Payne Hackenbracht & Sullivan

(i) Promote full and open competition (see Part 6), or maximum practicable competition when using simplified acquisition procedures, with due regard to the nature of the supplies or services to be acquired; and

(ii) Only include restrictive provisions or conditions to the extent necessary to satisfy the needs of the agency or as authorized by law.

(2) To the maximum extent practicable, ensure that acquisition officials --

(i) State requirements with respect to an acquisition of supplies or services in terms of --

(A) Functions to be performed;

(B) Performance required; or

(ii) Define requirements in terms that enable and encourage offerors to supply commercial items, or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency’s needs are not available, nondevelopmental items, in response to the agency solicitations;

(iii) Provide offerors of commercial items and nondevelopmental items an opportunity to compete in any acquisition to fill such requirements;

(iv) Require prime contractors and subcontractors at all tiers under the agency contracts to incorporate commercial items or nondevelopmental items as components of items supplied to the agency; and

(v) Modify requirements in appropriate cases to ensure that the requirements can be met by commercial items or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency’s needs are not available, nondevelopmental items.

(b) The Metric Conversion Act of 1975, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C.205a, et. seq.), designates the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce, and it requires that each agency use the metric system of measurement in its acquisitions, except to the extent that such use is impracticable or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to United States firms. Requiring activities are responsible for establishing guidance implementing this policy in formulating their requirements for acquisitions.

(c) To the extent practicable and consistent with Subpart 9.5, potential offerors should be given an opportunity to comment on agency requirements or to recommend application and tailoring of requirements documents and alternative approaches. Requiring agencies should apply specifications, standards, and related documents initially for guidance only, making final decisions on the application and tailoring of these documents as a product of the design and development process. Requiring agencies should not dictate detailed design solutions prematurely (see 7.101 and 7.105(a)(8)).

(1) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6901, et seq.), Executive Order 13101 of September 14, 1998, Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, Executive Order 13123 of June 3, 1999, Greening the Government through Efficient Energy Management, and Executive Order 13221 of July 31, 2001, Energy-Efficient Standby Power Devices, establish requirements for acquiring—

(i) Products containing recovered materials;

(ii) Environmentally preferable products and services;

(iii) Energy-efficient products and services; and

(iv) Products and services that utilize renewable energy technologies; and

(v) Products containing energy-efficient standby power devices.

(2) Executive agencies shall consider use of recovered materials, energy- and water-efficient products and services, products containing energy-efficient standby power devices, environmentally preferable purchasing criteria developed by the EPA, and environmental objectives (see Subparts 23.2 and 23.4 and 23.703(b)) when—

(i) Developing, reviewing, or revising Federal and military specifications, product descriptions (including commercial item descriptions), and standards;

(ii) Describing Government requirements for supplies and services; and

(iii) Developing source-selection factors.

(e) Some or all of the performance levels or performance specifications in a solicitation may be identified as targets rather than as fixed or minimum requirements.

(f) In accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), requiring activities must prepare requirements documents for electronic and information technology that comply with the applicable accessibility standards issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board at 36 CFR part 1194 (see Subpart 39.2).

(g) Agencies shall not include in a solicitation a requirement that prohibits an offeror from permitting its employees to telecommute unless the contracting officer executes a written determination in accordance with FAR 7.108(a).

Subpart 11.1 -- Selecting and Developing Requirements Documents

11.101 -- Order of Precedence for Requirements Documents.

(a) Agencies may select from existing requirements documents, modify or combine existing requirements documents, or create new requirements documents to meet agency needs, consistent with the following order of precedence:

(1) Documents mandated for use by law.

(2) Performance-oriented documents.

(3) Detailed design-oriented documents.

(4) Standards, specifications and related publications issued by the Government outside the Defense or Federal series for the non-repetitive acquisition of items.

(b) Agencies shall prepare requirements documents to achieve maximum practicable—

(1) Energy efficiency, including using products containing energy-efficient standby power devices and renewable energy technologies; and

(2) Use of recovered material, other materials that are environmentally preferable, energy-and water-efficient products, and renewable energy technologies (see Subparts 23.2, 23.4, and 23.7).

(c) In accordance with OMB Circular A-119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities,” agencies must use voluntary consensus standards, when they exist, in lieu of Government-unique standards, except where inconsistent with law or otherwise impractical. The private sector manages and administers voluntary consensus standards. Such standards are not mandated by law (e.g., industry standards such as ISO 9000).

11.102 -- Standardization Program.

Agencies shall select existing requirements documents or develop new requirements documents that meet the needs of the agency in accordance with the guidance contained in the Federal Standardization Manual, FSPM-0001 and, for DoD components, DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program Policies and Procedures. The Federal Standardization Manual may be obtained from General Services Administration (see address in 11.201(d)(1)). DoD 4120.24-M may be obtained from DoD (see address in 11.201(d)(2)).

11.103 -- Market Acceptance.

(a) Section 8002(c) of Pub.L.103-355 provides that, in accordance with agency procedures, the head of an agency may, under appropriate circumstances, require offerors to demonstrate that the items offered --

(1) Have either --

(i) Achieved commercial market acceptance; or

(ii) Been satisfactorily supplied to an agency under current or recent contracts for the same or similar requirements; and

(2) Otherwise meet the item description, specifications, or other criteria prescribed in the public notice and solicitation.

(b) Appropriate circumstances may, for example, include situations where the agency’s minimum need is for an item that has a demonstrated reliability, performance or product support record in a specified environment. Use of market acceptance is inappropriate when new or evolving items may meet the agency’s needs.

(c) In developing criteria for demonstrating that an item has achieved commercial market acceptance, the contracting officer shall ensure the criteria in the solicitation --

(1) Reflect the minimum need of the agency and are reasonably related to the demonstration of an item’s acceptability to meet the agency’s minimum need;

(2) Relate to an item’s performance and intended use, not an offeror’s capability;

(3) Are supported by market research;

(4) Include consideration of items supplied satisfactorily under recent or current Government contracts, for the same or similar items; and

(5) Consider the entire relevant commercial market, including small business concerns.

(d) Commercial market acceptance shall not be used as a sole criterion to evaluate whether an item meets the Government’s requirements.

(e) When commercial market acceptance is used, the contracting officer shall document the file to --

(1) Describe the circumstances justifying the use of commercial market acceptance criteria; and

(2) Support the specific criteria being used.

11.104 –User of Brand Name or Equal Purchase Descriptions.

(a) While the use of performance specifications is preferred to encourage offerors to propose innovative solutions, the use of brand name or equal purchase descriptions may be advantageous under certain circumstances.

(b) Brand name or equal purchase descriptions must include, in addition to the brand name, a general description of those salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics of the brand name item that an “equal” item must meet to be acceptable for award. Use brand name or equal descriptions when the salient characteristics are firm requirements.

11.105 -- Items Peculiar to One Manufacturer.

Agency requirements shall not be written so as to require a particular brand-name, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company, unless --

(a) The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or can not be modified to meet, the agency’s needs;

(b) The authority to contract without providing for full and open competition is supported by the required justifications and approvals (see 6.302-1); and

(c) The basis for not providing for maximum practicable competition is documented in the file when the acquisition is awarded using simplified acquisition procedures.

11.106 -- Purchase Descriptions for Service Contracts.

In drafting purchase descriptions for service contracts, agency requiring activities shall ensure that inherently governmental functions (see Subpart 7.5) are not assigned to a contractor. These purchase descriptions shall --

(a) Reserve final determination for Government officials;

(b) Require proper identification of contractor personnel who attend meetings, answer Government telephones, or work in situations where their actions could be construed as acts of Government officials unless, in the judgment of the agency, no harm can come from failing to identify themselves; and

11.107 – Solicitation Provision.

(a) Insert the provision at 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal, when brand name or equal purchase descriptions are included in a solicitation.

(b) Insert the provision at 52.211-7, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards, in solicitations that use Government-unique standards when the agency uses the transaction-based reporting method to report its use of voluntary consensus standards to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (see OMB Circular A-119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities”). Use of the provision is optional for agencies that report their use of voluntary consensus standards to the National Institute of Standards and Technology using the categorical reporting method. Agencies that manage their specifications on a contract-by-contract basis use the transaction-based method of reporting. Agencies that manage their specifications centrally use the categorical method of reporting. Agency regulations regarding specification management describe which method is used.

Subpart 11.2 -- Using and Maintaining Requirements Documents

11.201 -- Identification and Availability of Specifications.

(a) Solicitations citing requirements documents listed in the General Services Administration (GSA) Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DoDISS), or other agency index shall identify each document’s approval date and the dates of any applicable amendments and revisions. Do not use general identification references, such as “the issue in effect on the date of the solicitation.” Contracting offices will not normally furnish these cited documents with the solicitation, except when --

(1) The requirements document must be furnished with the solicitation to enable prospective contractors to make a competent evaluation of the solicitation;

(2) In the judgment of the contracting officer, it would be impracticable for prospective contractors to obtain the documents in reasonable time to respond to the solicitation; or

(3) A prospective contractor requests a copy of a Government promulgated requirements document.

(b) Contracting offices shall clearly identify in the solicitation any pertinent documents not listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions or DoDISS. Such documents shall be furnished with the solicitation or specific instructions shall be furnished for obtaining or examining such documents.

(1) Be restricted to documents, or appropriate portions of documents, that apply in the acquisition;

(2) Cite the extent of their applicability;

(3) Not conflict with other documents and provisions of the solicitation; and

(4) Identify all applicable first tier references.

(1) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, may be purchased from the --
General Services Administration
Federal Supply Service
Specifications Section
Suite 8100
470 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20407
Telephone (202) 619-8925.

(2) The DoDISS may be obtained from the –

(i) ASSIST database via the Internet at http://assist.daps.dla.mil; or

(ii) Department of Defense Single Stock Point

(DoDSSP)
Building 4, Section D
700 Robbins Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094
Telephone (215) 697-2667/2179

Facsimile (215) 697-1462.

(e) Agencies may purchase some nongovernment standards, including voluntary consensus standards, from the National Technical Information Service’s Fedworld Information Network. Agencies may also obtain nongovernment standards from the standards developing organization responsible for the preparation, publication, or maintenance of the standard, or from an authorized document reseller. The national Institute of Standards and Technology can assist agencies in identifying sources for, and content of, nongovernmnent standards. DoD activities may obtain from the DoDSSP those nongovernment standards, including voluntary consensus standards, adopted for use by defense activities.

11.202 -- Maintenance of Standardization Documents.

(a) Recommendations for changes to standardization documents listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions should be submitted to the --

General Services Administration
Federal Supply Service
Office of Acquisition
Washington, DC 20406.

Agencies shall submit recommendations for changes to standardization documents listed in the DoDISS to the cognizant preparing activity.

(b) When an agency cites an existing standardization document but modifies it to meet its needs, the agency shall follow the guidance in Federal Standardization Manual and, for Defense components, DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program Policies and Procedures.

11.203 -- Customer Satisfaction.

Acquisition organizations shall communicate with customers to determine how well the requirements document reflects the customer’s needs and to obtain suggestions for corrective actions. Whenever practicable, the agency may provide affected industry an opportunity to comment on the requirements documents.

11.204 -- Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses.

(a) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-1, Availability of Specifications Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, in solicitations that cite specifications listed in the Index that are not furnished with the solicitation.

(b) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-2, Availability of Specifications Listed in the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DoDISS), and Descriptions Listed in the Acquisition Management Systems and Data Requirements Control List, DoD 5010.12-L, in solicitations that cite specifications listed in the DoDISS or DoD 5010.12-L that are not furnished with the solicitation.

(c) The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.211-3, Availability of Specifications Not Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, in solicitations that cite specifications that are not listed in the Index and are not furnished with the solicitation, but may be obtained from a designated source.

(d) The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.211-4, Availability for Examination of Specifications Not Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, in solicitations that cite specifications that are not listed in the Index and are available for examination at a specified location.

Subpart 11.3 -- Acceptable Material.

11.301 – Definitions.

As used in this subpart—

“Postconsumer 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. Postconsumer material is a part of the broader category of “recovered material.” For paper and paper products, postconsumer material means “postconsumer fiber” defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as—

(1) Paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after they have passed through their end-usage as a consumer item, including: used corrugated boxes; old newspapers; old magazines; mixed waste paper; tabulating cards; and used cordage; or

(2) All paper, paperboard, and fibrous materials that enter and are collected from municipal solid waste; but not

(3) Fiber derived from printers’ over-runs, converters’ scrap, and over-issue publications.

“Recovered material” for paper and paper products, is defined by EPA in its Comprehensive Procurement Guideline as “recovered fiber” and means the following materials:

(1) Postconsumer fiber.

(2) Manufacturing wastes such as—

(i) Dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets) including; envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming, and other converting operations; bag, box, and carton manufacturing wastes; and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

(ii) Repulped finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters, or others.

11.302 -- Policy.

(a) Agencies must not require virgin material or supplies composed of or manufactured using virgin material unless compelled by law or regulation or unless virgin material is vital for safety or meeting performance requirements of the contract.

(b)

(1) When acquiring other than commercial items, agencies must require offerors to identify used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies, or unused former Government surplus property, proposed for use under the contract. Such supplies or property may not be used in contract performance unless authorized by the contracting officer.

(2) When acquiring commercial items, the contracting officer must consider the customary practices in the industry for the item being acquired. The contracting officer may require offerors to provide information on used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies, or unused former Government surplus property, proposed for use under the contract. The request for such information must be included in the solicitation, and to the maximum extent practicable must be limited to information or standards consistent with normal commercial practices.

(c) When the contracting officer needs additional information to determine whether supplies meet minimum recovered material standards stated in the solicitation, the contracting officer may require offerors to submit additional information on the recycled content or related standards. The request for the information must be included in the solicitation. When acquiring commercial items, limit the information to the maximum extent practicable to that available under normal commercial practices.

11.303 – Special Requirements for Printing and Writing Paper.

(a) Section 505 of Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, establishes minimum recovered material content standards for agency purchases of printing and writing paper. Section 505 requires that 100 percent of an agency’s purchases of printing and writing paper must meet or exceed one of the minimum content standards specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) For high-speed copier paper, offset paper, forms bond, computer printout paper, carbonless paper, file folders, white wove envelopes, writing and office paper, book paper, cotton fiber paper, and cover stock, the minimum content standard must be no less than 30 percent postconsumer material. If paper containing 30 percent postconsumer material is not reasonably available, does not meet reasonable performance requirements, or is only available at an unreasonable price, then the agency must purchase paper containing no less than 20 percent postconsumer material.

11.304 – Contract Clause.

Insert the clause at 52.211-5, Material Requirements, in solicitations and contracts for supplies that are not commercial items.

Subpart 11.4 -- Delivery or Performance Schedules

11.401 -- General.

(a) The time of delivery or performance is an essential contract element and shall be clearly stated in solicitations. Contracting officers shall ensure that delivery or performance schedules are realistic and meet the requirements of the acquisition. Schedules that are unnecessarily short or difficult to attain --

(1) Tend to restrict competition,

(2) Are inconsistent with small business policies, and

(3) May result in higher contract prices.

(b) Solicitations shall, except when clearly unnecessary, inform bidders or offerors of the basis on which their bids or proposals will be evaluated with respect to time of delivery or performance.

(c) If timely delivery or performance is unusually important to the Government, liquidated damages clauses may be used (see Subpart 11.5).

11.402 -- Factors to Consider in Establishing Schedules.

(a) Supplies or services. When establishing a contract delivery or performance schedule, consideration shall be given to applicable factors such as the --

(1) Urgency of need;

(2) Industry practices;

(3) Market conditions;

(4) Transportation time;

(5) Production time;

(6) Capabilities of small business concerns;

(7) Administrative time for obtaining and evaluating offers and for awarding contracts;

(8) Time for contractors to comply with any conditions precedent to contract performance; and

(9) Time for the Government to perform its obligations under the contract; e.g., furnishing Government property.

(b) Construction. When scheduling the time for completion of a construction contract, the contracting officer shall consider applicable factors such as the --

(1) Nature and complexity of the project;

(2) Construction seasons involved;

(3) Required completion date;

(4) Availability of materials and equipment;

(5) Capacity of the contractor to perform; and

(6) Use of multiple completion dates. (In any given contract, separate completion dates may be established for separable items of work. When multiple completion dates are used, requests for extension of time must be evaluated with respect to each item, and the affected completion dates modified when appropriate.)

11.403 -- Supplies or Services.

(a) The contracting officer may express contract delivery or performance schedules in terms of--

(1) Specific calendar dates;

(2) Specific periods from the date of the contract; i.e., from the date of award or acceptance by the Government, or from the date shown as the effective date of the contract;

(3) Specific periods from the date of receipt by the contractor of the notice of award or acceptance by the Government (including notice by receipt of contract document executed by the Government); or

(4) Specific time for delivery after receipt by the contractor of each individual order issued under the contract, as in indefinite delivery type contracts and GSA schedules.

(b) The time specified for contract performance should not be curtailed to the prejudice of the contractor because of delay by the Government in giving notice of award.

(c) If the delivery schedule is based on the date of the contract, the contracting officer shall mail or otherwise furnish to the contractor the contract, notice of award, acceptance of proposal, or other contract document not later than the date of the contract.

(d) If the delivery schedule is based on the date the contractor receives the notice of award, or if the delivery schedule is expressed in terms of specific calendar dates on the assumption that the notice of award will be received by a specified date, the contracting officer shall send the contract, notice of award, acceptance of proposal, or other contract document by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method that will provide evidence of the date of receipt.

(e) In invitations for bids, if the delivery schedule is based on the date of the contract, and a bid offers delivery based on the date the contractor receives the contract or notice of award, the contracting officer shall evaluate the bid by adding 5 calendar days (as representing the normal time for arrival through ordinary mail). If the contract or notice of award will be transmitted electronically,

(1) the solicitation shall so state; and

(2) the contracting officer shall evaluate delivery schedule based on the date of contract receipt or notice of award, by adding one working day. (The term “working day” excludes weekends and U.S. Federal holidays.) If the offered delivery date computed with mailing or transmittal time is later than the delivery date required by the invitation for bids, the bid shall be considered nonresponsive and rejected. If award is made, the delivery date will be the number of days offered in the bid after the contractor actually receives the notice of award.

11.404 -- Contract Clauses.

(a) Supplies or services.

(1) The contracting officer may use a time of delivery clause to set forth a required delivery schedule and to allow an offeror to propose an alternative delivery schedule. The clauses and their alternates may be used in solicitations and contracts for other than construction and architect-engineering substantially as shown, or they may be changed or new clauses written.

(2) The contracting officer may insert in solicitations and contracts other than those for construction and architect-engineering, a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.211-8, Time of Delivery, if the Government requires delivery by a particular time and the delivery schedule is to be based on the date of the contract. If the delivery schedule is expressed in terms of specific calendar dates or specific periods and is based on an assumed date of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I. If the delivery schedule is expressed in terms of specific calendar dates or specific periods and is based on an assumed date the contractor will receive notice of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate II. If the delivery schedule is to be based on the actual date the contractor receives a written notice of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate III.

(3) The contracting officer may insert in solicitations and contracts other than those for construction and architect-engineering, a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.211-9, Desired and Required Time of Delivery, if the Government desires delivery by a certain time but requires delivery by a specified later time, and the delivery schedule is to be based on the date of the contract. If the delivery schedule is expressed in terms of specific calendar dates or specific periods and is based on an assumed date of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I. If the delivery schedule is expressed in terms of specific calendar dates or specific periods and is based on an assumed date the contractor will receive notice of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate II. If the delivery schedule is to be based on the actual date the contractor receives a written notice of award, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate III.

(b) Construction. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.211-10, Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated. The clause may be changed to accommodate the issuance of orders under indefinite-delivery contracts. If the completion date is expressed as a specific calendar date, computed on the basis of the contractor receiving the notice to proceed by a certain day, the contracting officer may use the clause with its Alternate I.

Subpart 11.5 -- Liquidated Damages

11.500 – Scope.

This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for using liquidated damages clauses in solicitations and contracts for supplies, services, research and development, and construction. This subpart does not apply to liquidated damages for subcontracting plans (see 19.705-7) or liquidated damages related to the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (see Subpart 22.3).

11.501 -- Policy.

(a) The contracting officer must consider the potential impact on pricing, competition, and contract administration before using a liquidated damages clause. Use liquidated damages clauses only when--

(1) The time of delivery or timely performance is so important that the Government may reasonably expect to suffer damage if the delivery or performance is delinquent, and

(2) The extent or amount of such damage would be difficult or impossible to estimate accurately or prove.

(b) Liquidated damages are not punitive and are not negative performance incentives (see 16.402-2). Liquidated damages are used to compensate the Government for probable damages. Therefore, the liquidated damages rate must be a reasonable forecast of just compensation for the harm that is caused by late delivery or untimely performance of the particular contract. Use a maximum amount or a maximum period for assessing liquidated damages if these limits reflect the maximum probable damage to the Government. Also, the contracting officer may use more than one liquidated damages rate when the contracting officer expects the probable damage to the Government to change over the contract period of performance.

(c) The contracting officer must take all reasonable steps to mitigate liquidated damages. If the contract contains a liquidated damages clause and the contracting officer is considering terminating the contract for default, the contracting officer should seek expeditiously to obtain performance by the contractor or terminate the contract and repurchase (see Subpart 49.4). Prompt contracting officer action will prevent excessive loss to defaulting contractors and protect the interests of the Government.

(d) The head of the agency may reduce or waive the amount of liquidated damages assessed under a contract, if the Commissioner, Financial Management Service, or designee approves (see Treasury Order 145-10).

11.502 -- Procedures.

(a) Include the applicable liquidated damages clause and liquidated damages rates in solicitations when the contract will contain liquidated damages provisions.

(b) Construction contracts with liquidated damages provisions must describe the rate(s) of liquidated damages assessed per day of delay. The rate(s) should include the estimated daily cost of Government inspection and superintendence. The rate(s) should also include an amount for other expected expenses associated with delayed completion such as--

(1) Renting substitute property; or

(2) Paying additional allowance for living quarters.

11.503 -- Contract Clauses.

(a) Use the clause at 52.211-11, Liquidated Damages -- Supplies, Services, or Research and Development, in fixed-price solicitations and contracts for supplies, services, or research and development when the contracting officer determines that liquidated damages are appropriate (see 11.501(a)).

(b) Use the clause at 52.211-12, Liquidated Damages -- Construction, in solicitations and contracts for construction, other than cost-plus-fixed-fee, when the contracting officer determines that liquidated damages are appropriates (see 11.501(a)). If the contract specifies more than one completion date for separate parts or stages of the work, revise paragraph (a) of the clause to state the amount of liquidated damages for delay of each separate part or stage of the work.

(c) Use the clause at 52.211-13, Time Extensions, in solicitations and contracts for construction that use the clause at 52.211-12, Liquidated Damages -- Construction, when that clause has been revised as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

Subpart 11.6 -- Priorities and Allocations

11.600 -- Scope of Subpart.

This subpart implements the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), a Department of Commerce (DOC) regulation in support of authorized national defense programs (see 15 CFR 700).

11.601 -- Definitions.

As used in this subpart--

“Authorized program” means a program approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for priorities and allocations support under the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. app. 2061, et. seq.), to promote the national defense. Schedule I of the DPAS lists currently authorized programs.

“Controlled materials” means the various shapes and forms of steel, copper, aluminum, and nickel alloys specified in Schedule II, and defined in Schedule III, of the DPAS.

“Delegate Agency” means an agency of the U.S. Government authorized by delegation from DOC to place priority ratings on contracts that support authorized programs. Schedule I of the DPAS lists the Delegate Agencies.

“Rated order” means a prime contract for any product, service, or material (including controlled materials) placed by a Delegate Agency under the provisions of the DPAS in support of an authorized program and which require preferential treatment, and includes subcontracts and purchase orders resulting under such contracts.

11.602 -- General.

(a) Under Title I of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. app. 2061, et. seq.), the President is authorized

(1) To require that contracts in support of the national defense be accepted and performed on a preferential or priority basis over all other contracts, and

(2) To allocate materials and facilities in such a manner as to promote the national defense.

(b) The Office of Industrial Resource Administration (OIRA), DOC, is responsible for administering and enforcing a system of priorities and allocations to carry out Title I of the Defense Production Act for industrial items. The DPAS has been established to promote the timely availability of the necessary industrial resources to meet current national defense requirements and to provide a framework to facilitate rapid industrial mobilization in case of national emergency.

(c) The Delegate Agencies (see Schedule I of the DPAS) have been given authority by DOC to place rated orders in support of authorized programs. Other government agencies, Canada, and other friendly foreign nations may apply for special rating authority in support of authorized programs (see 15 CFR 700.55).

(d) Rated orders shall be placed in accordance with the procedures in the DPAS. Contracting officers responsible for acquisitions in support of authorized programs shall be familiar with the DPAS and should provide guidance on the DPAS to contractors and suppliers receiving rated orders. Agency heads shall ensure compliance with the DPAS by contracting activities within their agencies.

(e) Under the Defense Production Act, any willful violation of the Act, the DPAS, or any official action taken by DOC under the DPAS, is a crime punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000, one year in prison, or both (see 15 CFR 700.70 and 15 CFR 700.74).

11.603 -- Procedures.

(a) There are two levels of priority for rated orders established by the DPAS, identified by the rating symbols “DO” and “DX.” All DO rated orders have equal priority with each other and take preference over unrated orders. All DX rated orders have equal priority with each other and take preference over DO rated and unrated orders. DX ratings are used for special defense programs designated by the President to be of the highest national priority.

(b) DOC may issue a Directive to compel a contractor or supplier to accept a rated order, to rearrange production or delivery schedules, or to improve shipments against particular rated orders. Directives issued by DOC take precedence over all rated and unrated orders as stated in the Directive.

(c) In addition to any other contractual requirements, a valid rated order must contain (see 15 CFR 700.12) the following:

(1) A priority rating consisting of the appropriate DO or DX rating symbol and a program or identification symbol to indicate the authorized program (see Schedule I of the DPAS).

(2) A required delivery date or delivery dates.

(3) The signature of an individual authorized by the agency to sign rated orders.

(d) The DPAS has the following three basic elements which are essential to the operation of the system:

(1) Mandatory acceptance of rated orders. A rated order shall be accepted by a contractor or supplier unless rejected for the reasons provided for mandatory rejection in 15 CFR 700.13(b), or for optional rejection in 15 CFR 700.13(c).

(2) Mandatory extension of priority ratings throughout the acquisition chain. Contractors and suppliers receiving rated orders shall extend priority ratings to subcontractors or vendors when acquiring items to fill the rated orders (see 15 CFR 700.15).

(3) Priority scheduling of production and delivery. Contractors and suppliers receiving rated orders shall give the rated orders priority over other contracts as needed to meet delivery requirements (see 15 CFR 700.14).

(e) Agencies shall provide contracting activities with specific guidance on the issuance of rated orders in support of agency programs.

(f) Contracting officers shall follow agency procedural instructions concerning the use of rated orders in support of agency programs.

(g) Contracting officers, contractors, or subcontractors at any tier, that experience difficulty placing rated orders, obtaining timely delivery under rated orders, locating a contractor or supplier to fill a rated order, ensuring that rated orders receive preferential treatment by contractors or suppliers, or require rating authority for items not automatically ratable under the DPAS, should promptly seek special priorities assistance in accordance with agency procedures (see 15 CFR 700.50-55).

(h) Contracting officers shall report promptly any violations of the DPAS to DOC in accordance with agency procedures.

11.604 -- Solicitation Provision and Contract Clause.

(a) Contracting officers shall insert the provision at 52.211-14, Notice of Priority Rating for National Defense Use, in solicitations when the contract to be awarded will be a rated order.

(b) Contracting officers shall insert the clause at 52.211-15, Defense Priority and Allocation Requirements, in contracts that are rated orders.

Subpart 11.7 -- Variation in Quantity

11.701 -- Supply Contracts.

(a) A fixed-price supply contract may authorize Government acceptance of a variation in the quantity of items called for if the variation is caused by conditions of loading, shipping, or packing, or by allowances in manufacturing processes. Any permissible variation shall be stated as a percentage and it may be an increase, a decrease, or a combination of both; however, contracts for subsistence items may use other applicable terms of variation in quantity.

(b) There should be no standard or usual variation percentage. The overrun or underrun permitted in each contract should be based upon the normal commercial practices of a particular industry for a particular item, and the permitted percentage should be no larger than is necessary to afford a contractor reasonable protection. The permissible variation shall not exceed plus or minus 10 percent unless a different limitation is established in agency regulations. Consideration shall be given to the quantity to which the percentage variation applies. For example, when delivery will be made to multiple destinations and it is desired that the quantity variation apply to the item quantity for each destination, this requirement must be stated in the contract.

(c) Contractors are responsible for delivery of the specified quantity of items in a fixed-price contract, within allowable variations, if any. If a contractor delivers a quantity of items in excess of the contract requirements plus any allowable variation in quantity, particularly small dollar value overshipments, it results in unnecessary administrative costs to the Government in determining disposition of the excess quantity. Accordingly, the contract may include the clause at 52.211-17, Delivery of Excess Quantities, to provide that --

(1) Excess quantities of items totaling up to $250 in value may be retained without compensating the contractor; and

(2) Excess quantities of items totaling over $250 in value may, at the Government’s option, be either returned at the contractor’s expense or retained and paid for at the contract unit price.

11.702 -- Construction Contracts.

Construction contracts may authorize a variation in estimated quantities of unit-priced items. When the variation between the estimated quantity and the actual quantity of a unit-priced item is more than plus or minus 15 percent, an equitable adjustment in the contract price shall be made upon the demand of either the Government or the contractor. The contractor may request an extension of time if the quantity variation is such as to cause an increase in the time necessary for completion. The contracting officer must receive the request in writing within 10 days from the beginning of the period of delay. However, the contracting officer may extend this time limit before the date of final settlement of the contract. The contracting officer shall ascertain the facts and make any adjustment for extending the completion date that the findings justify.

11.703 -- Contract Clauses.

(a) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.211-16, Variation in Quantity, in solicitations and contracts, if authorizing a variation in quantity in fixed-price contracts for supplies or for services that involve the furnishing of supplies.

(b) The contracting officer may insert the clause at 52.211-17, Delivery of Excess Quantities, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price supply contract is contemplated.

(c) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.211-18, Variation in Estimated Quantity, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated that authorizes a variation in the estimated quantity of unit-priced items.

Subpart 11.8 -- Testing

11.801 -- Preaward In-Use Evaluation.

Supplies may be evaluated under comparable in-use conditions without a further test plan, provided offerors are so advised in the solicitation. The results of such tests or demonstrations may be used to rate the proposal, to determine technical acceptability, or otherwise to evaluate the proposal (see 15.305).