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   <concept id="CEYLQTCQ"
            ditaarch:DITAArchVersion="1.2"
            class="- topic/topic concept/concept ">
      <title class="- topic/title ">
         <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">533.212-2</ph> Procedures when an
appeal is filed.</title>
      <conbody class="- topic/body  concept/conbody ">
         <ol id="d598e13" class="- topic/ol ">
            <li class="- topic/li ">
               <p id="d593e17" class="- topic/p ">
                  <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(a)</ph>
                  
                  
                  
                    Timeliness. If the contracting
officer believes that the appeal is untimely filed, either at the
CBCA or COFC, the contracting officer shall immediately transmit
to designated litigation counsel copies of documentary evidence
related to timeliness, including a copy of the final decision and
certified mail receipt.</p>
            </li>
            <li class="- topic/li ">
               <p id="d593e26" class="- topic/p ">
                  <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(b)</ph>
                  
                  
                  
                    CBCA
Appeal File.</p>
               <ol id="d598e32" class="- topic/ol ">
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e36" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(1)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          When an appeal is filed
before the CBCA, the contracting officer shall prepare the file
of documentary exhibits required in the Board’s Rules of Procedure
at 
                           <xref href="https://www.cbca.gsa.gov"
                              format="html"
                              scope="external"
                              class="- topic/xref ">https://www.cbca.gsa.gov</xref>, in
accordance with the Board’s rules governing the Appeal File.</p>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e49" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(2)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          Generally,
the Appeal File shall include all documents referenced in and supporting
the agency’s position, including, the contract, the claim, and the
contracting officer’s decision.</p>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e58" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(3)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          The
contracting officer should consult with the counsel to obtain general
assistance in preparing the Appeal File, and consult with designated
litigation counsel to determine requirements specific to the appeal,
including possible electronic submission of the Appeal File. If
the contract is voluminous and the dispute pertains only to a discrete
portion of the contract, the contracting officer should consult
with designated litigation counsel to determine whether inclusion of
a portion of the contract is acceptable.</p>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e67" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(4)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          In
preparing the Appeal File, the contracting officer must adhere to
the following particular requirements:</p>
                     <ol id="d598e73" class="- topic/ol ">
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e77" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(i)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                The
exhibits must be placed in a 3-ring binder(s), with numbered tabbed
division sheets separating each exhibit.</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e86" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(ii)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                 The
exhibits must be assembled in chronological order, with the oldest
exhibit coming first.</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e95" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(iii)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                If
a multi-page exhibit lacks internal pagination, page numbering must
be added, by hand, label, stamp or other means.</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e104" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(iv)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                An
index must be prepared including a brief description of each exhibit,
the date of the exhibit, and the tab number corresponding to the
exhibit.</p>
                        </li>
                     </ol>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e115" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(5)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          The
contracting officer shall submit the proposed Appeal File, together
with an electronic version of the index, to designated litigation
counsel within 20 days of receiving notice of appeal, or shorter,
if notified that accelerated procedures apply. Should the volume
of exhibits or other factors require additional time for preparation
of the Appeal File, the contracting officer should immediately notify
designated litigation counsel in order that an extension may be obtained.</p>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e125" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(6)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          After
designated litigation counsel has reviewed the proposed Appeal File
and index, the contracting officer shall make revisions as requested.
Unless otherwise requested, the contracting officer shall produce
five copies of the Appeal File and transmit four copies to designated
litigation counsel.</p>
                  </li>
               </ol>
            </li>
            <li class="- topic/li ">
               <p id="d593e136" class="- topic/p ">
                  <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(c)</ph>
                  
                  
                  
                    COFC
Litigation Report.</p>
               <ol id="d598e142" class="- topic/ol ">
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e146" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(1)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          When a case is filed
at the COFC, the agency is required to furnish a litigation report
to DOJ. The contracting officer shall furnish all necessary information
to designated litigation counsel for preparation of the litigation
report.</p>
                  </li>
                  <li class="- topic/li ">
                     <p id="d593e155" class="- topic/p ">
                        <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(2)</ph>
                        
                        
                        
                          At
a minimum, the information to be furnished shall include—</p>
                     <ol id="d598e161" class="- topic/ol ">
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e165" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(i)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                A
narrative of the factual background underlying the dispute;</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e174" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(ii)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                A
copy of the claim and the contracting officer’s decision;</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e183" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(iii)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                Copies
of documents related to the dispute, including copies of documents
referenced in the claim or contracting officer’s decision;</p>
                        </li>
                        <li class="- topic/li ">
                           <p id="d593e192" class="- topic/p ">
                              <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(iv)</ph>
                              
                              
                              
                                Name
and contact information for GSA and other personnel involved in
the dispute.</p>
                        </li>
                     </ol>
                  </li>
               </ol>
            </li>
            <li class="- topic/li ">
               <p id="d593e205" class="- topic/p ">
                  <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(d)</ph>
                  
                  
                  
                     <i class="+ topic/ph hi-d/i ">Answer
to Complaint.</i> When an appeal is filed at the CBCA or COFC, the
contractor is required to file a formal pleading called a Complaint,
which sets forth the allegations of fact upon which the claim is
based. The Government, except for the situation discussed below,
is obligated to respond to the Complaint by admitting, denying,
or otherwise responding to the contractor’s allegations in a formal
pleading called the Answer. The contracting officer shall assist
designated litigation counsel in the drafting of the Answer by advising
whether the contractor’s allegations of fact should be admitted
or denied. If a response to an allegation in the complaint requires
information in the possession of other GSA personnel, the contracting
officer shall conduct sufficient research reasonably necessary in
order to form a belief as to the truth of the allegation. If the
information necessary to form a belief as to the truth of the allegation
is not in GSA’s possession, the contracting officer shall so advise
designated litigation counsel. In some cases, the Government may
respond to the Complaint by filing a motion to dismiss in lieu of
filing an Answer. Designated litigation counsel will advise the contracting
officer if a motion to dismiss will be filed.</p>
            </li>
            <li class="- topic/li ">
               <p id="d593e217" class="- topic/p ">
                  <ph props="autonumber" class="- topic/ph ">(e)</ph>
                  
                  
                  
                     <i class="+ topic/ph hi-d/i ">Discovery</i>.
After the complaint and answer are filed with the CBCA or COFC,
each party will usually commence discovery. The contracting officer
shall assist designated litigation counsel in responding to all
discovery requests, including providing information in response
to interrogatories, identifying and locating requested documents,
and assisting with production of witnesses for depositions.</p>
            </li>
         </ol>
      </conbody>
   </concept>
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