Part 512—Acquisition of Commercial Items
Subpart 512.2—Special Requirements for the Acquisition of Commercial Items
512.203 Procedures for solicitation, evaluation, and award.
(a) Federal Supply Schedule contracts. For Federal Supply Schedule contracts, the contracting officer shall use the policies in FAR Part 12 and this Part 512 in conjunction with the policies and procedures in FAR Part 38 and Part 538. See Subpart 515.70, Use of Bid Samples, if applicable.
(b) Deregulated/Competitive Acquisitions for Natural Gas and Electricity. For deregulated/competitive acquisitions, the contracting officer shall use policies and procedures in FAR Part 12 and this Part 512 in conjunction with the policies and procedures in FAR 41.202 (a) and (b), the review requirements of FAR Part 41, and GSAM Part 541, as applicable.
(c) Construction as a commercial item. The provisions and clauses in FAR Part 36 and GSAM Part 536 address the fundamental aspects of construction contracting. FAR Part 36 and GSAM Part 536 apply well-established commercial principles that are designed to result in an equitable distribution of risk between the Government and its contractors. The contracting officer should consider the following when contemplating a construction acquisition as a commercial item—
(1) FAR Part 12, as currently promulgated, should rarely be used for new construction acquisitions or non-routine alteration and repair services.
(2) FAR Part 12 and GSAM Part 512 may be used in limited circumstances involving construction contracting, primarily for routine alteration and repair services as well as for the acquisition of commercial construction materials and associated ancillary services. It may be appropriate to use FAR Part 12 and GSAM Part 512 for routine projects such as painting or carpeting, simple hanging of drywall, everyday electrical or plumbing work, and similar noncomplex services, as well as for purchases of commercial construction material and associated ancillary services.
(3) Whether a construction acquisition is conducted under FAR Part 36 or FAR Part 12, the contracting officer must adhere to the policies of FAR Subpart 22.4. This subpart addresses labor standards for contracts involving construction. Prior to making the determination that a construction acquisition can be conducted as a commercial item, the contracting officer should conduct appropriate market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and GSAM Part 510.
(4) Construction contracts in excess of $2,000 must include an applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination found at http://www.access.gpo.gov/davisbacon/. If the construction contract is greater than $30,000, then the SF 1442 should be used in lieu of the SF 1449 and the bonds or alternate payment protection provisions of FAR 28.102-1, 28.102-2 and 28.102-3 apply.
(5) Construction contracts awarded as commercial item acquisitions should not exceed the prospectus threshold. The prospectus threshold as referenced in section 102-73.35 of the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) is posted at http://www.gsa.gov/annualprospectusthreshold.
Subpart 512.3—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition of Commercial Items
512.301 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the acquisition of commercial items.
(a) Solicitation provisions and clauses. Insert these provisions or clauses in solicitations or solicitations and contracts, respectively, in accordance with the instructions provided:
(1) 552.212-71, Contract Terms and Conditions Applicable to GSA Acquisition of Commercial Items, when listed clauses apply. The clause provides for incorporation by reference of terms and conditions which are, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with customary commercial practice. If necessary, tailor this clause.
(2) 552.212-72, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to GSA Acquisitions of Commercial Items, when listed clauses apply. The clause provides for the incorporation by reference of terms and conditions required to implement provisions of law or executive orders that apply to commercial item acquisitions.
(b) Discretionary use of GSAR provisions and clauses. Consistent with the limitations contained in FAR 12.302(c), include in solicitations and contracts by addendum other GSAR provisions and clauses.
(c) Use of additional provisions and clauses. The Senior Procurement Executive must approve the use of a provision or clause that is either not:
(1) Prescribed in the FAR or GSAR for use in contracts for commercial items.
(2) Consistent with customary commercial practice.
(d) In solicitations issued in conjunction with the policy and procedures in FAR Part 14, Sealed Bidding; or FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation, include the two notices in paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section, except that acquisitions of leasehold interests in real property, must include only the notice in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(1) The information collection requirements contained in this solicitation/contract are either required by regulation or approved by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act and assigned OMB Control No. 3090-0163.
(2) The General Services Administration’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requests for preaward debriefings postmarked or otherwise submitted after 4:30 p.m. will be considered submitted the following business day. Requests for postaward debriefings delivered after 4:30 p.m. will be considered received and filed the following business day.
512.302 Tailoring of provisions and clauses for the acquisition of commercial items.
FAR 12.302(c) severely limits tailoring of clauses or otherwise including additional terms or conditions in commercial item contracts in a manner that is inconsistent with customary commercial practice. Such tailoring requires a waiver approved as follows:
(a) Individual contract. The contracting officer’s supervisor approves the request.
(b) Class of contracts. The contracting director approves the request.
