XL EagleContract Disputes Act (Contract Disputes Act (CDA))
Contract Disputes Act stands for Contract Disputes Act (CDA). The Contract Disputes Act is the law that governs disputes over federal contracts. A contractor starts by submitting a written claim to the contracting officer asking for a sum certain or other relief. Claims over $100,000 must include a signed certification.
The contracting officer issues a final decision. If you disagree, you can appeal to the agency's Board of Contract Appeals, generally within 90 days, or file in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, generally within 12 months. Claims must usually be submitted within six years after they arise, and you must keep working while the dispute is pending.
Why it matters to a small contractor
Most disputes are settled before they become formal claims, but knowing the CDA process gives you leverage. Keep daily logs, photos, and written directions from the government, since your claim is only as strong as your records. Subcontractors usually cannot file a CDA claim directly and must ask the prime to pass it through.
Example
A small paving contractor is ordered to remove and replace a base layer that met the specs. After an REA goes nowhere, they file a certified claim with the contracting officer, attaching test results and daily logs.
Contract Disputes Act: common questions
How long does a contracting officer have to decide a claim?
For claims of $100,000 or less, the CO must decide within 60 days if the contractor asks. For larger certified claims, the CO must decide or give a decision date within 60 days.
Can I stop work during a dispute?
Generally no. The disputes clause requires you to keep performing as directed while the claim is resolved.
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