The Houston Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1eFijiB ) BP filed the lawsuit Monday in Houston federal court.
BP says it is seeking an injunction that would lift an order by the Environmental Protection Agency that suspends the company from such contracts.
The newspaper reports an EPA spokesman declined to comment on BP's court action, referring questions to the Justice Department, which also declined to comment.
The well blowout that caused the spill killed 11 workers and led to millions of gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf.