Unpublished Dispositionjohn T. Gonsalves, Appellant, v. the United States, Appellee, 829 F.2d 43 (Fed. Cir. 1987)

DECISION

The decision of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (board), ASBCA No. 33169, dismissing appellant's complaint for lack of jurisdiction, is affirmed.

OPINION

Mr. Gonsalves was the high bidder on two air compressors offered for sale by the Government as surplus property. Despite his high bid, he never received the merchandise because the Government inadvertently sold one of the compressors and permitted the other to deteriorate.^*  Mr. Gonsalves filed a claim for breach of contract, which was denied by a contracting officer.

On appeal, the board found that Mr. Gonsalves was a disappointed bidder, not a contractor, because he had never been awarded a contract, the period for acceptance of his bid having expired without issuance of a Notice of Award. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in accordance with this court's decision in Coastal Corp. v. United States, 713 F.2d 728 (Fed. Cir. 1983).

Under the applicable standard of review, the facts alleged in appellant's complaint must be accepted as true, and it must be apparent as a matter of law that the board lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal or that appellant failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. See McClary v. United States, 775 F.2d 280 (Fed. Cir. 1985).

We conclude that the facts alleged by appellant establish that his offer was never accepted by the Government, so that a contract for the sale of the compressors was never formed. Indeed, Mr. Gonsalves acknowledged that he repeatedly extended the period for acceptance of his bid without success. Moreover, he argued that contract formation had not occurred, thereby persuading the contracting officer to rescind the assessment of liquidated damages. Accordingly, we hold that the board correctly dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Coastal Corp. v. United States, supra.

Appellant is not without recourse, however. Disappointed bidders can bring an action for monetary damages (viz., bid preparation costs) in the United States Claims Court or the United States district courts. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346, 1491 (1982); Keco Industries, Inc. v. United States, 192 Ct. Cl. 773, 428 F.2d 1233 (1970). Also, equitable relief is available in the district courts under the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. § 702 (1982); see Scanwell Laboratories, Inc. v. Shaffer, 424 F.2d 859 (D.C. Cir. 1970); cf. United States v. John C. Grimberg Co., 702 F.2d 1362 (Fed. Cir. 1983).