SUBPART 225.73--ACQUISITIONS FOR FOREIGN
MILITARY SALES
(Revised December
9, 2005)
225.7300 Scope of subpart.
225.7301 General.
225.7302 Guidance.
225.7303 Pricing acquisitions
for FMS.
225.7303-1 Contractor sales to
other foreign customers.
225.7303-2 Cost of doing
business with a foreign government or an international organization.
225.7303-3 Government-to-government agreements.
225.7303-4 Contingent fees.
225.7303-5 Acquisitions wholly
paid for from nonrepayable funds.
225.7304 FMS customer
involvement.
225.7305 Limitation of
liability.
225.7306 Offset arrangements.
225.7307 Contract clauses.
225.7300 Scope of subpart.
(a) This subpart contains policies and procedures for acquisitions for foreign military sales (FMS) under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. Chapter 39). Section 22 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2762) authorizes DoD to enter into contracts for resale to foreign countries or international organizations.
(b) This subpart does not apply to—
(1) FMS made from inventories or stocks;
(2) Acquisitions for replenishment of inventories or stocks; or
(3) Acquisitions made under DoD cooperative logistic supply support arrangements.
225.7301 General.
(a) The U.S. Government sells defense articles and services to foreign governments or international organizations through FMS agreements. The agreement is documented in a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) (see DoD 5105.38-M, Security Assistance Management Manual).
(b) Conduct FMS acquisitions under the same acquisition and contract management procedures used for other defense acquisitions.
(c) Follow the additional procedures at PGI 225.7301(c) (Pop-up Window or PGI Viewer Mode)for preparation of solicitations and contracts that include FMS requirements.
(d) See 229.170 for policy on contracts financed
under
225.7302 Guidance.
For guidance on the role of the contracting officer in FMS programs that will require an acquisition, see PGI 225.7302 (Pop-up Window or PGI Viewer Mode).
225.7303 Pricing acquisitions
for FMS.
(a) Price FMS contracts using the same principles used in pricing other defense contracts. However, application of the pricing principles in FAR Parts 15 and 31 to an FMS contract may result in prices that differ from other defense contract prices for the same item due to the considerations in this section.
(b) If the foreign government has conducted a competition resulting in adequate price competition (see FAR 15.403-1(b)(1)), the contracting officer shall not require the submission of cost or pricing data. The contracting officer should consult with the foreign government through security assistance personnel to determine if adequate price competition has occurred.
225.7303-1 Contractor sales to
other foreign customers.
If the contractor has made sales of the item required for the foreign military sale to foreign customers under comparable conditions, including quantity and delivery, price the FMS contract in accordance with FAR Part 15.
225.7303-2 Cost of doing
business with a foreign government or an international organization.
(a) In pricing FMS contracts where non-U.S. Government prices as described in 225.7303-1 do not exist, except as provided in 225.7303-5, recognize the reasonable and allocable costs of doing business with a foreign government or international organization, even though such costs might not be recognized in the same amounts in pricing other defense contracts. Examples of such costs include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Selling expenses (not otherwise limited by FAR Part 31), such as—
(i) Maintaining international sales and service organizations;
(ii) Sales commissions and fees in accordance with FAR Subpart 3.4;
(iii) Sales promotions, demonstrations, and related travel for sales to foreign governments. Section 126.8 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 126.8) may require Government approval for these costs to be allowable, in which case the appropriate Government approval shall be obtained; and
(iv) Configuration studies and related technical services undertaken as a direct selling effort to a foreign country.
(2) Product support and post-delivery service expenses, such as—
(i) Operations or maintenance training, training or tactics films, manuals, or other related data; and
(ii) Technical field services provided in a foreign country related to accident investigations, weapon system problems, or operations/tactics enhancement, and related travel to foreign countries.
(3) Offset costs (also see 225.7306).
(i) A
(ii) The U.S. Government assumes no obligation to satisfy or administer the offset requirement or to bear any of the associated costs.
(4) Costs that are the subject of advance agreement under the appropriate provisions of FAR Part 31; or where the advance understanding places a limit on the amounts of cost that will be recognized as allowable in defense contract pricing, and the agreement contemplated that it will apply only to DoD contracts for the U.S. Government's own requirements (as distinguished from contracts for FMS).
(b) Costs not allowable under FAR Part 31 are not allowable in pricing FMS contracts, except as noted in paragraph (c) of this subsection.
(c) The limitations for major contractors on independent research and development and bid and proposal (IR&D/B&P) costs for projects that are of potential interest to DoD, in 231.205-18(c)(iii), do not apply to FMS contracts, except as provided in 225.7303-5. The allowability of IR&D/B&P costs on contracts for FMS not wholly paid for from funds made available on a nonrepayable basis is limited to the contract’s allocable share of the contractor’s total IR&D/B&P expenditures. In pricing contracts for such FMS—
(1) Use the best estimate of reasonable costs in forward pricing; and
(2) Use actual expenditures, to the extent that they are reasonable, in determining final cost.
(d) Under paragraph (e)(1)(A) of Section 21 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761), the United States must charge for administrative services to recover the estimated cost of administration of sales made under the Arms Export Control Act.
225.7303-3 Government-to-government agreements.
If a
government-to-government agreement between the
225.7303-4 Contingent fees.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, contingent fees are generally allowable under DoD contracts, provided--
(1) The fees are paid to a bona fide employee or a bona fide established commercial or selling agency maintained by the prospective contractor for the purpose of securing business (see FAR Part 31 and FAR Subpart 3.4); and
(2) The contracting officer determines that the fees are fair and reasonable.
(b)(1) Under DoD 5105.38-M, LOAs for requirements for the governments of Australia, Taiwan, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Thailand, or Venezuela (Air Force) shall provide that all U.S. Government contracts resulting from the LOAs prohibit the reimbursement of contingent fees as an allowable cost under the contract, unless the contractor identifies the payments and the foreign customer approves the payments in writing before contract award (see 225.7307(a)).
(2) For FMS to countries not listed in paragraph (b)(1) of this subsection, contingent fees exceeding $50,000 per FMS case are unallowable under DoD contracts, unless the contractor identifies the payment and the foreign customer approves the payment in writing before contract award.
225.7303-5 Acquisitions wholly
paid for from nonrepayable funds.
(a) In accordance with 22 U.S.C. 2762(d), price FMS wholly paid for from funds made available on a nonrepayable basis on the same costing basis with regard to profit, overhead, IR&D/B&P, and other costing elements as is applicable to acquisitions of like items purchased by DoD for its own use.
(b) Direct costs associated with meeting a foreign customer’s additional or unique requirements are allowable under such contracts. Indirect burden rates applicable to such direct costs are permitted at the same rates applicable to acquisitions of like items purchased by DoD for its own use.
(c) A
225.7304 FMS customer
involvement.
(a) FMS customers may request that a defense article or defense service be obtained from a particular contractor. In such cases, FAR 6.302-4 provides authority to contract without full and open competition. The FMS customer may also request that a subcontract be placed with a particular firm. The contracting officer shall honor such requests from the FMS customer only if the LOA or other written direction sufficiently fulfills the requirements of FAR Subpart 6.3.
(b) FMS customers should be encouraged to participate with U.S. Government acquisition personnel in discussions with industry to--
(1) Develop technical specifications;
(2) Establish delivery schedules;
(3) Identify any special warranty provisions or other requirements unique to the FMS customer; and
(4) Review prices of varying alternatives, quantities, and options needed to make price-performance tradeoffs.
(c) Do not disclose to the FMS customer any data, including cost or pricing data, that is contractor proprietary unless the contractor authorizes its release.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, the degree of FMS customer participation in contract negotiations is left to the discretion of the contracting officer after consultation with the contractor. The contracting officer shall provide an explanation to the FMS customer if its participation in negotiations will be limited. Factors that may limit FMS customer participation include situations where--
(1) The contract includes requirements for more than one FMS customer;
(2) The contract
includes unique
(3) Contractor proprietary data is a subject of negotiations.
(e) Do not allow representatives of the FMS customer to—
(1) Direct the exclusion of certain firms from the solicitation process (they may suggest the inclusion of certain firms);
(2) Interfere with a contractor's placement of subcontracts; or
(3) Observe or participate in negotiations between the U.S. Government and the contractor involving cost or pricing data, unless a deviation is granted in accordance with Subpart 201.4.
(f) Do not accept directions from the FMS customer on source selection decisions or contract terms (except that, upon timely notice, the contracting officer may attempt to obtain any special contract provisions, warranties, or other unique requirements requested by the FMS customer).
(g) Do not honor any requests by the FMS customer to reject any bid or proposal.
(h) If an FMS customer requests additional information concerning FMS contract prices, the contracting officer shall, after consultation with the contractor, provide sufficient information to demonstrate the reasonableness of the price and reasonable responses to relevant questions concerning contract price. This information--
(1) May include tailored responses, top-level pricing summaries, historical prices, or an explanation of any significant differences between the actual contract price and the estimated contract price included in the initial LOA; and
(2) May be provided orally, in writing, or by any other method acceptable to the contracting officer.
225.7305 Limitation of
liability.
Advise the contractor when the foreign customer will assume the risk for loss or damage under the appropriate limitation of liability clause(s) (see FAR Subpart 46.8). Consider the costs of necessary insurance, if any, obtained by the contractor to cover the risk of loss or damage in establishing the FMS contract price.
225.7306 Offset arrangements.
In accordance with the Presidential policy
statement of
225.7307 Contract clauses.
(a) Use the clause at 252.225-7027, Restriction on Contingent Fees for Foreign Military Sales, in solicitations and contracts for FMS. Insert in paragraph (b)(1) of the clause the name(s) of any foreign country customer(s) listed in 225.7303-4(b).
(b) Use the clause at 252.225-7028, Exclusionary Policies and Practices of Foreign Governments, in solicitations and contracts for the purchase of supplies and services for international military education training and FMS.