RESPONSE TO TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT

PART A: RESPONSE TO CURE NOTICE

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE TO CURE NOTICE
Pursuant to FAR 49.402-3

CONTRACTOR INFORMATION

Contractor Name: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]

DUNS/UEI Number: [________________________________]

CAGE Code: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Point of Contact: [________________________________]

CONTRACTING OFFICER INFORMATION

Contracting Officer: [________________________________]

Agency: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

CONTRACT INFORMATION

Contract Number: [________________________________]

Task/Delivery Order Number: [________________________________]

Contract Award Date: [__/__/____]

Contract Delivery/Performance Date: [__/__/____]

Contract Value: $[________________________________]

CURE NOTICE INFORMATION

Date of Cure Notice: [__/__/____]

Date Cure Notice Received: [__/__/____]

Cure Period: [____] days

Cure Period Expires: [__/__/____]

Deficiency/Failure Cited in Cure Notice:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE

Date of Response: [__/__/____]

I. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Contractor acknowledges receipt of the Cure Notice dated [__/__/____] and submits this response within the time allowed.

II. RESPONSE TO IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES

☐ The Contractor disputes the deficiency/failure identified in the Cure Notice
☐ The Contractor acknowledges the deficiency/failure and provides the following cure plan

A. If Disputing the Deficiency:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. Cure Plan (if acknowledging deficiency):

1. Description of Corrective Actions:
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]

2. Timeline for Cure:

3. Resources Committed:
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]

4. Responsible Personnel:
   [________________________________]
   [________________________________]

III. REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF CURE PERIOD (IF NEEDED)

☐ No extension requested
☐ Extension requested

If extension requested:

Additional Days Needed: [____] days

Reason for Extension:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

PART B: RESPONSE TO SHOW CAUSE NOTICE

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE TO SHOW CAUSE NOTICE
Pursuant to FAR 49.402-3(e)

SHOW CAUSE NOTICE INFORMATION

Date of Show Cause Notice: [__/__/____]

Date Show Cause Notice Received: [__/__/____]

Response Due Date: [__/__/____]

Grounds Cited for Potential Termination:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE

Date of Response: [__/__/____]

I. INTRODUCTION

The Contractor submits this response to the Show Cause Notice dated [__/__/____] and respectfully requests that the Contracting Officer not terminate this contract for default.

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

III. REASONS WHY CONTRACT SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED

☐ A. Performance Has Been Completed/Deficiency Has Been Cured

[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ B. Excusable Delay/Failure (FAR 52.249-14)

The delay/failure was beyond the Contractor's control and without its fault or negligence due to:

☐ Acts of God
☐ Acts of the public enemy
☐ Acts of the Government in its sovereign or contractual capacity
☐ Fires
☐ Floods
☐ Epidemics/Pandemics
☐ Quarantine restrictions
☐ Strikes
☐ Freight embargoes
☐ Unusually severe weather
☐ Subcontractor delay beyond Contractor's control
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Supporting Evidence:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ C. Government-Caused Delay

The Government's actions contributed to the delay, including:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ D. Deficiency Does Not Warrant Termination

The alleged deficiency does not rise to the level warranting termination because:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ E. Good Faith Efforts

The Contractor has made good faith efforts to perform, including:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

IV. CONTRACTOR'S PROPOSAL TO COMPLETE PERFORMANCE

The Contractor proposes to complete contract performance as follows:

Proposed Revised Delivery/Completion Date: [__/__/____]

Steps to Complete Performance:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Resources to be Applied:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

V. CONSEQUENCES OF TERMINATION

Termination for default would be inappropriate because:

1. Economic harm to Government: [________________________________]
2. Impact on mission: [________________________________]
3. Availability of alternative sources: [________________________________]
4. Reprocurement costs: [________________________________]

PART C: RESPONSE TO TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT NOTICE

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE TO TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT
Request for Conversion to Termination for Convenience

TERMINATION INFORMATION

Date of Termination for Default Notice: [__/__/____]

Date Termination Notice Received: [__/__/____]

Effective Date of Termination: [__/__/____]

Grounds Cited for Termination:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSE

Date of Response: [__/__/____]

I. REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

The Contractor respectfully requests that the Contracting Officer:

☐ Rescind the termination for default and permit continued performance
☐ Convert the termination for default to a termination for convenience

II. BASIS FOR REQUEST

A. The Termination for Default Is Improper Because:

☐ The failure to perform was excusable under FAR 52.249-8(c)/52.249-14

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ The Government contributed to the delay/failure

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ The Contractor was not in default

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ The Contractor was denied proper cure opportunity

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

☐ The termination was procedurally defective

Explanation:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. Legal Argument:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

III. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

The following documents support the Contractor's position:

☐ Contemporaneous correspondence
☐ Progress reports
☐ Government inspection reports
☐ Evidence of excusable delay factors
☐ Evidence of Government-caused delays
☐ Technical data
☐ Expert analysis
☐ Other: [________________________________]

IV. APPEAL RIGHTS PRESERVED

If the Contracting Officer does not grant this request, the Contractor reserves its rights to:

1. Appeal the termination for default to the cognizant Board of Contract Appeals within 90 days of any Contracting Officer final decision; or

2. Bring an action in the United States Court of Federal Claims within 12 months of any Contracting Officer final decision.

PART D: CONTRACT DISPUTES ACT CLAIM

(Following Termination for Default)

CONTRACTOR'S CLAIM UNDER THE CONTRACT DISPUTES ACT
Challenging Termination for Default

CLAIM INFORMATION

Date of Claim: [__/__/____]

Amount Claimed: $[________________________________]

I. SUMMARY OF CLAIM

This claim is submitted pursuant to the Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq., challenging the Government's termination of Contract No. [________________________________] for default and seeking:

☐ Declaratory relief that the termination for default was improper
☐ Conversion to termination for convenience
☐ Payment of termination for convenience settlement costs
☐ Other damages: [________________________________]

II. BASIS FOR CLAIM

A. The Government improperly terminated this contract for default because:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. The failure to perform, if any, was excusable because:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Under FAR 52.249-8(c), if the termination for default is determined to be improper, the rights and obligations of the parties shall be the same as if the termination had been issued for the convenience of the Government.

III. DAMAGES CALCULATION

If converted to termination for convenience:

Additional Damages (if applicable):

IV. CERTIFICATION (Required for claims over $100,000)

I certify that:

1. This claim is made in good faith;
2. The supporting data are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief;
3. The amount requested accurately reflects the contract adjustment for which the Contractor believes the Government is liable; and
4. I am duly authorized to certify this claim on behalf of the Contractor.

Signature: [________________________________]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

V. REQUEST FOR CONTRACTING OFFICER'S FINAL DECISION

The Contractor requests a Contracting Officer's Final Decision on this claim within 60 days, or notification within 60 days of the time within which a decision will be issued.

EXCUSABLE DELAY CHECKLIST

The following factors may constitute excusable delay under FAR 52.249-8(c) and 52.249-14:

☐ Acts of God (natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes)
☐ Acts of the public enemy (war, terrorism)
☐ Acts of the Government in either its sovereign or contractual capacity
☐ Fires
☐ Floods
☐ Epidemics
☐ Quarantine restrictions
☐ Strikes (unforeseeable labor disputes)
☐ Freight embargoes
☐ Unusually severe weather
☐ Subcontractor delays beyond Contractor's control (where supplies not obtainable elsewhere)
☐ Other causes beyond Contractor's control and without fault or negligence

Note: The occurrence of one of these events does not automatically make a delay excusable. The delay must also be:
1. Beyond the Contractor's control
2. Without the fault or negligence of the Contractor
3. Actually causing the delay in performance

IMPORTANT NOTES

Government Burden of Proof

In a termination for default, the Government bears the initial burden of proving that the Contractor failed to perform. Once established, the burden shifts to the Contractor to prove an excusable cause.

Conversion Rights

If the termination for default is determined to be improper, FAR 52.249-8(g) provides that the rights and obligations shall be the same as if the termination had been for convenience.

Excess Reprocurement Costs

If the termination stands, the Contractor may be liable for excess costs the Government incurs in reprocuring the terminated items. However, the Government must prove:
1. The reprocurement was reasonable
2. The prices paid were reasonable
3. The quantities reprocured were no more than originally contracted

Timeline for Appeals

• Board of Contract Appeals: 90 days from receipt of COFD
• Court of Federal Claims: 12 months from receipt of COFD
• Deemed denial: If no COFD within required time, may appeal as deemed denial

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• FAR Part 49 Subpart 49.4 - Termination for Default
• FAR 52.249-8 - Default (Fixed-Price Supply and Service)
• FAR 52.249-10 - Default (Fixed-Price Construction)
• FAR 52.249-14 - Excusable Delays
• Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq.