BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE In the matter of ) ) the Appeal of ) ) BADGER SCREEN PRINT ) Docket No. GPOBCA 13-98 Jacket No. 559-973 ) Purchase Order K-1205 ) For the Appellant: John D. Dunn, Esq., P. Bruce Badger, Esq., Fabian & Clendenin, Salt Lake City, Utah. For the Respondent: Roy E. Potter, Esq., Associate General Counsel, U.S. Government Printing Office. Before MILLER, Administrative Judge. DECISION This appeal arises out of a contract between the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) and Appellant, Badger Screen Print (Badger), for the acquisition of silk-screened T-shirts. Appellant seeks to recover $40,557 for additional costs it incurred in meeting the Government's allegedly ambiguous color specification. For the reasons which follow, the Contracting Officer's final decision is AFFIRMED and the appeal is DENIED. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. On May 5, 1997, the GPO's Dallas Regional Printing Procurement Office (RPPO) issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for Jacket 559-973, a contract for 103,992 promotional T-shirts for the U.S. Air Force. Rule 4 File, Tab A at 1. 2. The IFB contained a detailed description of the composition and appearance of the basic T-shirt that was to be furnished. In addition, the successful contractor was required to screen print artwork on both the front and back of the shirt. Rule 4 File, Tab A at 1, 2, 7-9. 3. The IFB advised potential bidders that they would be required to furnish T-shirts described as: "YELLOW TO MATCH PANTONE 136C YELLOW." (Emphasis in original). Rule 4 File, Tab A at 1. 4. Appellant submitted a bid of $311,976 in response to the IFB, which was the lowest of the four bids received. Rule 4 File, Tabs B, C. After receiving Badger's written confirmation of its bid, the Contracting Officer awarded the contract to Appellant. Rule 4 File, Tabs D, E. 5. The contract required Appellant to submit prior-to- production samples to the Government that were to be "printed on the T-shirts and in the inks that will be used for the complete production and the samples must be in exact accordance with these specifications." Rule 4 File, Tab A at 2. Appellant submitted sample T-shirts of a significantly lighter shade of yellow than that called for in the specifications. See, Notice of Appeal, Exhibit E. The color of the samples matched Pantone 113C. Compare Notice of Appeal, Exhibit E with PANTONE INC., COLOR FORMULA GUIDE 1997-1998 (11th prtg. 1995). 6. By letter dated June 5, 1997, the Contracting Officer rejected Appellant's prior-to-production samples because of certain printing defects and because the "shirt color does not match PMS 136." Rule 4 File, Tab F. Appellant was ordered to submit an additional set of samples by June 20, 1997. In addition, the Contracting Officer issued a Cure Notice to Appellant advising that the company's failure to submit acceptable prior-to-production samples was a condition that was endangering performance of the contract. Rule 4 File, Tab G. 7. Appellant thereafter submitted a second set of prior-to- production samples to the Government. In an undated letter accompanying the samples, Appellant's Vice President, John T. Badger wrote: We feel that the yellow Fruit Of The Loom shirt previously sampled fit with the description listed in the contract. This set of proofs are done with the Hanes gold color shirt. We do not know which shirt will be acceptable. The Hanes gold costs significantly more than the Fruit Of The Loom. Should the Air Force decide on the Hanes shirt, the additional cost is $40,557.00, and a modification to this effect should be issued covering the additional cost. Rule 4 File, Tab H. 8. After reviewing the second set of samples, the Contracting Officer informed Appellant that the samples would be acceptable, provided Badger corrected some minor printing deficiencies. Appellant was directed to: [e]nsure the deficiencies listed above are corrected and the facric [sic] color of the second set of prior of [sic] production samples is matched, then proceed with production. With reference to your undated letter concerning the fabric color; the fabric color on the first set of prior to production samples did not match the color required by our specifications but the color of the fabric on the second set did. Our original invitation for bids required a fabric color to match Pantone 136C Yellow. You did not indicate any problem matching the specified color in your bid. Rule 4 File, Tab I. 9. On October 2, 1997, Appellant requested a contract modification and additional compensation of $22,566.68 due to what it described as "an error in the contract specifications." Appellant explained: As specified in the contract, we bid on a "YELLOW" shirt that was closest to PMS 136. After submitting our prior to production samples, we were informed that your customer wanted a "GOLD" shirt. The "GOLD" shirt represents a higher cost than that of the "YELLOW" shirt. We supplied and completed the contract with the "GOLD" shirt as per your customer's request. Rule 4 File, Tab L. 10. The Contracting Officer rejected this request in a letter dated October 6, 1997. Rule 4 File, Tab M. 11. Thereafter, Appellant's attorney wrote the Contracting Officer regarding Appellant's request for additional compensation for what he described as "a modification of [Charger's] bid because the specifications referred to yellow, rather than the more expensive gold T-shirts that were delivered." Appellant's representative further explained: On May 5, 1997, Badger was furnished with a specification sheet that it relied on in formulating and presenting its bid. That specification sheet called for approximately 100,000 T-shirts in a "yellow to match pantone 136C yellow." Badger based its successful bid on the costs of yellow T-shirts that were closest in color to the "pantone 136C yellow." When Badger submitted sample T-shirts, your office informed Badger that the specification was intended to refer to gold rather than yellow, but that the yellow T-shirts actually looked better, and they would send them for final approval. Subsequently, however, Badger was informed that the required color was to be "gold." Badger immediately requested a modification to the contract for an additional $40,557.00 because its raw costs for the T-shirts as well as its production costs were greater for gold shirts. The request was ignored and a demand was made to Badger to either deliver the gold shirts or be found in default. Your office has not formally addressed this request. (Emphasis in original.) Rule 4 File, Tab N. 12. In a final decision dated January 22, 1998, the Contracting Officer again rejected Appellant's claim for additional compensation. Rule 4 File, Tab O. 13. Thereafter, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal with the GPO Board of Contract Appeals. Rule 4 File, Tab Q. DISCUSSION In support of the Contracting Officer's decision to reject the first prior-to-production T-shirt samples supplied by Appellant, Respondent submits a declaration from a Printing Specialist in the GPO's Quality Assurance Section. The Printing Specialist concluded, after examining the original sample T-shirt and comparing it to the Pantone 136C standard, that the T-shirt did not match the contract's color specification. Declaration of John D. Kennedy. Appellant does not challenge this conclusion. Nor should it, as a visual comparison of the sample T-shirt with the Pantone 136C standard leads to the conclusion that the color of the sample T-shirt provided by Badger bears little resemblance to the color specified in the contract. While the sample provided by Appellant clearly did not match Pantone 136C, Appellant asserts that this failure was excusable based on two interrelated theories. First, Appellant argues that there is an ambiguity in the contract's color specification such that requiring it to furnish the "gold" shirt instead of a "yellow" shirt resulted in a compensable constructive change. Next, it argues that it was impossible to provide a "yellow" T- shirt matching Pantone 136C because no domestic source manufactures a "yellow" shirt that matches Pantone 136C. While the "gold" shirt Badger ultimately provided matched Pantone 136C, it cost more than the "yellow" shirt Appellant intended to provide when it formulated its bid. The Board concludes that nether theory is persuasive. Contract Ambiguity Appellant claims the contract's color specification was ambiguous because the word "yellow" preceded the term "Pantone 136C" thereby modifying "Pantone 136C". Under Appellant's theory, the practical effect of the disputed specification is to call for the color "yellow closest to Pantone 136C." Appellant argues, but submits no proof in support of the contention, that "yellow" is a fabric color reference with a commonly understood meaning within the T-shirt industry. However, Appellant does not further describe what the industry meaning of "yellow" is. Resolution of a claim of ambiguity is controlled by established principles of contract interpretation which this Board previously has discussed at some length. See, e.g., Custom Printing Co., GPOBCA No. 28-94 (March 12, 1997), slip op. at 30-35, 1997 GPOBCA LEXIS 2, 1997 WL 128720; MPE Business Forms, Inc., GPOBCA No. 10-95 (August 16, 1996), slip op. at 42-48, 1996 GPOBCA LEXIS 31, 1996 WL 812877; The George Marr Co., GPOBCA No. 31-94 (April 23, 1996), slip op. at 41-44, 1996 GPOBCA LEXIS 43, 1996 WL 273662. In brief, when two contracting parties have different interpretations of the same contract language, that disagreement, while not automatically signaling the existence of an ambiguity, International Business Investments, Inc. v. United States, 17 Cl. Ct. 122 (1989), aff'd without op., 895 F.2d 1421 (Fed. Cir. 1990); Qualitype, Inc., GPOBCA No. 21-95 (April 21, 1998), slip op. at 4, 1998 GPOBCA LEXIS 4, 1998 WL 350484, recon. denied, GPOBCA No. 21-95 (June 24, 1998), slip op., 1998 GPOBCA LEXIS 19, 1998 WL 350480; United Computer Supplies, Joint Venture, GPOBCA No. 26-94 (January 23, 1998), slip op. at 14, 1998 GPOBCA LEXIS 6, 1998 WL 148845, aff'd., United Computer Supplies, Inc./Cole Computer Forms/McCall's Printing Express, Joint Venture v. United States, No. 98-142C (April 2, 1999), 1999 WL 216833 (Fed. Cl.), does raise the possibility that the language is ambiguous. RD Printing Assocs., Inc., GPOBCA No. 23-94 (February 24, 1998), slip op. at 6, 1998 GPOBCA LEXIS 5, 1998 WL 148997; B & B Reproductions, GPOBCA No. 09-89 (June 30, 1995), slip op. at 22, 1995 GPOBCA LEXIS 16, 1995 WL 488477. To be ambiguous the disputed language must be susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation. The George Marr Co., supra, at 41. Determining whether contract language is susceptible to two or more reasonable interpretations and thus latently ambiguous requires a careful reading not only of the disputed language but of the contract as a whole so that all of its provisions are given effect. Qualitype, Inc., supra, at 5; MPE Business Forms, Inc., supra at 45-46. If the contract is ambiguous, that is, if a reasonably prudent contractor could interpret the contract in a manner different from the drafter's reasonable interpretation, the language will be construed against the drafter if the contractor can show that it relied on its interpretation in formulating its offer. Randolph Eng'g Co. v. United States, 367 F.2d 425 (Ct. Cl. 1966); Midwest Bank Note Co., GPOBCA No. 13-95 (June 22, 1998), slip op. at 10, 1998 GPOBCA LEXIS 15, 1998 WL 350489; Custom Printing Co., supra, at 31, quoting MPE Business Forms, Inc., supra, at 43-44. Appellant claims the contract's color specification ambiguity arose because the contract's use of the word "yellow" in conjunction with the term "Pantone 136C" modified the color specification in a way which resulted in a requirement to provide T-shirts in the color "yellow closest to Pantone 136C." The contract's use of the designation "Pantone 136C" to describe the desired color of the T-shirt bears some analysis as it is important to an understanding of this matter. Color is a sensation involving complex processes in the human eye and brain. Visual identification depends on many factors, including the light source used, the illuminated object itself, and variations in the spectral response of the observer. FRED W. BILLMEYER, JR. AND MAX SALTZMAN, PRINCIPLES OF COLOR TECHNOLOGY, 23 (1966). The visualization of any color is relative, as there is no certainty that two people will imagine color exactly the same way based on its name. LEATICE EISEMAN & LAWRENCE HERBERT, THE PANTONE BOOK OF COLOR 11 (1990). That different persons perceive and describe colors in different manners is amply demonstrated in this appeal. Appellant describes Pantone 136C as "gold". Rule 4 File, Tab H. Respondent describes the same color as "dark yellow" or "orange yellow." Other users of Pantone 136C have described it as "gold" (see, University of Minnesota Duluth, UMD Publications - UMD Visual Identity Guide (last modified Dec. 8, 1997) http://www.d.umn.edu/currents/logo/vis-id.html) or "Sunflower" (see, New Zealand Ministry of Commerce, New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice § 3, Table 1: Sign Colours (last modified July 7, 1998) http://www.moc.govt.nz/ocee/codes/ecp53/ecp53-04.html. Appellant describes the color of the shirt it initially supplied as "yellow." Rule 4 File, Tab H. Respondent describes it as "light or lemon yellow" and "bright yellow." Respondent's Brief at 1, 3. The problem of differing perceptions of color was the impetuous behind the development of the color communication, specification and reproduction system known as the Pantone Matching System (PMS). That system was developed to solve problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community. The PMS was developed based on the premise that the spectrum of color is seen differently by each individual. Pantone, Inc., All About Color - Corporate History (visited Apr. 14, 1999) http://www.pantone.com/aboutpantone/corphist1.htm. The PMS, and similar competing systems, provide graphic artists a way of accurately describing colors without resorting to subjective color naming systems. The system's key component is a copyrighted publication that matches particular colors with individual identification numbers. The company also produces number-coded, tear-out color chips that can be given to printers or other manufacturers to allow them to match a specified color sample. See, Pantone, Inc. v. Esselte Letraset, Ltd., 878 F.2d 601, 602-3 (2d Cir. 1989); Datafold Forms, Inc., ASBCA No. 20771, 76-2 BCA ¶ 12,020 at 57,658. In the graphic arts industry, the Pantone Matching System is now the most popular and widely used color matching system. MARK BEACH, GETTING IT PRINTED (rev. ed. 1993) 28; MARJ GREEN, THE BUSINESS FORMS HANDBOOK (4th Ed.) 63; RICHARD ROMANO, THE GATF ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS 574 (1998). Thus, the contract's use of the term "Pantone 136C" resulted in a requirement for a specific, standardized color, rather than general range of colors. A fundamental principle of contract interpretation requires the Board to give a reasonable and effective meaning to each of the terms of a contract. RESTATEMENT OF CONTRACTS (SECOND), § 203(a); Fortec Constructors v. United States, 760 F.2d 1288, 1292 (Fed. Cir. 1985). The Board will not assume that the parties' contract contains language that means nothing at all. Another familiar principle of contract interpretation is expressed in the words "expressio unius est exclusio alterius" - that is, when certain matters are stated in a contract, a court will presume that the parties intended to exclude similar matters not mentioned. Delta Mining Corp. v. Big Rivers Electric Corp., 18 F.3d 1398 (7th Cir. 1994) (citing Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 150 Pension Fund v. Vertex Construction Co., 932 F.2d 1443, 1449 (11th Cir. 1991)). From this, the Board concludes that by designating Pantone 136C as the color to be provided, the parties intended to distinguish that color from other colors in the Pantone Matching System. Finally, the Board is not troubled by the inclusion of the word "yellow" with the Pantone designation, as Pantone 136C is unquestionably a shade of the color yellow. See, Notice of Appeal, Exhibit E. The color yellow is defined as "a color whose hue resembles that of ripe lemons or sunflowers or is that of the portion of the spectrum lying between green and orange." MERRIAM WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY 1371 (10th ed. 1996). In short, when the Appellant's contract is read as a whole, there is only one way to reasonably interpret the color specification, and that is that the Government was seeking a specific color, designated as Pantone 136C, and no other color. Under Appellant's interpretation, the specific and objective Pantone 136C color designation would be replaced by the general, subjective designation of "yellow closest to Pantone 136C." Accordingly, the Board concludes that there is no ambiguity, that the Appellant's interpretation of the contract is unreasonable, and that the Respondent's interpretation is correct. Impossibility/ Commercial Impracticability Appellant also contends that it was impossible for it to comply fully with the color specification because no domestic manufacturer could supply a "yellow" T-shirt that matched Pantone 136C. The Board sees nothing in the facts here that would raise a legitimate issue of "commercial impracticability." To come within the limited doctrine of impossibility, which encompasses commercial impracticability, one must show actual impossibility or that performance could be achieved only at excessive and unreasonable cost. A showing of simple economic hardship is not sufficient. See, Jennie-O Foods, Inc. v. United States, 217 Ct. Cl. 314, 328-29, 580 F.2d 400, 409 (1978); American Combustion, Inc., ASBCA No. 43712, 94-3 BCA ¶ 26,961 at 134,243. See also, Natus Corporation v. United States, 178 Ct. Cl. 1, 371 F.2d 450 (1967); Whitlock Corporation v. United States, 141 Ct. Cl. 758, 159 F.Supp. 602, cert. denied, 358 U.S. 815 (1958). The burden of proving impracticability lies with the contractor, who must also show that its difficulties were not attributable to its own subjective fault. See, Intercontinental Manufacturing Company, Inc. v. United States, 4 Cl. Ct. 591, 598-600 (1984); GLR Constructors, ENG BCA No. 6021, 94-3 BCA ¶ 27,216, at 135,653; Crown Welding, Inc., ASBCA No. 36107, 89-1 BCA ¶ 21,332, at 107,571; HLI Lordship Industries, Inc., VABCA No. 1785, 86-3 BCA ¶ 19,182, at 97,026. Accord, JR Composition, GPO BCA 8-86 (May 19, 1989), Sl. op. at 1, 1989 GPOBCA LEXIS 54, 1989 WL 384978 (citing, Koppers Company v. United States, 186 Ct. Cl. 142 (1968)). In the instant appeal, Appellant has submitted no such proof. Moreover, a contractor can disprove its own claim of commercial impracticability by showing that to some extent it can successfully perform as expected under the contract. See, GLR Constructors, supra, 94-3 BCA at 135,653; American Combustion, Inc., supra, 94-3 BCA at 134,243. Here, the evidence indicates that the Appellant was able to provide a silk-screened T-shirt that matched Pantone 136C. That it describes the matching shirt as "gold" rather than "yellow" is of no legal significance. Therefore, there is no basis for finding that a situation of commercial impracticability existed in this case. Notwithstanding the above-cited defects in Appellant's argument, in cases where contractors have encountered higher than expected costs, the courts and boards have imposed stringent standards for recovery. In the instant appeal, the contractor claims an increase in cost of performance of approximately 13 per cent over the original bid price. This alone is insufficient to sustain a claim of commercial impracticability. Relief will not be granted unless the costs of performing the work are so much greater than anticipated as to render performance commercial senseless. See, Soletanche Rodio Nicholson (JV), ENGBCA No. 5796, 94-1 BCA ¶ 26,472; SMC Info. Sys., Inc., GSBCA No. 9371, 93-1 BCA ¶ 25,485; Ocean Salvage, Inc., ENGBCA No. 3485, 76-1 BCA ¶ 11,905. A modest price increase, like the one sustained by Appellant, will not, by itself, establish commercial impracticability. Transatlantic Financing Corp. v. United States, 363 F.2d 312 (D.C. Cir. 1966) (14% increase in cost not sufficient to constitute impracticability); Naughton Energy, Inc., ASBCA No. 33044, 88-2 BCA ¶ 20,800 (contractor assumed risk of 59% price increase); Gene Peters, PSBCA No. 999, 83-2 BCA ¶ 16,694 (no relief granted for rental rate 15% above fair market value). Domestic Content Requirement Appellant also claims that no domestic manufacturer makes a "yellow" T-shirt that matches Pantone 136C. The Board has been unable to find any contract provision that required Appellant to provide domestically manufactured T-shirts. The only contract provision that touches on this issue is a Buy America clause that is incorporated by reference. See, Rule 4 File, Tab A at 1. That clause provides: (b) The contractor agrees that, unless otherwise provided under the "certifications" on the bid, there will be delivered under the contract only domestic source end products, except those- (1) For use outside the United States; (2) That the Government determines are not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality; (3) For which the agency determines that domestic preference would be inconsistent with the public interest; or (4) For which the agency determines the cost to be unreasonable. GPO Contract Terms, ¶ 36, GPO Publication 310.2 (Rev. 9-88). This contract provision implements the Buy American Act, 41 U.S.C. §§ 10a, et seq. Under the terms of that statute, the use of foreign articles in the performance of U.S. Government contracts is discouraged by giving a statutory preference to domestic articles. However, the use of foreign articles is not prohibited by either the Act, or GPO Contract Terms. The domestic goods preference is administered through a system of bid evaluation factors that are used to determine if the price of an offered domestic product is "unreasonable." A Contracting Officer determines price reasonableness by adjusting each bid offering foreign products by adding a factor of 6% to the bid for evaluation purposes. However, if the low acceptable domestic bid is from a small business or from a bidder located in a labor surplus area, a factor of 12% is added to the bid. See, Printing Procurement Regulation (PPR), GPO Publication 305.3 (Rev. 5-99) Ch. I, § 9.2(c)(1)(i). If the foreign bid remains low after application of the evaluation factor, then the cost of the domestic bid is considered to be unreasonable, and award is made to the low bid offering foreign products. Thus, neither the contract specifications, nor the Buy America clause incorporated by reference, restrict potential contractors from submitting bids based on supplying T-shirts of foreign manufacture. This further erodes Appellant's arguments, as there is no showing that a foreign manufacturer could not have supplied a T-shirt matching Pantone 136C. Duty of Contractor Prior to Bidding Appellant's argument that it was impossible to provide a "yellow" domestically manufactured T-shirt matching Pantone 136C raises a further concern. Assuming arguendo that Appellant believed it was impossible to meet the color specification, it is unclear why Appellant would have submitted a bid in response to the solicitation for Jacket 559-973. An IFB is, among other things, an invitation to submit an offer. The submission of a signed bid in response to an IFB is an irrevocable offer to perform the contract. This offer, upon acceptance by the Government, becomes a binding contract. PAUL SHNITZER, GOVERNMENT CONTRACT BIDDING at 5-2 (3rd ed. 1992). Appellant submitted a sealed bid in response to the IFB for Jacket 559-973. Rule 4 File, Tab C. That offer was accepted by the Government and a binding contract was formed. Rule 4 File, Tab E. Polytronic Research, Inc., ASBCA No. 5918, 1962 BCA ¶ 3548. In submitting its bid, Appellant was affirmatively representing to the Government that it could perform Jacket 559-973. It is well established that the Government does not owe Appellant a duty of determining for Appellant's benefit whether the contract award will become a profitable piece of business. Valveaire, Aircraft Division Abbotwares, ASBCA No. 8322, 1964 BCA ¶ 4177. According to the ASBCA: The responsibility is upon bidders to review the invitation for bids to determine whether they can make the items concerned and when an erroneous bid is submitted (either because of an inadequate review of the invitation or because of an erroneous estimate by the bidder of its capabilities) and as a result there is a delay or failure in performance, the burden falls on the contractor as it is not due to a cause beyond the contractor's control and without its fault or negligence. Polytronic Research, Inc., ASBCA No. 5918, 1962 BCA ¶ 3548 at 17,998. In a similar case, the ASBCA held: Basically, the responsibility is on the bidder to ascertain what is called for by an invitation for bids and whether he has the technical and financial facilities to produce the item sought. Valveaire, Aircraft Division Abbotwares, ASBCA No. 8322, 1964 BCA ¶ 4177. Stated otherwise, the law places on the contractor's shoulders the responsibility for determining the availability of the supplies, materials, and products necessary for performance prior to bidding. See, Interstate Coatings, Inc. v. United States, 7 Cl. Ct. 259 (1985); ACS Construction Co., ASBCA No. 33832, 87-3 BCA ¶ 20,138, aff'd, 848 F.2d 1245 (Fed. Cir. 1988); DeLaval Turbine, Inc., ASBCA No. 21797, 78-2 BCA ¶ 13,521; Datametrics, Inc., ASBCA No. 16086, 74-2 BCA ¶ 10,742; Therm-Air Manufacturing Co., ASBCA No. 17128, 74-2 BCA ¶ 10,652. The risk is not shifted to the Government just because the contractor experiences difficulty in that regard. See, Pioneer Enterprises, Inc., ASBCA No. 43739, 93-1 BCA ¶ 25,395; Toyad Corp., ASBCA No. 26785, 85-3 BCA ¶ 18,354. See also, Gold Country Litho, GPOBCA No. 22-93 (Sept. 30, 1996), 1996 GPOBCA LEXIS 27, 1996 WL 812956. The Board quotes with approval a passage from Consolidated Diesel Corporation, ASBCA No. 10486, 67-2 BCA ¶ 6669, in which the ASBCA held: A bidder who knows or should have known that the specifications are impossible of performance, but bids anyway without raising any objection to the specifications, cannot thereafter be relieved from the consequences of impossibility, as in bidding with actual or construction [sic] knowledge of the impossibility, he assumes the risk . . . . A bidder who is on notice of an 'incipient problem', but neglects to bring it to the attention of the contracting officer and get it solved before the bid opening, cannot expect to have the problem resolved in his favor. (Citations omitted.) Id. at 30,952. It appears that Appellant did precisely what this decision proscribes. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, therefore, Appellant's appeal is DENIED. May 13, 1999 KERRY L. MILLER Administrative Judge