PFA and ODR Urge Court to Dismiss Hill International’s Lawsuit Over Rejected Bid, Citing Weak Claims and Missed Deadlines

Government agencies argue that Hill International bypassed proper protest procedures, failed to provide evidence of conflict of interest, and missed critical deadlines in its challenge to the $137 million disaster recovery contract

The government agencies named in a lawsuit by Hill International, Inc., have filed a response to the company’s request for the courts to halt a major disaster recovery contract. Hill alleges conflict of interest after its $30.2 million bid for a contract with the territory’s super project management office was rejected in favor of the $137 million bid from CH2M. However, the Office of Disaster Recovery and the Public Finance Authority say Hill is merely “a disappointed Respondent who was not chosen for award under the RFP.”

In their response, attorneys for the defendants say that Hill’s challenge of the RFP result should never have come to the courts. “Hill disingenuously fails to mention anywhere in its pleadings that Hill had an opportunity and obligation to file a bid protest in accordance with the RFP and the relevant procurement manual but failed to do so,” they argue.