ASBCA Rejects Government’s Frivolous Fraud Defense

GovCon Examiner – In Appeals of Sand Point Services, LLC, NASA moved to dismiss a contractor’s claims before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) because, NASA argued, the Board lacked jurisdiction where the contracting officer’s final decision denied the claim on a “suspicion of fraud.”  The Board rejected this argument—sparking hope that the Government’s inappropriate expansion of the use of fraud allegations as a defense to valid claims has limits.