Blank Rome Wins $6 Million Appeal for Washington River Protection Solutions
A Blank Rome government contracts team recently achieved a significant win for firm client Washington River Protection Solutions (“WRPS”)—a joint venture of firm client Amentum and Atkins. WRPS retained Blank Rome to appeal a Department of Energy (“DOE”) Final Decision that had disallowed $6,025,069 based on DOE’s conclusion that certain WRPS subcontractor personnel were not properly qualified or were otherwise paid unreasonably high rates. Washington River Protection Solutions LLC v. Department of Energy, CBCA No. 7056. The hard-fought appeal required extensive discovery, with Blank Rome defending eight depositions, deposing several DOE personnel, and responding to 83 Government interrogatories. The appeal culminated in a three-day trial before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (“CBCA”) in Washington, D.C. A panel of three CBCA judges recently issued their decision, granting WRPS’s appeal as to all but $80,275 of the $6,025,069, i.e., finding in WRPS’s favor on 98.7 percent of the disputed costs.
Read more about the case:
- “Hanford site contractor wins $6M dispute over whether some worker wages were too high” (Tri-City Herald, July 24, 2023)
- “Disputed subcontractor pass-through costs at Hanford mostly allowed by contract appeals board” (Weapons Complex Morning Briefing, July 27, 2023).
- “Government Tried to Recoup Compensation Costs. Why Did CBCA Deny the Government’s Claim?” (Pub K Contracts & Grants, August 5, 2023).
The Blank Rome team was led by Luke Meier and Scott Arnold, with key assistance from Robyn Burrows, Michael Montalbano, and Amanda DeLaPerriere.