Crowell & Moring's experience with issues involving the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) cost allowability rules is widely recognized. We have litigated many significant cases and are most proud of our successes in achieving favorable settlements in the vast majority of cost and accounting disputes in which we have been involved. We have unparalleled experience in counseling clients on how to deal with the results of troublesome internal findings and how to respond to Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audit reports. Our clients also regularly call upon us to conduct compliance reviews, provide training, and structure accounting policies so as to minimize risk.
Representative Matters
- Successfully argued as amicus curiae for reversal on reconsideration of an ASBCA decision holding that the inclusion of expenses related exclusively to performance of commercial contracts in an overhead pool allocable to commercial and government contracts was a violation of the requirement in CAS 418 that indirect costs must be allocated on the basis of causal/beneficial relationships.
- Successfully argued as amicus curiae that an ASBCA decision finding that the failure of a contractor to complete a "segment closing" adjustment under CAS 413 during the same year as the closing had damaged the government should be reversed on reconsideration.
- Successfully argued to the Army Contract Adjustment Board that Holston Defense Corporation (HDC) should be awarded extraordinary contractual relief under Public Law 85-804 in the amount of $90 million, plus interest, for the projected costs of post-retirement benefits earned by HDC employees under a series of contracts with the U.S. Army.
- Successfully argued that a cost-reimbursement contract that was repriced because of congressional funding changes after the contractor had made changes in its cost accounting practices was not an "affected contract" and, therefore, was not subject to a price adjustment reflecting the impact of the accounting changes.
- Successfully argued that the government was not entitled to a price adjustment for CAS-covered firm-fixed price contracts due to a change in accounting practice because the change did not cause the government to incur increased costs.
- Successfully achieved dismissal of qui tam case brought by DCAA auditors based on information they obtained in the course of their own audit.
- Successfully argued that an internal corporate reorganization was not a "change in cost accounting practice" requiring a contract price adjustment under the CAS clause.
- Successfully achieved favorable decision on the allowability of lump sum wage payments in lieu of salary increases.
- Successfully argued that the Administrative Contracting Officer is the only government official with authority to decide CAS issues.