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Bad Estimates Support Constructive Change Without Proof of Government Negligence

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 07.10.13

In IAP World Servs., Inc. v. Dep't of Treasury (June 20, 2013), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals held the government liable when a maintenance contractor's service calls took longer to perform than calls in historical data furnished to prospective offerors and the government had said the historical data were a "reasonable basis" for firm-fixed-price proposals. Finding that the contractor had relied on the faulty data to price its proposal and that the contractor need not prove government negligence, the CBCA decided that the longer service calls were a constructive change to the contract and awarded the contractor its increased costs of performance.


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Client Alert | 4 min read | 09.15.26

GAO Indicates Reasonable Conflict of Interest Investigation Must Include Inquiry of Involved Firm

The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent decision in Viderity Inc.—Costs, B-424422.5, Sept. 1, 2026, offers useful insight into what constitutes a legally sufficient conflict of interest investigation. The decision arose in an unusual procedural posture: Viderity initially protested, alleging that an agency evaluator had a personal conflict of interest. After the agency took corrective action, Viderity filed a cost entitlement claim requesting that GAO direct the agency to reimburse Viderity’s protest costs. In evaluating that claim, GAO assessed whether Viderity’s underlying protest ground was “clearly meritorious.”...