Part 541—Acquisition of Utility Services
(a) This part applies to the acquisition of utility services from regulated utilities with the exception of section 541.202-1, which covers acquisition planning for deregulated utilities.
(b) Acquisitions from deregulated suppliers for natural gas and/or electricity shall use the competitive policies and procedures as prescribed in GSAM Part 512.
As used in this part—
“Independent regulatory body” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a state-wide agency, or an agency with less than state-wide jurisdiction when operating pursuant to state authority that has the power to fix, establish, or control the rates and services of utility suppliers.
“Local regulated utility” means a utility controlled by a body that regulates a utility which is owned or operated by the same entity that created the regulatory body, e.g., a municipal utility.
“Tariff regulated utility” means a utility regulated by an independent regulatory body.
Subpart 541.2—Acquiring Utility Services
(a) GSA purchases utility services in a manner that is consistent with the regulations, rulings and franchise or service territories. Rates are established by independent regulatory bodies. These Tariff rates:
(1) Are considered “prices set by law or regulation”; and
(2) Are sufficient to set prices without obtaining cost or pricing data (see FAR 15.403-1(c) (2)).
(a) Contracting officers shall perform market research and create acquisition plans in accordance with FAR 41.202 (a), (b), and (e).
(b) Acquisition plans for utility acquisitions over the simplified acquisition threshold are required for separate contracts and orders against GSA areawide contracts; this does not apply to the basic areawide contract.
(c) In accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 501(b)(1)(B) and FAR § 41.103(a), a GSA order or contract for utility service cannot exceed a 10 year performance period.
(d) The statement of work for a utility contract must include the building number(s) and the specified period of performance.
(e) The Independent Government Cost Estimate for a utility contract must include all of the following information:
(1) A cost estimate for all individual months up to the thirteenth month;
(2) The known tariff rate increases in months beyond the 13 month; and
(3) Total estimated award amount for the entire period of performance.
(f) Federal Procurement Data System reporting for utility contact actions.
(1) The award amount in the Federal Procurement Data System must align with any independent government cost estimate. The “Action Obligation” field must cover the first year of performance, and the “Base and All Options Value” field must cover the entire period of performance.
(2) The contracting officer must update the award amount for the contract and report the actual values in FPDS to match the new anticipated award amount based on actual costs previously obligated and any changes to the estimated value for future years halfway through the period of performance whenever the period of performance is five years or greater. The update must include actual payments to date, and a revised projection for the duration of the performance period.
(3) The contracting officer must update the award amount at the end of the entire period of performance to match the actual costs.
(g) A GSA purchase card must not be used as a payment method for any utility contract unless there are unusual circumstances or emergency situations that exist. If a GSA purchase card is used, you must inform your designated GSA budget office.
(h) Utility accounts and invoices must be monitored in accordance with the GSA Utility Program Standard Operating Procedures at https://insite.gsa.gov/utilityacquisition.
541.202-1 Procedures for acquisition planning for deregulated utility supplies.
Acquisition plans are not required for delivery orders under deregulated (competitive) acquisitions for natural gas and/or electricity when all of the following criteria are met:
(a) The basic contract was entered into pursuant to a written acquisition plan.
(b) The delivery address (including the associated account number) of the order is listed in the requirements type contract.
(c) The order is issued only as a funding mechanism for the location awarded in the basic contract.
541.204 GSA areawide contracts.
The existence of a GSA areawide contract for the required service and location does not necessarily mean that the subject utility provider is the only source capable of meeting the requirement (see FAR 41.202(a) and 41.204(c)(1)). When market research and acquisition planning support ordering the entire requirement under an area-wide contract, the contracting officer may do so, but shall utilize the annual reviews required by FAR 41.401 to determine the feasibility of later entering into a competitive contract for a portion of the requirement.
541.206 Interagency agreements format.
When acquiring utility services for another agency the following format shall be used in accordance with 40 U.S.C. 501 (b) which clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of the servicing and requesting agencies. (See http://www.gsa.gov/energy_library).
541.401 Monthly and annual review.
(a) Monthly reviews. As an alternative to the requirements outlined in FAR 41.401, which requires monthly reviews of all invoices with annual values exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the Comptroller General decision, B-227682.2, August 16, 1989, 68 Comp. Gen. 618 (GAO) authorized GSA to use an alternative methodology to meet this requirement. The GAO decision allows for the use of statistical sampling techniques to pay and audit utility invoices. Specifically, the GAO decision requires analysis and review of any problems discovered through 3% random sampling, 15% out-of-tolerance reports and historical data of utility invoices. Contract files shall include documentation of any corrective actions taken.
(b) Annual reviews. In addition to the requirements of FAR 41.401, the Public Buildings Service (PBS) will provide further guidance for conducting annual reviews.
Subpart 541.5—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses
541.501 Solicitation provision and contract clauses.
In addition to the solicitation terms, provisions and contract clauses at FAR 41.501(c), the contracting officer shall include the following clauses—
(a) 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; and
(b) 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.
