CAS-covered Contract Not "Affected" By Accounting Change

In its first addressing of the definition of "affected contracts" under the CAS regulations in a situation that arises with surprising frequency, the ASBCA in Lockheed Martin Corp. (June 28, 2007), a case handled by Crowell & Moring, has held that a CAS-covered contract awarded before a change in accounting practice was disclosed and implemented, but completely repriced with full disclosure of the change, is not "affected" by the change and is not subject to price adjustment to reflect the impact of the change. The decision also includes guidance about the meaning of "desirable" changes that should be helpful to contractors.