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals ROBERTT. PE Administrative Judge Armed Services Board 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. 61671, Appeal of Sea Cycle Construction Company, rendered in conformance with the Board's Charter. Dated: JEFFREY D. GARDIN Recorder, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals f 2