552.237-71 Qualifications of Employees.
As prescribed in 537.110(a), insert the following clause:
Qualifications of Employees (May 1989)
(a) The contracting officer or a designated representative may require the Contractor to remove any employee(s) from GSA controlled buildings or other real property should it be determined that the individual(s) is either unsuitable for security reasons or otherwise unfit to work on GSA controlled property.
(b) The Contractor shall fill out and cause each of its employees performing work on the contract work to fill out, for submission to the Government, such forms as may be necessary for security or other reasons. Upon request of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor and its employees shall be fingerprinted.
(c) Each employee of the Contractor shall be a citizen of the United States of America, or an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence as evidenced by Alien
Registration Receipt Card Form I-151, or, who presents other evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that employment will not affect his immigration status.
(End of clause)
552.237-72 Prohibition Regarding “Quasi-Military Armed Forces.”
As prescribed in 537.110(c), insert the following clause:
Prohibition Regarding “Quasi-Military Armed Forces” (Sep 1999)
The Contractor must not, during the term of this contract, offer for hire “Quasi-Military Armed Forces” within the meaning of the court decision in United States ex. rel. Weinberger v. Equifax, 557 F. 2d 456 (5th Cir., 1977).
(End of clause)
552.237-73 Restriction on Disclosure of Information.
As prescribed in 537.270, insert the following clause:
Restriction on Disclosure of Information (June 2009)
(a) The Contractor shall, in the performance of this contract, keep all information contained in source documents or other media furnished by the Government in the strictest confidence. The Contractor shall not publish or otherwise divulge such information in whole or in part, in any manner or form, nor authorize or permit others to do so. The Contractor shall take such reasonable measures as are necessary to restrict access to such information, while in the Contractor’s possession, to those employees needing such information to perform the work provided herein, i.e., on a “need to know” basis. The Contractor shall immediately notify, in writing, the Contracting Officer in the event that the Contractor determines or has reason to suspect a breach of this requirement.
(b) The Contractor shall not disclose any information concerning the work under this contract to any persons or entity unless the Contractor obtains prior written approval from the Contracting Officer.
(c) The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause in any consultant agreement or subcontract under this contract.
(d) Any unauthorized disclosure of information may result in termination of this contract for cause.
(End of clause)
552.238-70 Identification of Electronic Office Equipment Providing Accessibility for the Handicapped.
As prescribed in 538.273(a)(1), insert the following clause:
Identification of Electronic Office Equipment Providing Accessibility for the Handicapped (Sep 1991)
(a) Definitions. “Electronic office equipment accessibility” means the application/configuration of electronic office equipment (includes hardware, software and firmware) in a manner that accommodates the functional limitations of individuals with disabilities (i.e., handicapped individuals) so as to promote productivity and provide access to work related and/or public information resources.
“Handicapped individuals” mean qualified individuals with impairments as cited in 29 CFR 1613.702(f) who can benefit from electronic office equipment accessibility.
“Special peripheral” means a special needs aid that provides access to electronic equipment that is otherwise inaccessible to a handicapped individual.
(b) The offeror is encouraged to identify in its offer, and include in any commercial catalogs and pricelists accepted by the Contracting Officer, office equipment, including any special peripheral, that will facilitate electronic office equipment accessibility for handicapped individuals. Identification should include the type of disability accommodated and how the users with that disability would be helped.
(End of clause)
552.238-71 Submission and Distribution of Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelists.
As prescribed in 538.273(a)(2), insert the following clause:
Submission and Distribution of Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelists (Sep 1999)
(a) Definition. For the purposes of this clause, the Mailing List is [Contracting officer shall insert either: “the list of addressees provided to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer” or “the Contractor's listing of its Federal Government customers”].
(b) The Contracting Officer will return one copy of the Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelist to the Contractor with the notification of contract award.
(1) The Contractor shall provide to the GSA Contracting Officer:
(i) Two paper copies of Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelist; and
(ii) The Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelist on a common-use electronic medium.
The Contracting Officer will provide detailed instructions for the electronic submission with the award notification. Some structured data entry in a prescribed format may be required.
(2) The Contractor shall provide to each addressee on the mailing list either:
(i) One paper copy of the Authorized FSS Schedule Price List; or
(ii) A self-addressed, postage-paid envelope or postcard to be returned by addressees that want to receive a paper copy of the pricelist. The Contractor shall distribute price lists within 20 calendar days after receipt of returned requests.
(3) The Contractor shall advise each addressee of the availability of pricelist information through the on-line Multiple Award Schedule electronic data base.
(c) The Contractor shall make all of the distributions required in paragraph (c) at least 15 calendar days before the beginning of the contract period, or within 30 calendar days after receipt of the Contracting Officer’s approval for printing, whichever is later.
(d) During the period of the contract, the Contractor shall provide one copy of its Authorized FSS Schedule Pricelist to any authorized schedule user, upon request. Use of the mailing list for any other purpose is not authorized.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (May 2003). As prescribed in 538.273(a)(2), substitute the following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic clause:
(a) Definition. For the purposes of this clause, the Mailing List is [Contracting officer shall insert either: “the list of addressees provided to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer” or “the Contractor's listing of its ordering activity customers”].
552.238-72 Identification of Products that have Environmental Attributes.
As prescribed in 538.273(a)(3), insert the following clause:
Identification of Products that Have Environmental Attributes (Sep 2003)
(a) Several laws, Executive orders, and Agency directives require Federal buyers to purchase products that are less harmful to the environment, when they are life cycle cost-effective (see FAR Subpart 23.7). The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) requires contractors to highlight environmental products under Federal Supply Service schedule contracts in various communications media (e.g., publications and electronic formats).
(b) Definitions. As used in this clause—
“Energy-efficient product” means a product that—
(1) Meets Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency criteria for use of the ENERGY STAR® trademark label; or
(2) Is in the upper 25 percent of efficiency for all similar products as designated by the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program.
“GSA Advantage!” is an on-line shopping mall and ordering system that provides customers with access to products and services under GSA contracts.
“Other environmental attributes” refers to product characteristics that provide environmental benefits, excluding recovered materials and energy and water efficiency. Several examples of these characteristics are biodegradable, recyclable, reduced pollutants, ozone safe, and low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
“Post-consumer material” means a material or finished product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal or recovery, having completed its life as a consumer item. Post-consumer material is part of the broader category of “recovered material.” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a list of EPA-designated products in their Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) to provide Federal agencies with purchasing recommendations on specific products in a Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN). The RMAN contains recommended recovered and post-consumer material content levels for the specific products designated by EPA (40 CFR part 247 and http://www.epa.gov/cpg/).
“Recovered materials” means waste materials and by-products recovered or diverted from solid waste, but the term does not include those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process (Executive Order 13101 and 42 U.S.C. 6903(19) and http://www.epa.gov/cpg/). For paper and paper products, see the definition at FAR 11.301 (42 U.S.C. 6962(h)).
“Remanufactured” means factory rebuilt to original specifications.
“Renewable energy” means energy produced by solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass power.
“Renewable energy technology” means—
(1) Technologies that use renewable energy to provide light, heat, cooling, or mechanical or electrical energy for use in facilities or other activities; or
(2) The use of integrated whole-building designs that rely upon renewable energy resources, including passive solar design.
(c)
(1) The offeror must identify products that—
(i) Are compliant with the recovered and post-consumer material content levels recommended in the Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs) for EPA-designated products in the CPG program (http://www.epa.gov/cpg/);
(ii) Contain recovered materials that either do not meet the recommended levels in the RMANs or are not EPA-designated products in the CPG program (see FAR 23.401 and http://www.epa.gov/cpg/);
(iii) Are energy-efficient, as defined by either ENERGY STAR® and/or FEMP’s designated top 25th percentile levels (see ENERGY STAR® at
http://www.energystar.gov/ and FEMP at
http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/);
(iv) Are water-efficient;
(v) Use renewable energy technology;
(vi) Are remanufactured; and
(vii) Have other environmental attributes.
(2) These identifications must be made in each of the offeror’s following mediums:
(i) The offer itself.
(ii) Printed commercial catalogs, brochures, and pricelists.
(iii) Online product website.
(iv) Electronic data submission for GSA Advantage! submitted via GSA’s Schedules Input Program (SIP) software or the Electronic Data Inter-change (EDI). Offerors can use the SIP or EDI methods to indicate environmental and other attributes for each product that are translated into respective icons in GSA Advantage!.
(d) An offeror, in identifying an item with an environmental attribute, must possess evidence or rely on a reasonable basis to substantiate the claim (see 16 CFR part 260, Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims). The Government will accept an offeror’s claim of an item’s environmental attribute on the basis of—
(1) Participation in a Federal agency sponsored program (e.g., the EPA and DOE ENERGY STAR® product labeling program);
(2) Verification by an independent organization that specializes in certifying such claims; or
(3) Possession of competent and reliable evidence. For any test, analysis, research, study, or other evidence to be “competent and reliable,” it must have been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results.
(End of clause)
As prescribed in 538.273(a)(4), insert the following clause:
Cancellation (Sep 1999)
Either party may cancel this contract in whole or in part by providing written notice. The cancellation will take effect 30 calendar days after the other party receives the notice of cancellation. If the Contractor elects to cancel this contract, the Government will not reimburse the minimum guarantee.
(End of clause)
552.238-74 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting.
As prescribed in 538.273(b)(1), insert the following clause:
Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (May 2014)
(a) Reporting of Federal Supply Schedule Sales. The Contractor shall report all contract sales under this contract as follows:
(1) The Contractor shall accurately report the dollar value, in U.S. dollars and rounded to the nearest whole dollar, of all sales under this contract by calendar quarter (January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1–September 30, and October 1-December 31). The dollar value of a sale is the price paid by the Schedule user for products and services on a Schedule task or delivery order. The reported contract sales value shall include the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF). The Contractor shall maintain a consistent accounting method of sales reporting, based on the Contractor’s established commercial accounting practice. The acceptable points at which sales may be reported include—
(i) Receipt of order;
(ii) Shipment or delivery, as applicable;
(iii) Issuance of an invoice; or
(iv) Payment.
(2) Contract sales shall be reported to Federal Acquisition Services (FAS) within 30 calendar days following the completion of each reporting quarter. The Contractor shall continue to furnish quarterly reports, including “zero” sales, through physical completion of the last outstanding task order or delivery order of the contract.
(3) Reportable sales under the contract are those resulting from sales of contract items to authorized users unless the purchase was conducted pursuant to a separate contracting authority such as a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC); a separately awarded FAR Part 12, FAR Part 13, FAR Part 14, or FAR Part 15 procurement; or a non-FAR contract. Sales made to state and local governments under Cooperative Purchasing authority shall be counted as reportable sales for IFF purposes.
(4) The Contractor shall electronically report the quarterly dollar value of sales, including “zero” sales, by utilizing the automated reporting system at an Internet website designated by the General Services Administration (GSA)’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). Prior to using this automated system, the Contractor shall complete contract registration with the FAS Vendor Support Center (VSC). The website address, as well as registration instructions and reporting procedures, will be provided at the time of award. The Contractor shall report sales separately for each National Stock Number (NSN), Special Item Number (SIN), or sub-item.
(5) The Contractor shall convert the total value of sales made in foreign currency to U.S. dollars using the “Treasury Reporting Rates of Exchange” issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Management Service. The Contractor shall use the issue of the Treasury report in effect on the last day of the calendar quarter. The report is available from Financial Management Service, International Funds Branch, Telephone: (202) 874–7994, Internet: http://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsreports/rpt/treasRptRateExch/treasRptRateExch_home.htm.
(b) The Contractor shall remit the IFF at the rate set by GSA’s FAS.
(1) The Contractor shall remit the IFF to FAS in U.S. dollars within 30 calendar days after the end of the reporting quarter; final payment shall be remitted within 30 days after physical completion of the last outstanding task order or delivery order of the contract.
(2) The IFF represents a percentage of the total quarterly sales reported. This percentage is set at the discretion of GSA’s FAS. GSA’s FAS has the unilateral right to change the percentage at any time, but not more than once per year. FAS will provide reasonable notice prior to the effective date of the change. The IFF reimburses FAS for the costs of operating the Federal Supply Schedules Program. FAS recoups its operating costs from ordering activities as set forth in 40 U.S.C. 321: Acquisition Services Fund. Net operating revenues generated by the IFF are also applied to fund initiatives benefitting other authorized FAS programs, in accordance with 40 U.S.C. 321. Offerors must include the IFF in their prices. The fee is included in the award price(s) and reflected in the total amount charged to ordering activities. FAS will post notice of the current IFF at https://72a.gsa.gov/ or successor website as appropriate.
(c) Within 60 days of award, an FAS representative will provide the Contractor with specific written procedural instructions on remitting the IFF. FAS reserves the unilateral right to change such instructions from time to time, following notification to the Contractor.
(d) Failure to remit the full amount of the IFF within 30 calendar days after the end of the applicable reporting period constitutes a contract debt to the United States Government under the terms of FAR Subpart 32.6. The Government may exercise all rights under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, including withholding or setting off payments and interest on the debt (see FAR clause 52.232-17, Interest). Should the Contractor fail to submit the required sales reports, falsify them, or fail to timely pay the IFF, this is sufficient cause for the Government to terminate the contract for cause.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (Jun 2016). As prescribed in 538.273(b)(1), substitute the following paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) for paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of the basic clause:
(a) Definition. “Transactional data” encompasses the historical details of the products or services delivered by the Contractor during the performance of task or delivery orders issued against this contract.
(b) Reporting of Transactional Data. The Contractor must report all transactional data under this contract as follows:
(1) The Contractor must electronically report transactional data by utilizing the automated reporting system at an Internet website designated by the General Services Administration (GSA) or by uploading the data according to GSA instructions. GSA will post registration instructions and reporting procedures on the Vendor Support Center website, https://vsc.gsa.gov. The reporting system website address, as well as registration instructions and reporting procedures, will be provided at the time of award or inclusion of this clause in the contract.
(2) The Contractor must provide, at no additional cost to the Government, the following transactional data elements, as applicable:
(i) Contract or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Number.
(ii) Delivery/Task Order Number/Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID).
(iii) Non Federal Entity.
(iv) Description of Deliverable.
(v) Manufacturer Name.
(vi) Manufacturer Part Number.
(vii) Unit Measure (each, hour, case, lot).
(viii) Quantity of Item Sold.
(ix) Universal Product Code.
(x) Price Paid per Unit.
(xi) Total Price.
Note to paragraph (b)(2): The Contracting Officer may add data elements to the standard elements listed in paragraph (b)(2) of this section with the approvals listed in GSAM .
(3) The contractor must report transactional data within 30 calendar days from the last calendar day of the month. If there was no contract activity during the month, the Contractor must submit a confirmation of no reportable transactional data within 30 calendar days of the last calendar day of the month.
(4) The Contractor must report the price paid per unit, total price, or any other data elements with an associated monetary value listed in (b)(2) of this section, in U.S. dollars.
(5) The reported price paid per unit and total price must include the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF).
(6) The Contractor must maintain a consistent accounting method of transactional data reporting, based on the Contractor's established commercial accounting practice.
(7) Reporting Points.
(i) The acceptable points at which transactional data may be reported include–
(A) Issuance of an invoice; or
(B) Receipt of payment.
(ii) The Contractor must determine whether to report transactional data on the basis of invoices issued or payments received.
(8) The Contractor must continue to furnish reports, including confirmation of no transactional data, through physical completion of the last outstanding task or delivery order of the contract.
(9) Unless otherwise expressly stated by the ordering activity, orders that contain classified information or other or information that would compromise national security are exempt from this reporting requirement.
(10) This clause does not exempt the Contractor from fulfilling existing reporting requirements contained elsewhere in the contract.
(11) GSA reserves the unilateral right to change reporting instructions following 60 calendar days' advance notification to the Contractor.
(c) Industrial Funding Fee (IFF).
(1) This contract includes an IFF charged on orders placed against this contract. The IFF is paid by the authorized ordering activity but remitted to GSA by the Contractor. The IFF reimburses GSA for the costs of operating the Federal Supply Schedule program, as set forth in 40 U.S.C. 321: Acquisition Services Fund. Net operating revenues generated by the IFF are also applied to fund initiatives benefitting other authorized GSA programs, in accordance with 40 U.S.C. 321.
(2) GSA has the unilateral right to change the fee amount at any time, but not more than once per year; GSA will provide reasonable notice prior to the effective date of any change. GSA will post notice of the current IFF on the Vendor Support Center website at https://vsc.gsa.gov.
(3) Offerors must include the IFF in their prices. The fee is included in the awarded price(s) and reflected in the total amount charged to ordering activities. The fee will not be included in the price of non-contract items purchased pursuant to a separate contracting authority, such as a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC); a separately awarded Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, FAR Part 13, FAR Part 14, or FAR Part 15 procurement; or a non-FAR contract.
(4) The Contractor must remit the IFF to GSA in U.S. dollars within 30 calendar days after the last calendar day of the reporting quarter; final payment must be remitted within 30 calendar days after physical completion of the last outstanding task order or delivery order issued against the contract.
(5) GSA reserves the unilateral right to change remittance instructions following 60 calendar days’ advance notification to the Contractor.
(d) The Contractor’s failure to remit the full amount of the IFF within 30 calendar days after the end of the applicable reporting period constitutes a contract debt to the United States Government under the terms of FAR Subpart 32.6. The Government may exercise all rights under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, including withholding or offsetting payments and interest on the debt (see FAR clause 52.232-17, Interest). If the Contractor fails to submit the required transactional data reports, falsifies them, or fails to timely pay the IFF, these reasons constitute sufficient cause for the Government to terminate the contract for cause.
As prescribed in 538.273(b)(2), insert the following clause:
Price Reductions (Jul 2016)
(a) Before award of a contract, the Contracting Officer and the Offeror will agree upon (1) the customer (or category of customers) which will be the basis of award, and (2) the Government’s price or discount relationship to the identified customer (or category of customers). This relationship shall be maintained throughout the contract period. Any change in the Contractor’s commercial pricing or discount arrangement applicable to the identified customer (or category of customers) which disturbs this relationship shall constitute a price reduction.
(b) During the contract period, the Contractor shall report to the Contracting Officer all price reductions to the customer (or category of customers) that was the basis of award. The Contractor’s report shall include an explanation of the conditions under which the reductions were made.
(c)
(1) A price reduction shall apply to purchases under this contract if, after the date negotiations conclude, the Contractor—
(i) Revises the commercial catalog, pricelist, schedule or other document upon which contract award was predicated to reduce prices;
(ii) Grants more favorable discounts or terms and conditions than those contained in the commercial catalog, pricelist, schedule or other documents upon which contract award was predicated; or
(iii) Grants special discounts to the customer (or category of customers) that formed the basis of award, and the change disturbs the price/discount relationship of the Government to the customer (or category of customers) that was the basis of award.
(2) The Contractor shall offer the price reduction to the eligible ordering activity with the same effective date, and for the same time period, as extended to the commercial customer (or category of customers).
(d) There shall be no price reduction for sales—
(1) To commercial customers under firm, fixed-price definite quantity contracts with specified delivery in excess of the maximum order threshold specified in this contract;
(2) To Federal agencies;
(3) Made to Eligible Ordering Activities identified in GSAR Clause 552.238-78 when the order is placed under this contract (and the Eligible Ordering Activities identified in GSAR Clause 552.238-78 is the agreed upon customer or category of customer that is the basis of award); or
(4) Caused by an error in quotation or billing, provided adequate documentation is furnished by the Contractor to the Contracting Officer.
(e) The Contractor may offer the Contracting Officer a voluntary Governmentwide price reduction at any time during the contract period.
(f) The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of any price reduction subject to this clause as soon as possible, but not later than 15 calendar days after its effective date.
(g) The contract will be modified to reflect any price reduction which becomes applicable in accordance with this clause.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (Jul 2016). As prescribed in 538.273(b)(2)(ii), substitute the following paragraph (a) and (b) for paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the basic clause:
(a) The Government may request from the Contractor, and the Contractor may provide to the Government, a temporary or permanent price reduction at any time during the contract period.
(b) The Contractor may offer the Contracting Officer a voluntary price reduction at any time during the contract period.
552.238-77 Definition (Federal Supply Schedules)–Non-Federal Entity.
As prescribed in 538.7004(a), insert the following clause:
Definition (Federal Supply Schedules) (Jul 2016)
Ordering activity (also called “ordering agency” and “ordering office”) means an eligible ordering activity (see 552.238-78) authorized to place orders under Federal Supply Schedule contracts.
(End of clause)
552.238-78 Scope of Contract (Eligible Ordering Activities).
As prescribed in 538.7004(b), insert the following clause:
Scope of Contract (Eligible Ordering Activities) (Jul 2016)
(a) This solicitation is issued to establish contracts which may be used on a nonmandatory basis by the agencies and activities named below, as a source of supply for the supplies or services described herein, for domestic and/or overseas delivery. For Special Item Number 132-53, Wireless Services ONLY, limited geographic coverage (consistent with the Offeror's commercial practice) may be proposed.
(1) Executive agencies (as defined in FAR Subpart 2.1) including nonappropriated fund activities as prescribed in 41 CFR 101-26.000;
(2) Government contractors authorized in writing by a Federal agency pursuant to FAR 51.1;
(3) Mixed ownership Government corporations (as defined in the Government Corporation Control Act);
(4) Federal Agencies, including establishments in the legislative or judicial branch of government (except the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Architect of the Capitol and any activities under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol).
(5) The District of Columbia;
(6) Tribal governments when authorized under 25 USC 450j(k);
(7) Tribes or tribally designated housing entities pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 4111(j);
(8) Qualified Nonprofit Agencies as authorized under 40 USC 502(b); and
(9) Organizations, other than those identified in paragraph (d) of this clause, authorized by GSA pursuant to statute or regulation to use GSA as a source of supply.
(b) Definitions. Domestic delivery is delivery within the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and U.S. territories. Domestic delivery also includes a port or consolidation point, within the aforementioned areas, for orders received from overseas activities.
Overseas delivery is delivery to points outside of the 48 contiguous states, Washington, DC, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.
(c) Offerors are requested to check one of the following boxes:
__ Contractor will provide domestic and overseas delivery.
__ Contractor will provide overseas delivery only.
__ Contractor will provide domestic delivery only.
(d) The following activities may place orders against Schedule contracts:
(1) State and local government may place orders against Schedule 70 contracts, and Consolidated Schedule contracts containing information technology Special Item Numbers, and Schedule 84 contracts, on an optional basis; PROVIDED, the Contractor accepts order(s) from such activities;
(2) The American National Red Cross may place orders against Federal Supply Schedules for products and services in furtherance of the purposes set forth in its Federal charter (36 U.S.C. § 300102); PROVIDED, the Contractor accepts order(s) from the American National Red Cross; and
(3) Other qualified organizations, as defined in section 309 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5152), may place orders against Federal Supply Schedules for products and services determined to be appropriate to facilitate emergency preparedness and disaster relief and set forth in guidance by the Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; PROVIDED, the Contractor accepts order(s) from such activities.
(4) State and local governments may place orders against Federal Supply Schedules for good or services determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security to facilitate recovery from a major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121, et seq.) to facilitate disaster preparedness or response, or to facilitate recovery from terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; PROVIDED, the Contractor accepts order(s) from such activities.
(e) Articles or services may be ordered from time to time in such quantities as may be needed to fill any requirement, subject to the Order Limitations thresholds which will be specified in resultant contracts. Overseas activities may place orders directly with schedule contractors for delivery to CONUS port or consolidation point.
(f)
(1) The Contractor is obligated to accept orders received from activities within the Executive branch of the Federal Government.
(2) The Contractor is not obligated to accept orders received from activities outside the Executive branch; however, the Contractor is encouraged to accept such orders. If the Contractor elects to accept such orders, all provisions of the contract shall apply, including clause 552.232-79, Payment by Credit Card. If the Contractor is unwilling to accept such orders, and the proposed method of payment is not through the Credit Card, the Contractor shall return the order by mail or other means of delivery within 5 workdays from receipt. If the Contractor is unwilling to accept such orders, and the proposed method of payment is through the Credit Card, the Contractor must so advise the ordering activity within 24 hours of receipt of order. (Reference clause 552.232-79, Payment by Credit Card.) Failure to return an order or advise the ordering activity within the time frames of this paragraph shall constitute acceptance whereupon all provisions of the contract shall apply.
(g) The Government is obligated to purchase under each resultant contract a guaranteed minimum of $2,500 (two thousand, five hundred dollars) during the contract term.
(h) All users of GSA’s Federal Supply Schedules, including non-Federal users, shall use the schedules in accordance with the ordering guidance provided by the Administrator of General Services. GSA encourages non-Federal users to follow the Schedule Ordering Procedures set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.4, but they may use different established competitive ordering procedures if such procedures are needed to satisfy their state and local acquisition regulations and/or organizational policies.
(End of clause)
552.238-79 Use of Federal Supply Schedule Contracts by Non-Federal Entities.
As prescribed in 538.7004(c), insert the following clause:
Use of Federal Supply Schedule Contracts by Non-Federal Entities (Jul 2016)
(a) If an entity identified in paragraph (d) of the clause at 552.238-78, Scope of Contract (Eligible Ordering Activities), elects to place an order under this contract, the entity agrees that the order shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) When the Contractor accepts an order from such an entity, a separate contract is formed which incorporates by reference all the terms and conditions of the Schedule contract except the Disputes clause, the patent indemnity clause, and the portion of the Commercial Item Contract Terms and Conditions that specifies “Compliance with laws unique to Government contracts” (which applies only to contracts with entities of the Executive branch of the U.S. Government). The parties to this new contract which incorporates the terms and conditions of the Schedule contract are the individual ordering activity and the Contractor. The U.S. Government shall not be liable for the performance or nonperformance of the new contract. Disputes which cannot be resolved by the parties to the new contract may be litigated in any State or Federal court with jurisdiction over the parties, applying Federal procurement law, including statutes, regulations and case law, and, if pertinent, the Uniform Commercial Code. To the extent authorized by law, parties to this new contract are encouraged to resolve disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution. Likewise, a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), although not a contract, is an agreement that may be entered into by the Contractor with such an entity and the Federal Government is not a party.
(2) Where contract clauses refer to action by a Contracting Officer or a Contracting Officer of GSA, that shall mean the individual responsible for placing the order for the ordering activity (e.g., FAR 52.212-4 at paragraph (f) and FSS clause I-FSS-249 B.)
(3) As a condition of using this contract, eligible ordering activities agree to abide by all terms and conditions of the Schedule contract, except for those deleted clauses or portions of clauses mentioned in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause. Ordering activities may include terms and conditions required by statute, ordinance, regulation, order, or as otherwise allowed by State and local government entities as a part of a statement of work (SOW) or statement of objective (SOO) to the extent that these terms and conditions do not conflict with the terms and conditions of the Schedule contract. The ordering activity and the Contractor expressly acknowledge that, in entering into an agreement for the ordering activity to purchase goods or services from the Contractor, neither the ordering activity nor the Contractor will look to, primarily or in any secondary capacity, or file any claim against the United States or any of its agencies with respect to any failure of performance by the other party.
(4) The ordering activity is responsible for all payments due the Contractor under the contract formed by acceptance of the ordering activity’s order, without recourse to the agency of the U.S. Government, which awarded the Schedule contract.
(5) The Contractor is encouraged, but not obligated, to accept orders from such entities. The Contractor may, within 5 days of receipt of the order, decline to accept any order, for any reason. The Contractor shall fulfill orders placed by such entities, which are not declined within the 5-day period.
(6) The supplies or services purchased will be used for governmental purposes only and will not be resold for personal use. Disposal of property acquired will be in accordance with the established procedures of the ordering activity for the disposal of personal property.
(b) If the Schedule Contractor accepts an order from an entity identified in paragraph (d) of the clause at 552.238-78, Scope of Contract (Eligible Ordering Activities), the Contractor agrees to the following conditions:
(1) The ordering activity is responsible for all payments due the Contractor for the contract formed by acceptance of the order, without recourse to the agency of the U.S. Government, which awarded the Schedule contract.
(2) The Contractor is encouraged, but not obligated, to accept orders from such entities. The Contractor may, within 5 days of receipt of the order, decline to accept any order, for any reason. The Contractor shall decline the order using the same means as those used to place the order. The Contractor shall fulfill orders placed by such entities, which are not declined within the 5-day period.
(c) In accordance with clause 552.238-74, Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting, the Contractor must report the quarterly dollar value of all sales under this contract. When submitting sales reports, the Contractor must report two dollar values for each Special Item Number:
(1) The dollar value for sales to entities identified in paragraph (a) of the clause at 552.238-78, Scope of Contract (Eligible Ordering Activities), and
(2) The dollar value for sales to entities identified in paragraph (d) of clause 552.238-78.
(End of clause)
552.238-81 Modification (Federal Supply Schedule).
As prescribed in 538.273(2), insert the following clause:
Modifications (Federal Supply Schedule) (Apr 2014)
(a) General. The Contractor may request a contract modification by submitting a request to the Contracting Officer for approval, except as noted in paragraph (d) of this clause. At a minimum, every request shall describe the proposed change(s) and provide the rationale for the requested change(s).
(b) Types of Modifications.
(1) Additional items/additional SINs. When requesting additions, the following information must be submitted:
(i) Information requested in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Commercial Sales Practice Format to add SINs.
(ii) Discount information for the new items(s) or new SIN(s). Specifically, submit the information requested in paragraphs 3 through 5 of the Commercial Sales Practice Format. If this information is the same as the initial award, a statement to that effect may be submitted instead.
(iii) Information about the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted in accordance with the request for proposal.
(iv) Delivery time(s) for the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted in accordance with the request for proposal.
(v) Production point(s) for the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted if required by FAR 52.215-6, Place of Performance.
(vi) Hazardous Material information (if applicable) must be submitted as required by FAR 52.223-3 (Alternate I), Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data.
(vii) Any information requested by FAR 52.212-3(f), Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items, that may be necessary to assure compliance with FAR 52.225-1, Buy American Act--Balance of Payments Programs--Supplies.
(2) Deletions. The Contractors shall provide an explanation for the deletion. The Government reserves the right to reject any subsequent offer of the same item or a substantially equal item at a higher price during the same contract period, if the contracting officer finds the higher price to be unreasonable when compared with the deleted item.
(3) Price Reduction. The Contractor shall indicate whether the price reduction falls under the item (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (c)(1) of the Price Reductions clause at 552.238-75. If the Price reduction falls under item (i), the Contractor shall submit a copy of the dated commercial price list. If the price reduction falls under item (ii) or (iii), the Contractor shall submit a copy of the applicable price list(s), bulletins or letters or customer agreements which outline the effective date, duration, terms and conditions of the price reduction.
(c) Effective dates. The effective date of any modification is the date specified in the modification, except as otherwise provided in the Price Reductions clause at 552.238-75.
(d) Electronic File Updates. The Contractor shall update electronic file submissions to reflect all modifications. For additional items or SINs, the Contractor shall obtain the Contracting Officer's approval before transmitting changes. Contract modifications will not be made effective until the Government receives the electronic file updates. The Contractor may transmit price reductions, item deletions, and corrections without prior approval. However, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer as set forth in the Price Reductions clause at 552.238-75.
(e) Amendments to Paper Federal Supply Schedule Price Lists.
(1) The Contractor must provide supplements to its paper price lists, reflecting the most current changes. The Contractor may either:
(i) Distribute a supplemental paper Federal Supply Schedule Price List within 15 workdays after the effective date of each modification.
(ii) Distribute quarterly cumulative supplements. The period covered by a cumulative supplement is at the discretion of the Contractor, but may not exceed three calendar months from the effective date of the earliest modification. For example, if the first modification occurs in February, the quarterly supplement must cover February-April, and every three month period after. The Contractor must distribute each quarterly cumulative supplement within 15 workdays from the last day of the calendar quarter.
(2) At a minimum, the Contractor shall distribute each supplement to those ordering activities that previously received the basic document. In addition, the Contractor shall submit two copies of each supplement to the Contracting Officer and one copy to the FSS Schedule Information Center.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (Apr 2014). As prescribed in 538.273(b)(3)(i), add the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause:
(f) Electronic submission of modification requests is mandatory via eMod (http://eOffer.gsa.gov), unless otherwise stated in the electronic submission standards and requirements at the Vendor Support Center website (http://vsc.gsa.gov). If the electronic submissions standards and requirements information is updated at the Vendor Support Center website, Contractors will be notified prior to the effective date of the change.
Alternate II (Jun 2016). As prescribed in 538.273(b)(3)(ii), substitute the following paragraph (b) for paragraph (b) of the basic clause:
(b) Types of Modifications.
(1) Additional items/additional SINs. When requesting additions, the Contractor must submit the following information:
(i) Information about the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted in accordance with the instructions in the solicitation.
(ii) Delivery time(s) for the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted in accordance with the request for proposal.
(iii) Production point(s) for the new item(s) or the item(s) under the new SIN(s) must be submitted if required by FAR 52.215-6, Place of Performance.
(iv) Hazardous Material information (if applicable) must be submitted as required by FAR 52.223-3 (Alternate I), Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data.
(v) Any information requested by FAR 52.212-3(f), Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, that may be necessary to assure compliance with FAR 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Balance of Payments Programs-Supplies.
(2) Deletions. The Contractor must provide an explanation for the deletion. The Government reserves the right to reject any subsequent offer of the same item or a substantially equal item at a higher price during the same contract period, if the Contracting Officer determines that the higher price is unreasonable compared to the price of the deleted item.
552.239-70 Information Technology Security Plan and Security Authorization.
As prescribed in 539.7002(a), insert the following provision:
Information Technology Security Plan and Security Authorization (Jun 2011)
All offers/bids submitted in response to this solicitation must address the approach for completing the security plan and certification and security authorization requirements as required by the clause at 552.239-71, Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources.
(End of provision)
552.239-71 Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources.
As prescribed in 539.7002(b), insert the following clause:
Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources (Jan 2012)
(a) General. The Contractor shall be responsible for information technology (IT) security, based on General Services Administration (GSA) risk assessments, for all systems connected to a GSA network or operated by the Contractor for GSA, regardless of location. This clause is applicable to all or any part of the contract that includes information technology resources or services in which the Contractor has physical or electronic access to GSA’s information that directly supports the mission of GSA, as indicated by GSA. The term information technology, as used in this clause, means any equipment, including telecommunications equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. This includes major applications as defined by OMB Circular A-130. Examples of tasks that require security provisions include:
(1) Hosting of GSA e-Government sites or other IT operations;
(2) Acquisition, transmission, or analysis of data owned by GSA with significant replacement cost should the Contractors copy be corrupted;
(3) Access to GSA major applications at a level beyond that granted the general public; e.g., bypassing a firewall; and
(4) Any new information technology systems acquired for operations within the GSA must comply with the requirements of HSPD-12 and OMB M-11-11. Usage of the credentials must be implemented in accordance with OMB policy and NIST guidelines (e.g., NIST SP 800-116). The system must operate within the GSA’s access management environment. Exceptions must be requested in writing and can only be granted by the GSA Senior Agency Information Security Officer.
(b) IT Security Plan. The Contractor shall develop, provide, implement, and maintain an IT Security Plan. This plan shall describe the processes and procedures that will be followed to ensure appropriate security of IT resources that are developed, processed, or used under this contract. The plan shall describe those parts of the contract to which this clause applies. The Contractors IT Security Plan shall comply with applicable Federal laws that include, but are not limited to, 40 U.S.C. 11331, the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002, and the E-Government Act of 2002. The plan shall meet IT security requirements in accordance with Federal and GSA policies and procedures. GSA’s Office of the Chief Information Officer issued “CIO IT Security Procedural Guide 09–48, Security Language for Information Technology Acquisitions Efforts,” to provide IT security standards, policies and reporting requirements. This document is incorporated by reference in all solicitations and contracts or task orders where an information system is contractor owned and operated on behalf of the Federal Government. The guide can be accessed at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/25690. Specific security requirements not specified in “CIO IT Security Procedural Guide 09–48, Security Language for Information Technology Acquisitions Efforts” shall be provided by the requiring activity.
(c) Submittal of IT Security Plan. Within 30 calendar days after contract award, the Contractor shall submit the IT Security Plan to the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for acceptance. This plan shall be consistent with and further detail the approach contained in the contractors proposal or sealed bid that resulted in the award of this contract and in compliance with the requirements stated in this clause. The plan, as accepted by the Contracting Officer and COR, shall be incorporated into the contract as a compliance document. The Contractor shall comply with the accepted plan.
(d) Submittal of a Continuous Monitoring Plan. The Contractor must develop a continuous monitoring strategy that includes:
(1) A configuration management process for the information system and its constituent components;
(2) A determination of the security impact of changes to the information system and environment of operation;
(3) Ongoing security control assessments in accordance with the organizational continuous monitoring strategy;
(4) Reporting the security state of the information system to appropriate GSA officials; and
(5) All GSA general support systems and applications must implement continuous monitoring activities in accordance with this guide and NIST SP 800-37 Revision 1, Guide for Applying the Risk Management Framework to Federal Information Systems: A Security Life Cycle Approach.
(e) Security authorization. Within six (6) months after contract award, the Contractor shall submit written proof of IT security authorization for acceptance by the Contracting Officer. Such written proof may be furnished either by the Contractor or by a third party. The security authorization must be in accordance with NIST Special Publication 800-37. This security authorization will include a final security plan, risk assessment, security test and evaluation, and disaster recovery plan/continuity of operations plan. This security authorization, when accepted by the Contracting Officer, shall be incorporated into the contract as a compliance document, and shall include a final security plan, a risk assessment, security test and evaluation, and disaster recovery/continuity of operations plan. The Contractor shall comply with the accepted security authorization documentation.
(f) Annual verification. On an annual basis, the Contractor shall submit verification to the Contracting Officer that the IT Security plan remains valid.
(g) Warning notices. The Contractor shall ensure that the following banners are displayed on all GSA systems (both public and private) operated by the Contractor prior to allowing anyone access to the system:
Government Warning
**WARNING**WARNING**WARNING**
Unauthorized access is a violation of U.S. law and General Services Administration policy, and may result in criminal or administrative penalties. Users shall not access other users or system files without proper authority. Absence of access controls IS NOT authorization for access! GSA information systems and related equipment are intended for communication, transmission, processing and storage of U.S. Government information. These systems and equipment are subject to monitoring by law enforcement and authorized Department officials. Monitoring may result in the acquisition, recording, and analysis of all data being communicated, transmitted, processed or stored in this system by law enforcement and authorized Department officials. Use of this system constitutes consent to such monitoring.
**WARNING**WARNING**WARNING**
(h) Privacy Act notification. The Contractor shall ensure that the following banner is displayed on all GSA systems that contain Privacy Act information operated by the Contractor prior to allowing anyone access to the system:
This system contains information protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-579). Any privacy information displayed on the screen or printed shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Employees who violate privacy safeguards may be subject to disciplinary actions, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
(i) Privileged or limited privileges access. Contractor personnel requiring privileged access or limited privileges access to systems operated by the Contractor for GSA or interconnected to a GSA network shall adhere to the specific contract security requirements contained within this contract and/or the Contract Security Classification Specification (DD Form 254).
(j) Training. The Contractor shall ensure that its employees performing under this contract receive annual IT security training in accordance with OMB Circular A-130, FISMA, and NIST requirements, as they may be amended from time to time during the term of this contract, with a specific emphasis on the rules of behavior.
(k) GSA access. The Contractor shall afford GSA access to the Contractor’s and subcontractors’ facilities, installations, operations, documentation, databases, IT systems and devices, and personnel used in performance of the contract, regardless of the location. Access shall be provided to the extent required, in GSA’s judgment, to conduct an inspection, evaluation, investigation or audit, including vulnerability testing to safeguard against threats and hazards to the integrity, availability and confidentiality of GSA data or to the function of information technology systems operated on behalf of GSA, and to preserve evidence of computer crime. This information shall be available to GSA upon request.
(l) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall incorporate the substance of this clause in all subcontracts that meet the conditions in paragraph (a) of this clause.
(m) Notification regarding employees. The Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer when an employee either begins or terminates employment when that employee has access to GSA information systems or data. If an employee’s employment is terminated, for any reason, access to GSA’s information systems or data shall be immediately disabled and the credentials used to access the information systems or data shall be immediately confiscated.
(n) Termination. Failure on the part of the Contractor to comply with the terms of this clause may result in termination of this contract.
(End of clause)
552.241-70 Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year or Quarter.
As prescribed in 541.501, insert the clause 552.241-70, Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year or Quarter, instead of FAR 52.232-19, in all utility acquisitions.
Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year or Quarter (Sep 2010)
Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond ________. The Government’s obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond _____, until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.
(End of clause)
552.241-71 Disputes (Utility Contracts).
As prescribed in 541.501, insert clause 552.241-71, Disputes (Utility Contracts), in solicitations and contracts for utility services subject to the jurisdiction and regulation of a utility rate commission.
Disputes (Utility Contracts) (Sep 2010)
The requirements of the Disputes clause at FAR 52.233-1 are supplemented to provide that matters involving the interpretation of tariffed retail rates, tariff rate schedules, and tariffed terms provided under this contract are subject to the jurisdiction and regulation of the utility rate commission having jurisdiction.
(End of clause)
552.242-70 Status Report of Orders and Shipments.
As prescribed in 542.1107, insert the following clause:
Status Report of Orders and Shipments (Feb 2009)
(a) The Contractor shall furnish to the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) a report covering orders received and shipments made during each calendar month of contract performance. The information required by the Government shall be reported on GSA Form 1678, Status Report of Orders and Shipments, in accordance with instructions on the form. The information required by the GSA Form 1678 may also be submitted in an automated printout form if authorized by the ACO. Alternatively, the required information may be reported by electronic data interchange using ANSI standards. For further information, contact GSA, Contract Administration Division [Insert appropriate telephone number of QVOC]. Reports shall be forwarded to the ACO no later than the seventh workday of the succeeding month.
(b) A copy of GSA Form 1678 will be forwarded to the Contractor with the contract. Additional copies of the form, if needed, may be reproduced by the Contractor.
(End of clause)
552.243-71 Equitable Adjustments.
As prescribed in 543.205, insert the following clause:
Equitable Adjustments (Jan 2009)
(a) This clause governs the determination of equitable adjustments to which the Contractor may be entitled under the “Changes” clause prescribed by FAR 52.243-4, the “Differing Site Conditions” clause prescribed by FAR 52.236-2, and any other provision of this contract allowing entitlement to an equitable adjustment. This clause does not govern determination of the Contractor’s relief allowable under the “Suspension of Work” clause prescribed by FAR 52.242-14.
(b) At the written request of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall submit a proposal, in accordance with the requirements set forth herein, for an equitable adjustment to the contract for changes or other conditions that may entitle a Contractor to an equitable adjustment. If the Contractor deems an oral or written order to be a change to the contract, it shall promptly submit to the Contracting Officer a proposal for equitable adjustment attributable to such deemed change. The proposal shall also conform to the requirements set forth herein.
(c) The proposal shall be submitted within the time specified in the “Changes” clause, or such other time as may reasonably be required by the Contracting Officer. In the case of a proposal submitted based on the “Differing Site Conditions” clause, the notice requirement of that clause shall be met.
(d) Proposals for equitable adjustments, including no cost requests for adjustment of the contract’s required completion date, shall include a detailed breakdown of the following elements, as applicable:
(1) Direct Costs.
(2) Markups.
(3) Change to the time for completion specified in the contract.
(e) Direct Costs. The Contractor shall separately identify each item of deleted and added work associated with the change or other condition giving rise to entitlement to an equitable adjustment, including increases or decreases to unchanged work impacted by the change. For each item of work so identified, the Contractor shall propose for itself and, if applicable, its first two tiers of subcontractors, the following direct costs:
(1) Material cost broken down by trade, supplier, material description, quantity of material units, and unit cost (including all manufacturing burden associated with material fabrication and cost of delivery to site, unless separately itemized);
(2) Labor cost broken down by trade, employer, occupation, quantity of labor hours, and burdened hourly labor rate, together with itemization of applied labor burdens (exclusive of employer’s overhead, profit, and any labor cost burdens carried in employer’s overhead rate);
(3) Cost of equipment required to perform the work, identified with material to be placed or operation to be performed;
(4) Cost of preparation and/or revision to shop drawings and other submittals with detail set forth in paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this clause;
(5) Delivery costs, if not included in material unit costs;
(6) Time-related costs not separately identified as direct costs, and not included in the Contractor’s or subcontractors’ overhead rates, as specified in paragraph (g) of this clause; and
(7) Other direct costs.
(f) Marked-up costs of subcontractors below the second tier may be treated as other direct costs of a second tier subcontractor, unless the Contracting Officer requires a detailed breakdown under paragraph (i) of this clause.
(g) Extensions of Time and Time-related Costs. The Contractor shall propose a daily rate for each firm’s time-related costs during the affected period, and, for each firm, the increase or decrease in the number of work days of performance attributable to the change or other condition giving rise to entitlement to an equitable adjustment, with supporting analysis. Entitlement to time and time-related costs shall be determined as follows:
(1) Increases or decreases to a firm’s time-related costs shall be allowed only if such increase or decrease necessarily and exclusively results from the change or other condition giving rise to entitlement to an equitable adjustment.
(2) The Contractor shall not be entitled to an extension of time or recovery of its own time-related costs except to the extent that such change or other condition necessarily and exclusively causes its duration of performance to extend beyond the completion date specified in the contract.
(3) Costs may be characterized as time-related costs only if they are incurred solely to support performance of this contract and the increase or decrease in such costs is solely dependent upon the duration of a firm’s performance of work.
(4) Costs may not be characterized as time-related costs if they are included in the calculation of a firm’s overhead rate.
(5) Equitable adjustment of time and time-related costs shall not be allowed unless the analysis supporting the proposal complies with provisions specified elsewhere in this contract regarding the Contractor’s project schedule.
(h) Markups. For each firm whose direct costs are separately identified in the proposal, the Contractor shall propose an overhead rate, profit rate, and where applicable, a bond rate and insurance rate. Markups shall be determined and applied as follows:
(1) Overhead rates shall be negotiated, and may be subject to audit and adjustment.
(2) Profit rates shall be negotiated, but shall not exceed ten percent, unless entitlement to a higher rate of profit may be demonstrated.
(3) The Contractor and its subcontractor[s] shall not be allowed overhead or profit on the overhead or profit received by a subcontractor, except to the extent that the subcontractor’s costs are properly included in other direct costs as specified in paragraph (f) of this clause.
(4) Overhead rates shall be applied to the direct costs of work performed by a firm, and shall not be allowed on the direct costs of work performed by a subcontractor to that firm at any tier except as set forth below in paragraphs (h)(6) and (h)(7) of this clause.
(5) Profit rates shall be applied to the sum of a firm’s direct costs and the overhead allowed on the direct costs of work performed by that firm.
(6) Overhead and profit shall be allowed on the direct costs of work performed by a subcontractor within two tiers of a firm at rates equal to only fifty percent of the overhead and profit rates negotiated pursuant to paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this clause for that firm, but not in excess of ten percent when combined.
(7) Overhead and profit shall not be allowed on the direct costs of a subcontractor more than two tiers below the firm claiming overhead and profit for subcontractor direct costs.
(8) If changes to a Contractor’s or subcontractor’s bond or insurance premiums are computed as a percentage of the gross change in contract value, markups for bond and insurance shall be applied after all overhead and profit is applied. Bond and insurance rates shall not be applied if the associated costs are included in the calculation of a firm’s overhead rate.
(9) No markup shall be applied to a firm’s costs other than those specified herein.
(i) At the request of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall provide such other information as may be reasonably necessary to allow evaluation of the proposal. If the proposal includes significant costs incurred by a subcontractor below the second tier, the Contracting Officer may require the same detail for those costs as required for the first two tiers of subcontractors, and markups shall be applied to these subcontractor costs in accordance with paragraph (h).
(j) Proposal Preparation Costs. If performed by the firm claiming them, proposal preparations costs shall be included in the labor hours proposed as direct costs. If performed by an outside consultant or law firm, proposal preparation costs shall be treated as other direct costs to the firm incurring them. Requests for proposal preparation costs shall include the following:
(1) A copy of the contract or other documentation identifying the consultant or firm, the scope of the services performed, the manner in which the consultant or firm was to be compensated, and if compensation was paid on an hourly basis, the fully burdened and marked-up hourly rates for the services provided.
(2) If compensation was paid on an hourly basis, documentation of the quantity of hours worked, including descriptions of the activities for which the hours were billed, and applicable rates.
(3) Written proof of payment of the costs requested. The sufficiency of the proof shall be determined by the Contracting Officer.
(k) Proposal preparation costs shall be allowed only if—
(1) The nature and complexity of the change or other condition giving rise to entitlement to an equitable adjustment warrants estimating, scheduling, or other effort not reasonably foreseeable at the time of contract award;
(2) Proposed costs are not included in a firm’s time-related costs or overhead rate; and
(3) Proposed costs were incurred prior to a Contracting Officer’s unilateral determination of an equitable adjustment under the conditions set forth in paragraph (o), or were incurred prior to the time the request for equitable adjustment otherwise became a matter in dispute.
(l) Proposed direct costs, markups, and proposal preparation costs shall be allowable in the determination of an equitable adjustment only if they are reasonable and otherwise consistent with the contract cost principles and procedures set forth in Part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR part 31) in effect on the date of this contract. Characterization of costs as direct costs, time-related costs, or overhead costs must be consistent with the requesting firm’s accounting practices on other work under this contract and other contracts.
(m) If the Contracting Officer determines that it is in the Government’s interest that the Contractor proceed with a change before negotiation of an equitable adjustment is completed, the Contracting Officer may order the Contractor to proceed on the basis of a unilateral modification to the contract increasing or decreasing the contract price by an amount to be determined later. Such increase or decrease shall not exceed the increase or decrease proposed by the Contractor.
(n) If the parties cannot agree to an equitable adjustment, the Contracting Officer may determine the equitable adjustment unilaterally.
(o) The Contractor shall not be entitled to any proposal preparation costs incurred subsequent to the date of a unilateral determination or denial of the request if the Contracting Officer issues a unilateral determination or denial under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The Contractor fails to submit a proposal within the time required by this contract or such time as may reasonably be required by the Contracting Officer.
(2) The Contractor fails to submit additional information requested by the Contracting Officer within the time reasonably required.
(3) Agreement to an equitable adjustment cannot be reached within 60 days of submission of the Contractor’s proposal or receipt of additional requested information, despite the Contracting Officer’s diligent efforts to negotiate the equitable adjustment.
(End of clause)
