December 13, 1989

Appeal of

ROGER DEAN BARRETT

 

Under Contract No. HCR 72666

PSBCA No. 2490

 

APPEARANCE FOR APPELLANT

Roger Dean Barrett

 

APPEARANCE FOR RESPONDENT

Patrice R. Dickey, Esq.

 

OPINION OF THE BOARD ON MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

 

            Appellant (Roger Dean Barrett) requests reconsideration of the Board's decision dated September 1, 1989, which, among other matters, denied Appellant's appeal from a decision terminating his highway transportation contract for default.  No response to Appellant's request for reconsideration has been filed by Respondent (United States Postal Service).

            In its decision upholding the contract termination, the Board concluded that Appellant had not complied with the Contracting Officer's instructions to deliver a substantial amount of accumulated bulk business mail to addresses on his route.  The Board also concluded that Appellant had not shown his failure to deliver all classes of mail was excusable.

            In his motion, Appellant asserts he did not "refuse to work back-logged Bulk Business Mail," but had stated he "would work the mail when they gave me enough hours to do so."  He appears to be arguing that he disagreed with the Contracting Officer about his schedule hours and additional compensation and that this disagreement served as an excuse for his non-delivery of the bulk business mail.

            Appellant had adequate warning of the consequences of his failure to deliver the accumulated bulk business mail.  His remedy under the contract if he disagreed with the Contracting Officer's instructions was to file a claim under the Claims and Disputes clause of the contract and to request a Contracting Officer's decision, while performing the work under protest.  He was not entitled under the contract to disregard the instructions and perform only a portion of his contract duties nor was his disagreement about hours and compensation an excuse for his failure to perform the contract fully.  Irving Stumer, PSBCA No. 1256 (February 6, 1985), reaffirmed on recon.  (April 8, 1985).

            In view of the above conclusion, other minor assertions in Appellant's motion regarding the authority or actions of several postal employees are irrelevant and serve as no basis for reopening the factual record in this case.

            If Appellant believes he is entitled to additional compensation for work performed prior to the termination of the contract, he may file a claim detailing the amount and basis for his claim with the Contracting Officer and request a decision on such a claim.  The only matter that this Board had jurisdiction to consider, as indicated in the prior decision, is Appellant's appeal from the default termination of his contract.

            Accordingly, on reconsideration, the Board's prior decision is reaffirmed.

Joan B. Thompson

Administrative Judge

Board Member

 

I concur

James A. Cohen

Administrative Judge

Chairman

I concur

James D. Finn, Jr.

Administrative Judge

ice Chairman