FAR Termination for Default/Terminations for Cause 

Terminations for Default/ FAR Terminations for Cause

We Help Small Businesses and Terminated Contractors Nationwide to Minimize Getting Their Appeals Case Thrown Out Immediately After Being Filed. We Aim To Uncover Serious Mistakes Made at the Contracting Officer’s Level.

Sometimes a project is terminated before its normal completion by the contracting officer. Yet, not all default terminations are lawful. Watson & Associates’ Government Termination of Contracts attorneys guide clients through all phases of a  FAR termination for default (T4D meaning).

We help from the notice to cure process all the way to show cause and ultimate contract default termination decisions.

• Whether the contracting officer issues a termination for cause FAR Part 12 or default of contract termination under FAR Part 49, we can help you assess the merits before filing an appeal to the various boards of contract appeal or the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC)

When the federal government terminates your contract for default, it can still recover unliquidated progress payments, re-procurement costs for the same or similar items, services, or work, and any other damages resulting from your failure to perform according to the contract terms.

Sometimes a project is terminated before its normal completion. However, in government contracting, a default termination occurs primarily because of allegations and a final decision from the government that such a termination is the contractor’s fault.

• You Should Not Ask for Breach of Contract Damages on Appeal Before Alleging Breach at the Contracting Officer Level.
• Generally, Appellate Courts Only Have the Remedy of Converting Your Default Termination into a Termination for Convenience.

The courts look at the Government’s FAR termination for default as a harsh penalty. Contracting officers should look at this measure only as a last resort and not as a threat or retaliation to put companies out of business. Furthermore, the impact of a default of contract termination has serious consequences for the company’s past performance when bidding on future government projects.

Having a government contract termination lawyer is essential to make sure that the agency follows are statutory requirements before issuing a notice of contract default.

The Watson law firm represents government contractors of all sizes, including some of the largest defense contractors. Some of our staff have worked for federal contracting agencies and understand the frequent mistakes made.

What is Government Contract Termination for Default? T4D Meaning

 When the Contracting Officer (CO) issues a T4D on your federal contract, it means a complete or partial termination.

Government contract default termination is the exercise of the Government’s contractual right to completely or partially terminate a contract because of the contractor’s actual or anticipated failure to perform its contractual obligations. These are all fact-driven situations. When the agency defaults the contractor, the company is left in a tough situation and has to defend itself. The company’s future is at risk.

If your company can establish, or it is otherwise determined that your company was not in default or that the failure to perform is excusable, i.e., arose out of causes beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of your company, the default clauses prescribed in FAR 49.503 and located at FAR 52.249 provide that a termination for default will be considered to have been a termination for the convenience of the Government, and the rights and obligations of the parties governed accordingly.

Appellate courts look at a government contract default and termination as a drastic sanction from the government and look at these decisions very carefully. The contracting officer will more than likely state that the default decision was due to your actual or anticipated failure to meet your contractual obligations.

Contract Termination for Default Attorney Services

As termination for cause government contract attorneys, we help clients throughout the United States and overseas to navigate through the termination for default and appeal process and with the following:

• Appealing the contract termination T4D) action to the respective Board of Contract Appeals or Court of Federal Claims
• Litigation and negotiations to have defaults turned to termination for convenience
• Consulting and preventive guidance
• FAR compliance and outside counsel services
• Help with terminations that lead to investigations and suspension and debarments.

T4D Litigation and Appeals

When the contracting officer issues a notice of contract termination, you can appeal the decision to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) or United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC). In either case, you must act promptly. Each court has its own rules that you must follow.

Be mindful that appealing government contract  T4D default decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit also have certain deadlines and court rules to follow. Our termination for default appeal attorneys can explain and represent you in these matters.

Converting a Default Into a Termination for Convenience

If an appellate court agrees that the termination default was unlawful, the court only has the authority to convert the T4D default into a termination for convenience. The cost of litigation and appellate practice is very expensive. However, the future of doing business with the federal government and having a better past performance record may be worth the effort.

Were You Terminated for Default? Call Our T4D Appellate Lawyers 

If your company is terminated for default, Watson & Associates’ contract T4D termination appeal lawyers frequently litigate adverse contractor termination cases before the various government contracting courts. Call our government contract appellate lawyers for immediate help with Federal Acquisition Regulations FAR Part 49 Cases.  Call Toll Free 1.866.601.5518.