Owners may argue that a contractor’s delay claim is barred because the contractor signed a release during construction of the project. Owners may also argue that a delay claim is barred because there was an accord and satisfaction regarding such a claim.

While the defenses of release and accord and satisfaction are often lumped together, there are nuances to both defenses. A tribunal recently considered both defenses in a decision that ultimately resulted in the denial of an owner’s motion for summary judgment based on a release a contractor signed during construction.Continue Reading The Defenses of Release and Accord and Satisfaction to Delay Claims

When an owner provides design plans and specifications for building a project, there is an implied warranty that if the contractor follows those plans and specifications, a satisfactory result will be produced. This principle is called the Spearin doctrine, which comes from the United States Supreme Court case United States v. Spearin

Under the Spearin doctrine, if a contractor incurs additional costs due to the defective design of a project, the contractor may assert a defective specification claim, which may also be called a claim for breach of the implied warranty of design.

Generally, proving such a defective specification claim requires the contractor to show that the defective specification:

  1. was a design specification, not a performance specification;
  2. contained a latent (not obvious) error; and
  3. caused the contractor’s damages (e.g., additional construction costs).

Although it can be difficult to satisfy all three requirements, a recent Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals case–Appeal of KiewitPhelps–shows that it can be done. Continue Reading Contractor Wins on $40.7 Million Defective HVAC Design Claim

If a construction contractor working on a federal government project is impacted by a government-caused change, the contractor must take steps to preserve its right to obtain additional compensation or time to complete the project. In particular, a contractor must comply with the contract’s claim process. (Click here for the six most common contractor claims.)

Generally, there are three steps to obtaining additional money or time on a federal government project:

1. Submit a request for equitable adjustment: If the government causes a change to the project, the contractor should submit an REA that explains the change, how that change has impacted the contractor’s work, the amount of additional money and/or time to which the contractor is entitled, and backup for the amounts claimed.

Although a contractor is not required to submit an REA before submitting a formal claim, contractors frequently submit the REA first, because it can serve as a starting point for the contractor and the contracting officer to negotiate. The main downside to submitting an REA rather than a claim is that interest will not to start running until a claim is submitted. Also, there is no deadline for the contracting officer to make a decision on an REA.Continue Reading How to Get More Money and Time on Federal Government Construction Projects