A government appeals board refused to disturb...

A government appeals board refused to disturb a contract expected to be worth more than $1 billion, denying a challenge by Honeywell Federal Systems Inc. to last fall’s award to American Telephone & Telegraph Co. Judge Vincent LaBella, chairman of the three-judge Board of Contract Appeals of the General Services Administration that considered the matter, announced the decision and said the board’s opinion would be released today. Honeywell Federal Systems was one of six competitors that fought for the Air Force contract, which was awarded last October. The contract calls for an AT&T; subsidiary to deliver about 20,000 minicomputers over the next five years.