1733.203-70 Designation of the Interior Board of Contract Appeals to decide OPM appeals.

(a) The Interior Board of Contract Appeals (IBCA) has been designated by the Director of OPM to consider and determine appeals from decisions of a contracting officer arising under a contract or relating to a contract made by OPM. This delegation governs disputes between OPM and its prime contractors and does not encompass any claim made by a third party beneficiary of, or by a subscriber to, a Federal employee insurance program.

(b) The address of IBCA is 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203.

(c) IBCA rules of procedure can be found in 43 CFR part 4.

If the contractor is unable to support any part of the claim and there is evidence that the inability is attributable to misrepresentation of fact or to fraud on the part of the contractor, the contracting officer shall refer the matter through the head of the contracting activity to OPM's Offices of the Inspector General and the General Counsel.

1733.211 Contracting officer's decision. The written decision required by FAR 33.211(a)(4) shall include, in the paragraph listed under FAR 33.211(a)(4)(v), specific reference to the Interior Board of Contract Appeals, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203, and its procedures under 43 CFR part 4. The IBCA optional small claims (expedited) procedures and accelerated procedures under 43 CFR 4.113 shall also be referenced as required by the FAR.

1733.212 Contracting officer's duties upon appeal.

(a) When a notice of appeal has been received, the contracting officer shall endorse on the appeal the date of mailing (or the date of receipt if the notice was not mailed) and forward it to IBCA by certified mail within 5 days of receipt. OPM's Office of the General Counsel and the Department of the Interior's (DOI) Office of the Solicitor shall also be notified of the appeal by the contracting officer. 43 CFR 4.103.

(b) The contracting officer shall prepare and transmit the documentation and information required by 43 CFR 4.104 in the form of an appeal file to IBCA, OPM's Office of the General Counsel, DOI's Office of the Solicitor, and appellant or appellant's counsel within 30 days after receipt of a notice of appeal or advice that an appeal has been docketed by IBCA.

1733.214 Contract clause.

The Disputes clause contained in FAR 52.233-1 shall be used with its Alternate I in all OPM solicitations and contracts.