CBCA 5897

DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION: June 7, 2018 CBCA 5897 GREENBRIER VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Respondent. Webster J. Arceneaux, III, James C. Stebbins, and Anna G. Casto, Esq. of Lewis, Glasser, Casey & Rollins, PLLC., Charleston, WV, counsel for Appellant. Neil S. Deol, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA, counsel for Respondent. Before Board Judges GOODMAN, SHERIDAN, and ZISCHKAU. SHERIDAN, Board Judge. Respondent, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), filed a motion to dismiss this appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. §§ 7101-7109 (2012) (CDA). The VA argues that the request for repair costs submitted to the contracting officer was over $100,000 but lacked the certification language required by 41 U.S.C. § 7103(b)(1). For the reasons below, we grant the motion. CBCA 5897 2 Background Appellant, the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC or lessor), and respondent, the VA (lessee), entered into lease VA-246-08-RP-0253-1 in October 2010. The purpose of the lease was to provide for the construction and lease of a community based out-patient clinic (CBOC) in the Nick J. Rahall Technology and Business Center in Maxwelton, West Virginia. The lease had a five year base term with an option to renew an additional five years at the expiration of the base five years. The lease also provided that the VA could terminate at any time by giving at least sixty days written notice to GVEDC. The VA occupied the lease premises from January 2011 until September 30, 2015. During that period, there were continuous issues between the VA and GVEDC over the odor of formaldehyde and the air quality within the clinic. To address issues with the air quality, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system within the clinic was repaired. GVEDC hired Southern Air, Inc. for the repairs, which were made between mid-December 2014 and mid-February 2015. On April 30, 2015, the VA chose not to renew the lease with GVEDC pursuant to its option clause under the contract. The VA vacated the premises on September 30, 2015. On August 18, 2015, GVEDC sought $129,458.57 from the VA for the cost of repairs to the HVAC system. The document submitted to the VA, while in the form of a claim, lacked the certification language required by the CDA, 41 U.S.C. § 7103(b)(1). The VA denied the request. GVEDC appealed that decision to the Board, where it was docketed as CBCA 5897. The VA now moves to dismiss the appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, asserting that there was no certification of the claim request. Discussion The Board’s jurisdiction is derived from the CDA. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has made it clear that “the strict limits of the CDA” constitute “jurisdictional prerequisites to any appeal.” England v. Swanson Group, Inc., 353 F.3d 1375, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2004). If the Board does not have jurisdiction over a case, it must dismiss it. Universal Canvas, Inc. v. Stone, 975 F.2d 847, 850 (Fed. Cir. 1992). The party seeking to invoke the Board’s jurisdiction “bears the burden of establishing [it] by a preponderance of the evidence.” Reynolds v. Army & Air Force Exchange Service, 846 F.2d 746, 748 (Fed. Cir. 1988). CBCA 5897 3 The CDA requires that each claim be submitted in writing to the contracting officer for a final decision. 41 U.S.C. § 7103(a). The CDA also requires that: For claims of more than $100,000 made by a contractor, the contractor shall certify that – (A) the claim is made in good faith; (B) the supporting data are accurate and complete to the best of the contractor’s knowledge and belief; (C) the amount requested accurately reflects the contract adjustment for which the contractor believes the Federal Government is liable; and (D) the certifier is authorized to certify the claim on behalf of the contractor. Id.