Title 48—Federal Acquisition Regulations System--Volume 1
PART 1552—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
1552.235-76   Treatment of Confidential Business Information (APR 1996).
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(c), insert the following clause:
(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose confidential business information (CBI) to the Contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor agrees to use the CBI only under the following conditions:
(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall (i) use the CBI only for the purposes of carrying out the work required by the contract; (ii) not disclose the information to anyone other than properly cleared EPA employees without the prior written approval of the Assistant General Counsel for Information Law or his/her designee; and (iii) return the CBI to the PO or his/her designee, whenever the information is no longer required by the Contractor for performance of the work required by the contract, or upon completion of the contract.
(2) The Contractor shall obtain a written agreement to honor the above limitations from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access.
(3) The Contractor agrees that these contract conditions concerning the use and disclosure of CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected businesses having a proprietary interest in the information.
(4) The Contractor shall not use any CBI supplied by EPA or obtained during performance hereunder to compete with any business to which the CBI relates.
(b) The Contractor agrees to obtain the written consent of the CO, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, prior to entering into any subcontract that will involve the disclosure of CBI by the Contractor to the subcontractor. The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (b), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.
1552.235-77   Data Security for Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Confidential Business Information (DEC 1997).
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(d), insert the following clause:
The Contractor shall handle Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) confidential business information (CBI) in accordance with the contract clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” and “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality,” the provisions set forth below, and the Contractor's approved detailed security plan.
(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose FIFRA CBI to the contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall protect all FIFRA CBI to which it has access (including CBI used in its computer operations) in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the FIFRA Information Security Manual. The manual may be obtained from the Project Officer (PO) or the Chief, Information Services Branch (ISB), Program Management and Support Division, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) (H7502C), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
(2) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the Contractor's security plan(s) approved by EPA.
(3) Prior to receipt of FIFRA CBI by the Contractor, the Contractor shall ensure that all employees who will be cleared for access to FIFRA CBI have been briefed on the handling, control, and security requirements set forth in the FIFRA Information Security Manual.
(4) The Contractor Document Control Officer (DCO) shall obtain a signed copy of the FIFRA “Contractor Employee Confidentiality Agreement” from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access.
(b) The Contractor agrees that these requirements concerning protection of FIFRA CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected business having a proprietary interest in the information.
(c) The Contractor understands that CBI obtained by EPA under FIFRA may not be disclosed except as authorized by the Act, and that any unauthorized disclosure by the Contractor or the Contractor's employees may subject the Contractor and the Contractor's employees to the criminal penalties specified in FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136h(f)). For purposes of this contract, the only disclosures that EPA authorizes the Contractor to make are those set forth in the clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”
(d) The Contractor agrees to include the provisions of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.
(e) At the request of EPA or at the end of the contract, the Contractor shall return to the EPA PO or his/her designee all documents, logs, and magnetic media which contain FIFRA CBI. In addition, each Contractor employee who has received FIFRA CBI clearance will sign a “Confidentiality Agreement for Contractor Employees Upon Relinquishing FIFRA CBI Access Authority.” The Contractor DCO will also forward those agreements to the EPA PO or his/her designee, with a copy to the CO, at the end of the contract.
(f) If, subsequent to the date of this contract, the Government changes the security requirements, the CO shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract, in accordance with the “Changes” clause when:
(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and
(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.
1552.235-78   Data Security for Toxic Substances Control Act Confidential Business Information (DEC 1997).
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(e), insert the following clause:
The Contractor shall handle Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) confidential business information (CBI) in accordance with the contract clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” and “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality.”
(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose TSCA CBI to the contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall protect all TSCA CBI to which it has access (including CBI used in its computer operations) in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the TSCA CBI Security Manual. The manual may be obtained from the Director, Information Management Division (IMD), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Prior to receipt of TSCA CBI by the Contractor, the Contractor shall ensure that all employees who will be cleared for access to TSCA CBI have been briefed on the handling, control, and security requirements set forth in the TSCA CBI Security Manual.
(2) The Contractor shall permit access to and inspection of the Contractor's facilities in use under this contract by representatives of EPA's Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management, and the TSCA Security Staff in the OPPT, or by the EPA Project Officer.
(3) The Contractor Document Control Officer (DCO) shall obtain a signed copy of EPA Form 7740-6, “TSCA CBI Access Request, Agreement, and Approval,” from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access. In addition, the Contractor shall obtain from each employee who will be cleared for TSCA CBI access all information required by EPA or the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for EPA to conduct a Minimum Background Investigation.
(b) The Contractor agrees that these requirements concerning protection of TSCA CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected business having a proprietary interest in the information.
(c) The Contractor understands that CBI obtained by EPA under TSCA may not be disclosed except as authorized by the Act, and that any unauthorized disclosure by the Contractor or the Contractor's employees may subject the Contractor and the Contractor's employees to the criminal penalties specified in TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2613(d)). For purposes of this contract, the only disclosures that EPA authorizes the Contractor to make are those set forth in the clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”
(d) The Contractor agrees to include the provisions of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.
(e) At the request of EPA or at the end of the contract, the Contractor shall return to the EPA PO or his/her designee, all documents, logs, and magnetic media which contain TSCA CBI. In addition, each Contractor employee who has received TSCA CBI clearance will sign EPA Form 7740-18, “Confidentiality Agreement for Contractor Employees Upon Relinquishing TSCA CBI Access Authority.” The Contractor DCO will also forward those agreements to the EPA OPPT/IMD, with a copy to the CO, at the end of the contract.
(f) If, subsequent to the date of this contract, the Government changes the security requirements, the CO shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract, in accordance with the “Changes” clause, when:
(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and,
(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.
1552.235-79   Release of contractor confidential business information.
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(f), insert the following clause:
(a) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may find it necessary to release information submitted by the Contractor either in response to this solicitation or pursuant to the provisions of this contract, to individuals not employed by EPA. Business information that is ordinarily entitled to confidential treatment under existing EPA regulations (40 CFR part 2) may be included in the information released to these individuals. Accordingly, by submission of this proposal or signature on this contract or other contracts, the Contractor hereby consents to a limited release of its confidential business information (CBI). An EPA contractor may assert a business confidentiality claim covering part or all of the information submitted by the contractor in a manner that is consistent with 40 CFR 2.203(b). If no such CBI claim accompanies the information when it is received by EPA, it may be made available to the public by EPA without further notice to the EPA contactor, pursuant to 40 CFR 2.203(a), and will not require the additional measures set forth in this section.
(b) Possible circumstances where the EPA may release the Contractor's CBI include, but are not limited to the following:
(1) To EPA contractors and other federal agencies and their contractors tasked with recovery, or assisting the Agency in the recovery, of Federal funds expended pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9607, as amended, (CERCLA or Superfund) and/or Sec. 311(c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) (33 U.S.C. 1321(c));
(2) To the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and contractors employed by DOJ for use in advising the EPA and representing the EPA or other federal agencies in procedures for the recovery of Superfund expenditures and costs and damages to be deposited to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF);
(3) To the U.S. Department of the Treasury and contractors employed by that department for use in collecting costs to be deposited to the Superfund or the OSLTF;
(4) To parties liable, or potentially liable, for costs under CERCLA Sec. 107 (42 U.S.C. 9607), OPA Sec. 1002 (33 U.S.C. 2702), or CWA Sec. 311 (33 U.S.C. 1321) and their insurers or guarantors (`Potentially Responsible Parties') for purposes of facilitating collection, settlement or litigation of claims against such parties;
(5) To EPA contractors who, for purposes of performing the work required under the respective contracts, require access to information that the Agency obtained under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. ); the CWA (33 U.S.C.1251 et seq. ); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq. ); the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. ); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ); the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. ); CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. ); or the OPA (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq. );
(6) To EPA contractors tasked with assisting the Agency in handling and processing information and documents in the administration of Agency contracts, such as providing both preaward and post award audit support and specialized technical support to the Agency's technical evaluation panels;
(7) To employees of grantees working at EPA under the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program;
(8) To Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, or Chairman of a Congressional Committee or Subcommittee;
(9) To entities such as the United States Government Accountability Office, boards of contract appeals, and the Courts in the resolution of solicitation or contract protests and disputes;
(10) To EPA contractor employees engaged in information systems analysis, development, operation, and maintenance, including performing data processing and management functions for the EPA; and
(11) Pursuant to a court order or court-supervised agreement.
(c) The EPA recognizes an obligation to protect the contractor from competitive harm that may result from the release of such information to a competitor. (See also the clauses in this document entitled “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality” and “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”) Except where otherwise provided by law, CBI shall be released under paragraphs (b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (10) of this clause only pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
(d) With respect to EPA contractors, EPAAR 1552.235-71 will be used as the confidentiality agreement. With respect to contractors for other federal agencies, EPA will expect these agencies to enter into similar confidentiality agreements with their contractors. With respect to Potentially Responsible Parties, such confidentiality agreements may permit further disclosure to other entities where necessary to further settlement or litigation of claims under CERCLA, the CWA, or the OPA. Such entities include, but are not limited to, accounting firms and technical experts able to analyze the information, provided that they also agree to be bound by an appropriate confidentiality agreement.
(e) This clause does not authorize the EPA to release the Contractor's CBI to the public pursuant to a request filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
(f) The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (f), in all subcontracts at all levels awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of confidential business information by the subcontractor.
1552.235-80   Access to confidential business information.
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(g), insert the following clause.
It is not anticipated that it will be necessary for the contractor to have access to confidential business information (CBI) during the performance of tasks required under this contract. However, the following applies to any and all tasks under which the contractor will or may have access to CBI:
The contractor shall not have access to CBI submitted to EPA under any authority until the contractor obtains from the Project Officer a certification that the EPA has followed all necessary procedures under 40 CFR part 2, subpart B (and any other applicable procedures), including providing, where necessary, prior notice to the submitters of disclosure to the contractor.
1552.235-81   Institutional oversight of life sciences dual use research of concern—Representation.
As prescribed in 1535.007(c), insert the following solicitation provision:
(a) Definitions. As used in this provision—
Institution means any government agency (Federal, State, tribal, or local), academic institution, corporation, company, partnership, society, association, firm, sole proprietorship, or other legal entity conducting research.
Life Sciences research means a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge involving living organisms ( e.g., microbes, human beings, animals, and plants) and their products, including all disciplines and methodologies of biology such as aerobiology, agricultural science, plant science, animal science, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, microbiology, synthetic biology, virology, molecular biology, environmental science, public health, modeling, engineering of living systems, and all applications of the biological sciences. The term is meant to encompass the diverse approaches to understanding life at the level of ecosystems, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, and molecules. Life sciences research does not include routine product testing, quality control, mapping, collection of general-purpose statistics, routine monitoring and evaluation of an operational program, observational studies, and the training of scientific and technical personnel.
(b) Representation. By submission of its offer or quotation, the Offeror represents that if it is:
(1) An institution within the United States that conducts or sponsors life sciences research that involves one or more of the agents or toxins listed in section 6.2.1 of the “United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern” ( iDURC Policy ), even if the research is not supported by United States Government funds; or
(2) An institution outside of the United States that receives funds to conduct or sponsor research that involves one or more of the agents or toxins listed in section 6.2.1 of the iDURC Policy ; then the Offeror will comply with the iDURC Policy.
(c) Resources. Information about dual use research in the life sciences, as well as specific details on the iDURC Policy can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dual Use Research of Concern page: http://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/default.aspx.
1552.235-82   Institutional oversight of life sciences dual use research of concern.
As prescribed in 1535.007-70(h), insert the following contract clause:
(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—
Institution means any government agency (Federal, State, tribal, or local), academic institution, corporation, company, partnership, society, association, firm, sole proprietorship, or other legal entity conducting research.
Life Sciences research means a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge involving living organisms ( e.g., microbes, human beings, animals, and plants) and their products, including all disciplines and methodologies of biology such as aerobiology, agricultural science, plant science, animal science, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, microbiology, synthetic biology, virology, molecular biology, environmental science, public health, modeling, engineering of living systems, and all applications of the biological sciences. The term is meant to encompass the diverse approaches to understanding life at the level of ecosystems, populations, organisms, organs, tissues, cells, and molecules. Life sciences research does not include routine product testing, quality control, mapping, collection of general-purpose statistics, routine monitoring and evaluation of an operational program, observational studies, and the training of scientific and technical personnel.
(b) Compliance. The Contractor agrees that it shall comply with the “United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern” ( iDURC Policy ) during the period of performance of this contract, including all option periods or other extensions, if the Contractor:
(1) Is an institution within the United States that conducts or sponsors, or begins to conduct or sponsor life sciences research that involves one or more of the agents or toxins listed in Section 6.2.1 of the iDURC Policy, even if the research is not supported by United States Government funds; or
(2) Is an institution outside the United States that receives funds through this contract to conduct or sponsor research that involves one or more of the agents or toxins listed in Section 6.2.1 of the iDURC Policy.
(c) Resources. Information about dual use research in the life sciences as well as specific details on the iDURC Policy can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dual Use Research of Concern page: http://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/default.aspx.
1552.236-70   Samples and certificates.
As prescribed in 1536.521, insert the following contract clause in construction contracts.
When required by the specifications or the Contracting Officer, samples, certificates, and test data shall be submitted after award of the contract, prepaid, in time for proper action by the Contracting Officer or his/her designated representative. Certificates and test data shall be submitted in triplicate to show compliance of materials and construction specified in the contract performance requirements. Samples shall be submitted in duplicate by the Contractor, except as otherwise specified, to show compliance with the contract requirements. Materials or equipment for which samples, certifications or test data are required shall not be used in the work until approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.
1552.237-70   Contract publication review procedures.
As prescribed in 1537.110, insert the following contract clause when the products of the contract are subject to contract publication review.
(a) Material generated under this contract intended for release to the public is subject to the Agency's publication review process in accordance with the EPA Order on this subject and the following.
(b) Except as indicated in paragraph (c) of this contract, the Contractor shall not independently publish or print material generated under this contract until after completion of the EPA review process. The Contracting Officer's Representative will notify the Contractor of review completion within ____ calendar days after the Contractor's transmittal to the Contracting Officer's Representative of material generated under this contract. If the Contractor does not receive Contracting Officer's Representative notification within this period, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing.
(c) The Contractor may publish, in a scientific journal, material resulting directly or indirectly from work performed under this contract, subject to the following:
(1) The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer's Representative, at least 30 days prior to publication, a copy of any paper, article, or other dissemination of information intended for publication.
(2) The Contractor shall include the following statement in a journal article which has not been subjected to EPA review: “Although the research described in this article has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency contract (number) to (Name of Contractor), it has not been subject to the Agency's review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.”
(3) Following publication of the journal article, the Contractor shall submit five copies of the journal article to the Contracting Officer's Representative, and one copy to the Contracting Officer.
(d) If the Government has completed the review process and agreed that the contract material may be attributed to EPA, the Contractor shall include the following statement in the document:
This material has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract (number) to (name). It has been subject to the Agency's review, and it has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
(e) If the Government has completed the review process, but decides not to publish the material, the Contractor may independently publish and distribute the material for its own use and its own expense, and shall include the following statement in any independent publication:
Although the information described in this article has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract (number) to (name), it does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.
1552.237-71   Technical direction.
As prescribed in 1537.110, insert a clause substantially the same as the following:
(a) Definitions.
Contracting officer technical representative (COTR), means an individual appointed by the contracting officer in accordance with Agency procedures to perform specific technical and administrative functions.
Task order, as used in this clause, means work assignment, delivery order, or any other document issued by the contracting officer to order work under a service contract.
(b) The Contracting Officer's Representative(s) may provide technical direction on contract or work request performance. Technical direction includes:
(1) Instruction to the contractor that approves approaches, solutions, designs, or refinements; fills in details; completes the general descriptions of work shifts emphasis among work areas or tasks; and
(2) Evaluation and acceptance of reports or other deliverables.
(c) Technical direction must be within the scope of work of the contract and any task order there under. The Contracting Officer's Representative(s) does not have the authority to issue technical direction which:
(1) Requires additional work outside the scope of the contract or task order;
(2) Constitutes a change as defined in the “Changes” clause;
(3) Causes an increase or decrease in the estimated cost of the contract or task order;
(4) Alters the period of performance of the contract or task order; or
(5) Changes any of the other terms or conditions of the contract or task order.
(d) Technical direction will be issued in writing or confirmed in writing within five (5) days after oral issuance. The contracting officer will be copied on any technical direction issued by the Contracting Officer's Representative.
(e) If, in the contractor's opinion, any instruction or direction by the Contracting Officer's Representative(s) falls within any of the categories defined in paragraph (c) of the clause, the contractor shall not proceed but shall notify the contracting officer in writing within 3 days after receiving it and shall request that the contracting officer take appropriate action as described in this paragraph. Upon receiving this notification, the contracting officer shall:
(1) Advise the contractor in writing as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days after receipt of the contractor's notification, that the technical direction is within the scope of the contract effort and does not constitute a change under the “Changes” clause of the contract;
(2) Advise the contractor within a reasonable time that the government will issue a written modification to the contract; or
(3) Advise the contractor that the technical direction is outside the scope of the contract and is thereby rescinded.
(f) A failure of the contractor and contracting officer to agree as to whether the technical direction is within the scope of the contract, or a failure to agree upon the contract action to be taken with respect thereto, shall be subject to the provisions of the clause entitled “Disputes” in this contract.
(g) Any action(s) taken by the contractor, in response to any direction given by any person acting on behalf of the government or any government official other than the contracting officer or the Contracting Officer's Representative, shall be at the contractor's risk.
1552.237-72   Key personnel.
As prescribed in 1537.110, insert the following contract clause when it is necessary for contract performance to identify Contractor key personnel.
(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel:
(b) During the first ninety (90) days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) of this clause. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (c) to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days prior to making any permanent substitutions.
(c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. This clause will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.
1552.237-73   [Reserved]
1552.237-74   Publicity.
As prescribed in 1537.110, insert the following contract clause in contracts pertaining to the removal or remedial activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (“Super Fund”) program. The term “on-scene coordinator” may be substituted with “Contracting Officer's Representative.”
(a) The Contractor agrees to notify and obtain the verbal approval of the on-scene coordinator (or Contracting Officer's Representative) prior to releasing any information to the news media regarding the removal or remedial activities being conducted under this contract.
(b) It is also agreed that the Contractor shall acknowledge EPA support whenever the work funded in whole or in part by this contract is publicized in any news media.
1552.237-75   Paperwork Reduction Act.
As prescribed in 1537.110, insert this contract clause in any contract requiring the collection of identical information from ten (10) or more public respondents.
If it is established at award or subsequently becomes a contractual requirement to collect identical information from ten (10) or more public respondents, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. applies. In that event, the Contractor shall not take any action to solicit information from any of the public respondents until notified in writing by the Contracting officer that the required Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final clearance was received.
1552.237-76   Government-Contractor Relations.
As prescribed in 1537.110(g), insert the following clause:
(a) The Government and the Contractor understand and agree that the services to be delivered under this contract by the contractor to the Government are non-personal services and the parties recognize and agree that no employer-employee relationship exists or will exist under the contract between the Government and the Contractor's personnel. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government to afford both parties a full understanding of their respective obligations.
(b) Contractor personnel under this contract shall not:
(1) Be placed in a position where they are under the supervision, direction, or evaluation of a Government employee.
(2) Be placed in a position of command, supervision, administration or control over Government personnel, or over personnel of other Contractors under other EPA contracts, or become a part of the Government organization.
(3) Be used in administration or supervision of Government procurement activities.
(c) Employee relationship. (1) The services to be performed under this contract do not require the Contractor or his/her personnel to exercise personal judgment and discretion on behalf of the Government. Rather the Contractor's personnel will act and exercise personal judgment and discretion on behalf of the Contractor.
(2) Rules, regulations, directives, and requirements that are issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its responsibility for good order, administration, and security are applicable to all personnel who enter the Government installation or who travel on Government transportation. This is not to be construed or interpreted to establish any degree of Government control that is inconsistent with a non-personal services contract.
(d) Inapplicability of employee benefits. This contract does not create an employer-employee relationship. Accordingly, entitlements and benefits applicable to such relationships do not apply.
(1) Payments by the Government under this contract are not subject to Federal income tax withholdings.
(2) Payments by the Government under this contract are not subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.
(3) The Contractor is not entitled to unemployment compensation benefits under the Social Security Act, as amended, by virtue of performance of this contract.
(4) The Contractor is not entitled to workman's compensation benefits by virtue of this contract.
(5) The entire consideration and benefits to the Contractor for performance of this contract is contained in the provisions for payment under this contract.
(e) Notice. It is the Contractor's, as well as, the Government's responsibility to monitor contract activities and notify the Contracting Officer if the Contractor believes that the intent of this clause has been or may be violated.
(1) The Contractor should notify the Contracting Officer in writing promptly, within ________ (to be negotiated and inserted into the basic contract at contract award) calendar days from the date of any incident that the Contractor considers to constitute a violation of this clause. The notice should include the date, nature and circumstance of the conduct, the name, function and activity of each Government employee or Contractor official or employee involved or knowledgeable about such conduct, identify any documents or substance of any oral communication involved in the conduct, and the estimate in time by which the Government must respond to this notice to minimize cost, delay or disruption of performance.
(2) The Contracting Officer will promptly, within ________ (to be negotiated and inserted into the basic contract at contract award) calendar days after receipt of notice, respond to the notice in writing. In responding, the Contracting Officer will either:
(i) Confirm that the conduct is in violation and when necessary direct the mode of further performance,
(ii) Countermand any communication regarded as a violation,
(iii) Deny that the conduct constitutes a violation and when necessary direct the mode of further performance; or
(iv) In the event the notice is inadequate to make a decision, advise the Contractor what additional information is required, and establish the date by which it should be furnished by the Contractor and the date thereafter by which the Government will respond.
1552.239-71   Open Source Software.
As prescribed in 1539.2071, insert the following clause:
(a) Definitions.
“Custom-Developed Code” means code that is first produced in the performance of a federal contract or is otherwise fully funded by the federal government. It includes code, or segregable portions of code, for which the government could obtain unlimited rights under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 27 and relevant agency FAR Supplements. Custom-developed code also includes code developed by agency employees as part of their official duties. Custom-developed code may include, but is not limited to, code written for software projects, modules, plugins, scripts, middleware and Application Programming Interfaces (API); it does not, however, include code that is truly exploratory or disposable in nature, such as that written by a developer experimenting with a new language or library.
“Open Source Software (OSS)” means software that can be accessed, used, modified and shared by anyone. OSS is often distributed under licenses that comply with the definition of “Open Source” provided by the Open Source Initiative at https://opensource.org/osd or equivalent, and/or that meet the definition of “Free Software” provided by the Free Software Foundation at: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html or equivalent.
“Software” means: (i) Computer programs that comprise a series of instructions, rules, routines or statements, regardless of the media in which recorded, that allow or cause a computer to perform a specific operation or series of operations; and (ii) recorded information comprising source code listings, design details, algorithms, processes, flow charts, formulas and related material that would enable the computer program to be produced, created or compiled. Software does not include computer databases or computer software documentation.
“Source Code” means computer commands written in a computer programming language that is meant to be read by people. Generally, source code is a higher-level representation of computer commands written by people, but must be assembled, interpreted or compiled before a computer can execute the code as a program.
(b)(1) Policy. It is the EPA policy that new custom-developed code be made broadly available for reuse across the federal government, subject to the exceptions provided in (b)(3). The policy does not apply retroactively so it does not require existing custom-developed code also be made available for Government-wide reuse or as OSS. However, making such code available for government-wide reuse or as OSS, to the extent practicable, is strongly encouraged. The EPA also supports the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Federal Source Code Policy provided in OMB Memorandum M-16-21, Federal Source Code Policy: Achieving Efficiency, Transparency, and Innovation through Reusable and Open Source Software, by:
(i) Providing an enterprise code inventory ( e.g., code.json file) that lists new and applicable custom-developed code for, or by, the EPA;
(ii) Indicating whether the code is available for Federal reuse; or
(iii) Indicating if the code is available publicly as OSS.
(2) Exemption: Source code developed for National Security Systems (NSS), as defined in 40 U.S.C. 11103 , is exempt from the requirements herein.
(3) Exceptions: Exceptions may be applied in specific instances to exempt EPA from sharing custom-developed code with other government agencies. Any exceptions used must be approved and documented by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) or his or her designee for the purposes of ensuring effective oversight and management of IT resources. For excepted software, EPA must provide OMB a brief narrative justification for each exception, with redactions as appropriate. Applicable exceptions are as follows:
(i) The sharing of the source code is restricted by law or regulation, including—but not limited to—patent or intellectual property law, the Export Asset Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulation and the federal laws and regulations governing classified information.
(ii) The sharing of the source code would create an identifiable risk to the detriment of national security, confidentiality of government information or individual privacy.
(iii) The sharing of the source code would create an identifiable risk to the stability, security or integrity of EPA's systems or personnel.
(iv) The sharing of the source code would create an identifiable risk to EPA mission, programs or operations.
(v) The CIO believes it is in the national interest to exempt sharing the source code.
(c) The Contractor shall deliver to the Contracting Officer (CO) or Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) the underlying source code, license file, related files, build instructions, software user's guides, automated test suites, and other associated documentation as applicable.
(d) In accordance with OMB Memorandum M-16-21 the Government asserts its unlimited rights—including rights to reproduction, reuse, modification and distribution of the custom source code, associated documentation, and related files—for reuse across the federal government and as open source software for the public. These unlimited rights described above attach to all code furnished in the performance of the contract, unless the parties expressly agree otherwise in the contract.
(e) The Contractor is prohibited from reselling code developed under this contract without express written consent of the EPA Contracting Officer. The Contractor must provide at least 30 days advance notice if it intends to resell code developed under this contract.
(f) Technical guidance for EPA's OSS Policy should conform with the “EPA's Open Source Code Guidance” that will be maintained by the Office of Mission Support (OMS) at https://developer.epa.gov/guide/open-source-code/ or equivalent.
(g) The Contractor shall identify all deliverables and asserted restrictions as follows:
(1) The Contractor shall use open source license either:
(i) Identified in the contract, or
(ii) developed using one of the following licenses: (a) Creative Commons Zero (CC0); (b) MIT license; (c) GNU General Public License version 3 (GPL v3); (4) Lesser General Public License 2.1 (LGPL-2.1); (5) Apache 2.0 license; or (6) other open source license subject to Agency approval.
(2) The Contractor shall provide a copy of the proposed commercial license agreement to the Contracting Officer prior to contracting for commercial data/software.
(3) The Contractor shall identify any data that will be delivered with restrictions.
(4) The Contractor shall deliver the data package as specified by the EPA.
(5) The Contractor shall deliver the source code to the EPA-specified version control repository and source code management system.
(h) The Contractor shall comply with software and data rights requirements and provide all licenses for software dependencies as follows:
(1) The Contractor shall ensure all deliverables are appropriately marked with the applicable restrictive legends.
(2) The EPA is deemed to have received unlimited rights when data or software is delivered by the Contractor with restrictive markings omitted.
(3) If the delivery is made with restrictive markings that are not authorized by the contract, then the marking is characterized as “nonconforming.” In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 46.407, Nonconforming supplies or services, the Contractor will be given the chance to correct or replace the nonconforming supplies within the required delivery schedule. If the Contractor is unable to deliver conforming supplies, then the EPA is deemed to have received unlimited rights to the nonconforming supplies.
(i) The Contractor shall include this clause in all subcontracts that include custom-developed code requirements.
1552.242-70   Indirect costs.
As prescribed in 1542.705-70, insert the following clause in all cost-reimbursement and non-commercial time and materials type contracts. If ceilings are not being established, enter “not applicable” in paragraph (c) of the clause.
(a) In accordance with paragraph (d) of the “Allowable Cost and Payment” clause, the final indirect cost rates applicable to this contract shall be established between the Contractor and the appropriate Government representative (EPA, other Government agency, or auditor), as provided by FAR 42.703-1(a). EPA's procedures require a Contracting Officer determination of indirect cost rates for its contracts. In those cases where EPA is the cognizant agency (see FAR 42.705-1), the final rate proposal shall be submitted to the cognizant audit activity and to the following designated Contracting Officer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Manager, Financial Analysis and Oversight Service Center, Mail Code 3802R, Policy, Training Oversight Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Where EPA is not the cognizant agency, the final rate proposal shall be submitted to the above-cited address, to the cognizant audit agency, and to the designated Contracting Officer of the cognizant agency. Upon establishment of the final indirect cost rates, the Contractor shall submit an executed Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data (see FAR 15.406-2) applicable to the data furnished in connection with the final rates to the cognizant audit agency. The final rates shall be contained in a written understanding between the Contractor and the appropriate Government representative. Pursuant to the “Allowable Cost and Payment” clause, the allowable indirect costs under this contract shall be obtained by applying the final agreed upon rate(s) to the appropriate bases.
(b) Until final annual indirect cost rates are established for any period, the Government shall reimburse the contractor at billing rates established by the appropriate Government representative in accordance with FAR 42.704, subject to adjustment when the final rates are established. The established billing rates are currently as follows:
These billing rates may be prospectively or retroactively revised by mutual agreement, at the request of either the Government or the Contractor, to prevent substantial overpayment or underpayment.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause, ceilings are hereby established on indirect costs reimbursable under this contract. The Government shall not be obligated to pay the Contractor any additional amount on account of indirect costs in excess of the ceiling rates listed below:
1552.242-72   Financial administrative contracting officer.
As prescribed in 1542.705 (b), insert the following clause:
(a) A Financial Administrative Contracting Officer (FACO) is responsible for performing certain post-award functions related to the financial aspects of this contract when the EPA is the cognizant federal agency. These functions include the following duties:
(1) Review the contractor's compensation structure and insurance plan.
(2) Negotiate advance agreements applicable to treatment of costs and to Independent Research & Development/Bid and Proposal costs.
(3) Negotiate changes to interim billing rates and establish final indirect cost rates and billing rates.
(4) Prepare findings of fact and issue decisions related to financial matters under the Disputes clause, if appropriate.
(5) In connection with Cost Accounting Standards:
(A) Determine the adequacy of the contractor's disclosure statements;
(B) Determine whether the disclosure statements are in compliance with Cost Accounting Standards and FAR part 31;
(C) Determine the contractor's compliance with Cost Accounting Standards and disclosure statements, if applicable; and
(D) Negotiate price adjustments and execute supplemental agreements under the Cost Accounting Standards clauses at FAR 52.230-3, 52.230-4, and 52.230-5.
(6) Review, approve or disapprove, and maintain surveillance of the contractor's purchasing system.
(7) Perform surveillance, resolve issues, and establish any necessary agreements related to the contractor's cost/schedule control system, including travel policies/procedures, allocation and cost charging methodology, timekeeping and labor distribution policies and procedures, subcontract payment practices, matters concerning relationships between the contractor and its affiliates and subsidiaries, and consistency between bid and accounting classifications.
(8) Review, resolve issues, and establish any necessary agreements related to the contractor's estimating system.
(b) The FACO shall consult with the contracting officer whenever necessary or appropriate and shall forward a copy of all agreements/decisions to the contracting officer upon execution.
(c) The FACO for this contract is:
1552.245-70   Government property.
As prescribed in 1545.107(a), insert a clause substantially the same as follows:
(a) The contractor shall not fabricate or acquire, on behalf of the Government, either directly or indirectly through a subcontract, any item of property without prior written approval from the Contracting Officer. If the Contracting Officer authorizes the contractor to acquire and/or fabricate equipment for use in the performance of this contract, the equipment shall be subject to the provisions of the “Government Property” clause and listed on the contract via contract modification.
(b) If the Government provides item(s) of Government property to the contractor for use in the performance of this contract, this property shall be used and maintained by the contractor in accordance with the provisions of the “Government Property” clause.
The “EPA Contract Property Administration Requirements” provided below apply to this contract.
1. Purpose. This document sets forth the requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contractors performing Government property management responsibilities under EPA contracts. These requirements supplement those contained in the Government Property clause(s) and Part 45 Government Property of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
2. Contract Property Administration (CPAR)
a. EPA Delegation. EPA delegates all contract property administration to the EPA Contract Property Coordinator (CPC). The delegations apply to all EPA contracts issued with or that have the potential to receive, purchase or acquire Government Property or include the Government Property clauses. In addition to administering all contract property, the CPC provides technical expertise and assistance to the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) relative to Government Property.
b. DCMA Re-delegation. The CPC may request support for contract property management oversight, including property administration and plant clearance, from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). If DCMA agrees to provide support, DCMA will notify the contractor of the assigned property administrator (PA) and plant clearance officer (PLCO). The DCMA PA is available to the contractor for assistance in all matters of property administration. Notwithstanding the delegation, as necessary, the contractor may contact the EPA CO. In the event of a disagreement between the contractor and the DCMA PA, the contractor should seek resolution from the CO. Unless, otherwise directed in the contract, or this document, all originals of written information or reports, except direct correspondence between the contractor and the DCMA PA, relative to Government property, should be forwarded to the administrative CO assigned to this contract and the CPC.
c. Disagreement s. Notwithstanding the delegation(s), as necessary, the contractor may contact the CO. In the event of a disagreement between the contractor and the PA or the CPC the contractor should seek resolution from the CO.
3. Requests for Government Property.
In accordance with FAR 45.102, the contractor shall furnish all property required for performing Government contracts. If a contractor believes that Government property is required for performance of the contract, the contractor shall submit a written request to the CO. At a minimum, the request shall contain the following elements:
a. Contract number for which the property is required.
b. An item(s) description, quantity and estimated cost.
c. Certification that no like contractor property exists which could be utilized.
d. A detailed description of the task-related purpose of the property.
e. Explanation of negative impact if property is not provided by the Government.
f. Lease versus purchase analysis shall be furnished with the request to acquire property on behalf of the Government, with the exception of requests for material purchases. The contractor may not proceed with acquisition of property on behalf of the Government until receipt of written authorization from the Contracting Officer.
4. Transfer of Government Property. The Contracting Officer initiates the transfer of the government property via a contract modification. The transferor (EPA or another contractor) shall provide to the transferee, the receiving contractor, the information needed to establish and maintain the property records required of FAR 52.245-1, as well as all of the applicable data elements required by Attachment 1 of this clause. The transferee, the receiving contractor, should perform a complete inventory of the property before signing the acceptance document for the property. Accountability will transfer to the receiving contractor upon receipt and acceptance of the property, in accordance with FAR 45.106.
5. Records of Government Property.
a. In accordance with FAR 52.245-1, the contractor shall create and maintain records of all Government property, regardless of value, including property provided to and in the possession of a subcontractor. Material provided by the Government or acquired by the contractor and billed as a direct charge to the contract is Government property and records must be established as such.
b. The Contractor shall identify all Superfund property and designate it as such both on the item and on the Government property record. If it is not practicable to tag the item, the contractor shall write the ID number on a tag, card or other entity that may be kept with the item or in a file.
c. Support documentation used for posting entries to the property record shall provide complete, current and auditable data. Entries shall be posted to the record in a timely manner following an action.
d. For Government vehicles, in addition to the data elements required by EPA, the contractor shall also comply with the General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Energy (DOE) record and report requirements supplied with all EPA provided motor vehicles. If the above requirements were not provided with the vehicle, the contractor shall notify the designated CPC and the Fleet Manager.
e. When Government property is disclosed to be in the management and/or control of the contractor but not provided under any contract, the contractor shall record and report the property in accordance with FAR 52.245-1.
6. Inventories of Government Property. The contractor shall conduct a complete physical inventory of EPA property at least once per year. The contractor shall report the results of the inventory, including any discrepancies, to the CO. Reconciliation of discrepancies shall be completed in accordance with the schedule negotiated with the CO. See section 10 herein, Contract Closeout, for information on final inventories.
7. Reports of Government Property. EPA requires an annual summary report, for each contract, by contract number, of Government property in the contractor's possession. The annual summary is due as of September 30th of each year, and upon contract termination or expiration.
a. For each classification listed on the EPA Property Report form, with the exception of material, the contractor shall provide the total acquisition cost and total quantity. If there are zero items in a classification, or if there is an ending balance of zero, the classification must be listed with zeros in the quantity and acquisition cost columns.
b. For material, the contractor shall provide the total acquisition cost only.
c. Property classified as Plant Equipment, Superfund and Special Test Equipment must be reported on two separate lines. The first line shall include the total acquisition cost and quantity of all items or systems with a unit acquisition cost of $25,000 or more. The second line shall include the total acquisition cost and quantity of all items with a unit acquisition cost of less than $25,000.
d. For items comprising a system, which is defined as “a group of interacting items functioning as a complex whole,” the contractor may maintain the record as a system noting all components of the system under the main component or maintain individual records for each item. However, for the annual report of Government property the components must be reported as a system with one total dollar amount for the system, if that system total is $25,000 or more.
e. The reports are to be received at EPA by the CPC by October 5th of each year.
f. Distribution shall be as follows:
g. Contractors are required to comply with GSA and DOE special reporting requirements for motor vehicles. A statement of these requirements will be provided by the EPA Facility Management and Services Division (FMSD) concurrent with receipt of each vehicle.
h. The contractor shall provide detailed reports on an as-needed basis, as may be requested by the CO or the CPC.
8. Disposition of Government Property. The disposition process is composed of three distinct phases: identification, reporting, and final disposition.
a. Identification. The disposition process begins with the contractor identifying Government property that is no longer required for contract performance. Effective contract property management systems provide for identification of excess as it occurs. Once Government property has been determined to be excess to the accountable contract, it must be screened against the contractor's other EPA contracts for further use. If the property may be reutilized, the contractor shall notify the CO in writing. Government property will be transferred via contract modifications to other contracts only when the COs on both the current contract and the receiving contract authorize the transfer.
b. Reporting.
(i) EPA. Government property shall be reported in accordance with FAR 52.245-1. The Standard Form, SF 1428, Inventory Disposal Schedule, provides the format for reporting excess Government property. Instructions for completing and when to use the form may be found at FAR 52.245-1(j). Forward the completed SF 1428 to the CPC. The SF 1428 is available at http://www.arnet.gov/far/current/html/FormsStandard54.html. Superfund property must contain a Superfund notification and the following language must be displayed on the form: “Note to CO: Reimbursement to the EPA Superfund is required.”
(ii) DCMA. If the EPA contract has been re-delegated to DCMA, the excess items will be entered into the Plant Clearance Automated Reutilization Screening System (PCARSS). Access and information pertaining to this system may be addressed to the DCMA Plant Clearance Officer (PLCO).
c. Disposition Instructions.
(i) Retention. When Government property is identified as excess, the CO may direct the contractor in writing to retain all or part of the excess Government Property under the current contract for possible future requirements.
(ii) Return to EPA. When Government property is identified as excess, the CO may direct the contractor in writing to return those items to EPA inventory. The contractor shall ship/deliver the property in accordance with the instructions provided by the CO.
(iii) Transfer. When Government property is identified as excess, the CO may direct the contractor in writing to transfer the property to another EPA contractor. The contractor shall transfer the property by shipping it in accordance with the instructions provided by the CO. To effect transfer of accountability, the contractor shall provide the recipient of the property with the applicable data elements set forth in Attachment 1 of this clause.
(iv) Sale. If GSA or the DCMA PLCO conducts a sale of the excess Government property, the contractor shall allow prospective bidders access to property offered for sale.
(v) Abandonment. Abandoned property must be disposed of in a manner that does not endanger the health and safety of the public. If the contract is delegated to DCMA and the contractor has input EPA property into the PCARSS system, the EPA Property Utilization Officer (PUO) shall notify the CO. The CO shall notify the contractor in writing of those items EPA would like to retain, have returned or transferred to another EPA contractor. The contractor shall notify the DCMA PLCO and request withdrawal of those items from the inventory schedule. The contractor shall update the Government property record to indicate the disposition of the item and to close the record. The contractor shall also obtain either a signed receipt or proof of shipment from the recipient. The contractor shall notify the CO when all actions pertaining to disposition have been completed. The contractor shall complete an EPA Property report with changes, to include supporting documentation of completed disposition actions and submit it to the CPC.
9. Decontamination. In addition to the requirements of the “Government Property” clause and prior to performing disposition of any EPA Government Property, the contractor shall certify in writing that the property is free from contamination by any hazardous or toxic substances.
10. Contract Closeout. The contractor shall complete a physical inventory of all Government property at contract completion and the results, including any discrepancies, shall be reported to the CO. If the contract is delegated to DCMA, the physical inventory report will be submitted to the EPA CO and a copy submitted to the DCMA PA. In the case of a terminated contract, the contractor shall comply with the inventory requirements set forth in the applicable termination clause. The results of the inventory, as well as a detailed inventory listing, must be forwarded to the CO and if delegated, a copy to the DCMA PA. In order to expedite the disposal process, contractors may be required to, or may elect to submit to the CPC, an inventory schedule for disposal purposes up to six (6) months prior to contract completion. If such an inventory schedule is prepared, the contractor must indicate the earliest date that each item may be disposed. The contractor shall update all property records to show disposal action. The contractor shall notify the CO, and, if delegated, the DCMA PA, in writing, when all work has been completed under the contract and all Government property accountable to the contract has been disposed. The contractor shall complete a FINAL EPA Property report with all supporting documentation to the CPC.
Required Data Element —In addition to the requirements of FAR 52.245-1(f)(vi), Reports of Government Property, the contractor is required to maintain, and report the following data elements for EPA Government property (all elements are not applicable to material): Name and address of the administrative Contracting Officer; Name of the contractor representative; Business type; Name and address of the contract property coordinator; Superfund (Yes/No); No. of Subcontractor/Alternate Locations.
For items comprising a system which is defined as, “a group of interacting items functioning as a complex whole,” the contractor may maintain the record as a system noting all components of the system under the main component or maintain individual records for each item. However, for the Annual Report of Government Property, the components must be reported as a system with one total dollar amount for the system, if that system total is $25,000 or more.
1552.245-71   Government-furnished data.
As prescribed in 1545.107(b), insert the following contract clause in any contract that the Government is to furnish the Contractor data. Identify in the clause the data to be provided.
(a) The Government shall deliver to the Contractor the Government-furnished data described in the contract. If the data, suitable for its intended use, is not delivered to the Contractor, the Contracting Officer shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract in accordance with the “Changes” clause when:
(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and
(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.
(b) Title to Government-furnished data shall remain in the Government.
(c) The Contractor shall use the Government-furnished data only in connection with this contract.
(d) The following data will be furnished to the Contractor on or about the time indicated:
1552.312-4   Contract terms and conditions—commercial items (far deviation).
As prescribed in 1512.1070, the contracting officer shall insert clause 1552.332-39, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (FAR DEVIATION), for acquisitions of commercial items in lieu of 52.212-4 or 52.212-4 Alternate I. The contracting officer may tailor this clause in accordance with FAR 12.302.
(a) Inspection/acceptance. The Contractor shall only tender for acceptance those items that conform to the requirements of this contract. The Government reserves the right to inspect or test any supplies or services that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require repair or replacement of nonconforming supplies or reperformance of nonconforming services at no increase in contract price. If repair/replacement or reperformance will not correct the defects or is not possible, the Government may seek an equitable price reduction or adequate consideration for acceptance of nonconforming supplies or services. The Government must exercise its post-acceptance rights—
(1) Within a reasonable time after the defect was discovered or should have been discovered; and
(2) Before any substantial change occurs in the condition of the item, unless the change is due to the defect in the item.
(b) Assignment. The Contractor or its assignee may assign its rights to receive payment due as a result of performance of this contract to a bank, trust company, or other financing institution, including any Federal lending agency in accordance with the Assignment of Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3727). However, when a third party makes payment ( e.g., use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card), the Contractor may not assign its rights to receive payment under this contract.
(c) Changes. Changes in the terms and conditions of this contract may be made only by written agreement of the parties.
(d) Disputes. This contract is subject to 41 U.S.C. chapter 71, Contract Disputes . Failure of the parties to this contract to reach agreement on any request for equitable adjustment, claim, appeal or action arising under or relating to this contract shall be a dispute to be resolved in accordance with the clause at FAR 52.233-1, Disputes, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Contractor shall proceed diligently with performance of this contract, pending final resolution of any dispute arising under the contract.
(e) Definitions. The clause at FAR 52.202-1, Definitions, is incorporated herein by reference.
(f) Excusable delays. The Contractor shall be liable for default unless nonperformance is caused by an occurrence beyond the reasonable control of the Contractor and without its fault or negligence such as, acts of God or the public enemy, acts of the Government in either its sovereign or contractual capacity, fires, floods, epidemics, quarantine restrictions, strikes, unusually severe weather, and delays of common carriers. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing as soon as it is reasonably possible after the commencement of any excusable delay, setting forth the full particulars in connection therewith, shall remedy such occurrence with all reasonable dispatch, and shall promptly give written notice to the Contracting Officer of the cessation of such occurrence.
(g) Invoice. (1) The Contractor shall submit an original invoice and three copies (or electronic invoice, if authorized) to the address designated in the contract to receive invoices. An invoice must include—
(i) Name and address of the Contractor;
(ii) Invoice date and number;
(iii) Contract number, line item number and, if applicable, the order number;
(iv) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price of the items delivered;
(v) Shipping number and date of shipment, including the bill of lading number and weight of shipment if shipped on Government bill of lading;
(vi) Terms of any discount for prompt payment offered;
(vii) Name and address of official to whom payment is to be sent;
(viii) Name, title, and phone number of person to notify in event of defective invoice; and
(ix) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The Contractor shall include its TIN on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.
(x) Electronic funds transfer (EFT) banking information.
(A) The Contractor shall include EFT banking information on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.
(B) If EFT banking information is not required to be on the invoice, in order for the invoice to be a proper invoice, the Contractor shall have submitted correct EFT banking information in accordance with the applicable solicitation provision, contract clause ( e.g., 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management, or 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other Than System for Award Management ), or applicable agency procedures.
(C) EFT banking information is not required if the Government waived the requirement to pay by EFT.
(2) Invoices will be handled in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR part 1315.
(h) Patent indemnity. The Contractor shall indemnify the Government and its officers, employees and agents against liability, including costs, for actual or alleged direct or contributory infringement of, or inducement to infringe, any United States or foreign patent, trademark or copyright, arising out of the performance of this contract, provided the Contractor is reasonably notified of such claims and proceedings.
(i) Payment —(1) Items accepted. Payment shall be made for items accepted by the Government that have been delivered to the delivery destinations set forth in this contract.
(2) Prompt payment. The Government will make payment in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR part 1315.
(3) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If the Government makes payment by EFT, see 52.212-5(b) for the appropriate EFT clause.
(4) Discount. In connection with any discount offered for early payment, time shall be computed from the date of the invoice. For the purpose of computing the discount earned, payment shall be considered to have been made on the date which appears on the payment check or the specified payment date if an electronic funds transfer payment is made.
(5) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the Contractor shall—
(i) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in the contract along with a description of the overpayment including the—
(A) Circumstances of the overpayment ( e.g., duplicate payment, erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
(B) Affected contract number and delivery order number, if applicable;
(C) Affected line item or subline item, if applicable; and
(D) Contractor point of contact.
(ii) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting documentation to the Contracting Officer.
(6) Interest. (i) All amounts that become payable by the Contractor to the Government under this contract shall bear simple interest from the date due until paid unless paid within 30 days of becoming due. The interest rate shall be the interest rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury as provided in 41 U.S.C. 7109, which is applicable to the period in which the amount becomes due, as provided in (i)(6)(v) of this clause, and then at the rate applicable for each six-month period as fixed by the Secretary until the amount is paid.
(ii) The Government may issue a demand for payment to the Contractor upon finding a debt is due under the contract.
(iii) Final decisions: The Contracting Officer will issue a final decision as required by 33.211 if—
(A) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor are unable to reach agreement on the existence or amount of a debt within 30 days;
(B) The Contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded by the Contracting Officer within the timeline specified in the demand for payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the Contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; or
(C) The Contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt previously demanded by the Contracting Officer (see 32.607-2).
(iv) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, the demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify the same due date as the original demand for payment.
(v) Amounts shall be due at the earliest of the following dates:
(A) The date fixed under this contract.
(B) The date of the first written demand for payment, including any demand for payment resulting from a default termination.
(vi) The interest charge shall be computed for the actual number of calendar days involved beginning on the due date and ending on—
(A) The date on which the designated office receives payment from the Contractor;
(B) The date of issuance of a Government check to the Contractor from which an amount otherwise payable has been withheld as a credit against the contract debt; or
(C) The date on which an amount withheld and applied to the contract debt would otherwise have become payable to the Contractor.
(vii) The interest charge made under this clause may be reduced under the procedures prescribed in 32.608-2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation in effect on the date of this contract.
(j) Risk of loss. Unless the contract specifically provides otherwise, risk of loss or damage to the supplies provided under this contract shall remain with the Contractor until, and shall pass to the Government upon:
(1) Delivery of the supplies to a carrier, if transportation is f.o.b. origin; or
(2) Delivery of the supplies to the Government at the destination specified in the contract, if transportation is f.o.b. destination.
(k) Taxes. The contract price includes all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes and duties.
(l) Termination for the Government's convenience. The Government reserves the right to terminate this contract, or any part hereof, for its sole convenience. In the event of such termination, the Contractor shall immediately stop all work hereunder and shall immediately cause any and all of its suppliers and subcontractors to cease work. Subject to the terms of this contract, the Contractor shall be paid a percentage of the contract price reflecting the percentage of the work performed prior to the notice of termination, plus reasonable charges the Contractor can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Government using its standard record keeping system, have resulted from the termination. The Contractor shall not be required to comply with the cost accounting standards or contract cost principles for this purpose. This paragraph does not give the Government any right to audit the Contractor's records. The Contractor shall not be paid for any work performed or costs incurred which reasonably could have been avoided.
(m) Termination for cause. The Government may terminate this contract, or any part hereof, for cause in the event of any default by the Contractor, or if the Contractor fails to comply with any contract terms and conditions, or fails to provide the Government, upon request, with adequate assurances of future performance. In the event of termination for cause, the Government shall not be liable to the Contractor for any amount for supplies or services not accepted, and the Contractor shall be liable to the Government for any and all rights and remedies provided by law. If it is determined that the Government improperly terminated this contract for default, such termination shall be deemed a termination for convenience.
(n) Title. Unless specified elsewhere in this contract, title to items furnished under this contract shall pass to the Government upon acceptance, regardless of when or where the Government takes physical possession.
(o) Warranty. The Contractor warrants and implies that the items delivered hereunder are merchantable and fit for use for the particular purpose described in this contract.
(p) Limitation of liability. Except as otherwise provided by an express warranty, the Contractor will not be liable to the Government for consequential damages resulting from any defect or deficiencies in accepted items.
(q) Other compliances. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this contract.
(r) Compliance with laws unique to Government contracts. The Contractor agrees to comply with 31 U.S.C. 1352 relating to limitations on the use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracts; 18 U.S.C. 431 relating to officials not to benefit; 40 U.S.C. chapter 37, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards; 41 U.S.C. chapter 87, Kickbacks; 41 U.S.C. 4712 and 10 U.S.C. 2409 relating to whistleblower protections; 49 U.S.C. 40118, Fly American; and 41 U.S.C. chapter 21 relating to procurement integrity.
(s) Order of precedence. Any inconsistencies in this solicitation or contract shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order:
(1) The schedule of supplies/services.
(2) The Assignments, Disputes, Payments, Invoice, Other Compliances, Compliance with Laws Unique to Government Contracts, Unauthorized Obligations, and Commercial Supplier Agreements-Unenforceable Clauses paragraphs of this clause.
(3) The clause at 52.212-5.
(4) Addenda to this solicitation or contract, including any commercial supplier agreements as amended by the Commercial Supplier Agreements—Unenforceable Clauses provision.
(5) Solicitation provisions if this is a solicitation.
(6) Other paragraphs of this clause.
(7) The Standard Form 1449.
(8) Other documents, exhibits, and attachments.
(9) The specification.
(t) [Reserved]
(u) Unauthorized Obligations. (1) Except as stated in paragraph (u)(2) of this clause, when any supply or service acquired under this contract is subject to any commercial supplier agreement (as defined in 1502.100) that includes any language, provision, or clause requiring the Government to pay any future fees, penalties, interest, legal costs or to indemnify the Contractor or any person or entity for damages, costs, fees, or any other loss or liability that would create an Anti-Deficiency Act violation (31 U.S.C. 1341), the following shall govern:
(i) Any such language, provision, or clause is unenforceable against the Government.
(ii) Neither the Government nor any Government authorized end user shall be deemed to have agreed to such clause by virtue of it appearing in the commercial supplier agreement. If the commercial supplier agreement is invoked through an “I agree” click box or other comparable mechanism ( e.g., “click-wrap” or “browse-wrap” agreements), execution does not bind the Government or any Government authorized end user to such clause.
(iii) Any such language, provision, or clause is deemed to be stricken from the commercial supplier agreement.
(2) Paragraph (u)(1) of this clause does not apply to indemnification or any other payment by the Government that is expressly authorized by statute and specifically authorized under applicable agency regulations and procedures.
(v) Incorporation by reference. The Contractor's representations and certifications, including those completed electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM), are incorporated by reference into the contract.
(w) Commercial Supplier Agreements—unenforceable clauses. When any supply or service acquired under this contract is subject to a Commercial Supplier Agreement (as defined in 48 CFR 1502.100), the following language shall be deemed incorporated into the commercial supplier agreement. As used herein, “this agreement” means the Commercial Supplier Agreement:
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, when the end user is an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. Government, the following shall apply:
(i) Applicability. This agreement is a part of a contract between the commercial supplier and the U.S. Government for the acquisition of the supply or service that necessitates a license or other similar legal instrument (including all contracts, task orders, and delivery orders under FAR Part 12).
(ii) End user. This agreement shall bind the ordering activity as end user but shall not operate to bind a Government employee or person acting on behalf of the Government in his or her personal capacity.
(iii) Law and disputes. This agreement is governed by Federal law.
(A) Any language purporting to subject the U.S. Government to the laws of a U.S. state, U.S. territory, district, or municipality, or a foreign nation, except where Federal law expressly provides for the application of such laws, is hereby deleted.
(B) Any language requiring dispute resolution in a specific forum or venue that is different from that prescribed by applicable Federal law is hereby deleted.
(C) Any language prescribing a different time period for bringing an action than that prescribed by applicable Federal law in relation to a dispute is hereby deleted.
(iv) Continued performance. The supplier or licensor shall not unilaterally revoke, terminate or suspend any rights granted to the Government except as allowed by this contract. If the supplier or licensor believes the ordering activity to be in breach of the agreement, it shall pursue its rights under the Contract Disputes Act or other applicable Federal statute while continuing performance as set forth in paragraph (d) of this clause.
(v) Arbitration; equitable or injunctive relief. In the event of a claim or dispute arising under or relating to this agreement, a binding arbitration shall not be used unless specifically authorized by agency guidance, and equitable or injunctive relief, including the award of attorney fees, costs or interest, may be awarded against the U.S. Government only when explicitly provided by statute ( e.g., Prompt Payment Act or Equal Access to Justice Act ).
(vi) Updating terms. (A) After award, the contractor may unilaterally revise terms if they are not material. A material change is defined as:
(1) Terms that change Government rights or obligations;
(2) Terms that increase Government prices;
(3) Terms that decrease overall level of service; or
(4) Terms that limit any other Government right addressed elsewhere in this contract.
(B) For revisions that will materially change the terms of the contract, the revised commercial supplier agreement must be incorporated into the contract using a bilateral modification.
(C) Any agreement terms or conditions unilaterally revised subsequent to award that are inconsistent with any material term or provision of this contract shall not be enforceable against the Government, and the Government shall not be deemed to have consented to them.
(vii) No automatic renewals. If any license or service tied to periodic payment is provided under this agreement ( e.g., annual software maintenance or annual lease term), such license or service shall not renew automatically upon expiration of its current term without prior express consent by an authorized Government representative.
(viii) Indemnification. Any clause of this agreement requiring the commercial supplier or licensor to defend or indemnify the end user is hereby amended to provide that the U.S. Department of Justice has the sole right to represent the United States in any such action, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 516.
(ix) Audits. Any clause of this agreement permitting the commercial supplier or licensor to audit the end user's compliance with this agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(A) Discrepancies found in an audit may result in a charge by the commercial supplier or licensor to the ordering activity. Any resulting invoice must comply with the proper invoicing requirements specified in the underlying Government contract or order.
(B) This charge, if disputed by the ordering activity, will be resolved in accordance with paragraph (d) of this clause; no payment obligation shall arise on the part of the ordering activity until the conclusion of the dispute process.
(C) Any audit requested by the contractor will be performed at the contractor's expense, without reimbursement by the Government.
(x) Taxes or surcharges. Any taxes or surcharges which the commercial supplier or licensor seeks to pass along to the Government as end user will be governed by the terms of the underlying Government contract or order and, in any event, must be submitted to the Contracting Officer for a determination of applicability prior to invoicing unless specifically agreed to otherwise in the Government contract.
(xi) Non-assignment. This agreement may not be assigned, nor may any rights or obligations thereunder be delegated, without the Government's prior approval, except as expressly permitted under paragraph (b) of this clause.
(xii) Confidential information. If this agreement includes a confidentiality clause, such clause is hereby amended to state that neither the agreement nor the contract price list, as applicable, shall be deemed “confidential information.” Issues regarding release of “unit pricing” will be resolved consistent with the Freedom of Information Act. Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary, the Government may retain any confidential information as required by law, regulation or its internal document retention procedures for legal, regulatory or compliance purposes; provided, however, that all such retained confidential information will continue to be subject to the confidentiality obligations of this agreement.
(2) If any language, provision, or clause of this agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with paragraph (w)(1) of this clause, the language, provisions, or clause of paragraph (w)(1) shall prevail to the extent of such inconsistency.
1552.332-39   Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations (far deviation).
As prescribed in 1513.507(b) and 1532.1070, use clause 1552.332-39 (FAR DEVIATION) instead of the nondeviated version for purchase orders, modifications and contracts that include commercial supplier agreements.
(a) Except as stated in paragraph (b) of this clause, when any supply or service acquired under this contract is subject to any commercial supplier agreement (as defined in 1502.100) that includes any language, provision, or clause requiring the Government to pay any future fees, penalties, interest, legal costs or to indemnify the Contractor or any person or entity for damages, costs, fees, or any other loss or liability that would create an Anti-Deficiency Act violation (31 U.S.C. 1341), the following shall govern:
(1) Any such language, provision, or clause is unenforceable against the Government.
(2) Neither the Government nor any Government authorized end user shall be deemed to have agreed to such language, provision, or clause by virtue of it appearing in the commercial supplier agreement. If the commercial supplier agreement is invoked through an “I agree” click box or other comparable mechanism ( e.g., “click-wrap” or “browse-wrap” agreements), execution does not bind the Government or any Government authorized end user to such clause.
(3) Any such language, provision, or clause is deemed to be stricken from the commercial supplier agreement.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this clause does not apply to indemnification or any other payment by the Government that is expressly authorized by statute and specifically authorized under applicable agency regulations and procedures.