Part 512 - Acquisition of Commercial

Products and Commercial Services

Subpart 512.2 - Special Requirements for the Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial

Services

512.201 General.

512.203 Procedures for solicitation, evaluation, and award.

512.204 Solicitation/contract form.

512.212 Computer software.

512.216 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.

Subpart 512.3 - Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition of Commercial

Products and Commercial Services

512.301 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the acquisition of commercial products and

commercial Services.

512.302 Tailoring of provisions and clauses for the acquisition of commercial products and

commercial services.

Parent topic: General Services Administration Acquisition Manual

Subpart 512.2 - Special Requirements for the Acquisition of

Commercial Products and Commercial Services

512.201 General.

See subpart 504.70 for guidance on identifying and mitigating supply chain risks.

512.203 Procedures for solicitation, evaluation, and award.

(a) Federal Supply Schedule contracts. For Federal Supply Schedule contracts, the contracting

officer shall use the policies in FAR 12 and this part 512 in conjunction with the policies and

procedures in FAR 38 and part 538. See , Use of Bid Samples, if applicable.

(b) Deregulated/Competitive Acquisitions for Natural Gas and Electricity. For

deregulated/competitive acquisitions, the contracting officer shall use policies and procedures in

FAR 12 and this part 512 in conjunction with the policies and procedures in FAR 41.202 (a) and (b),

the review requirements of FAR 41, and GSAM part 541, as applicable.

(c) Contracting for Construction. The provisions and clauses in FAR 36 and GSAM part 536 address
the fundamental aspects of construction contracting. FAR 36 and GSAM part 536 apply wellestablished commercial principles that are designed to result in an equitable distribution of risk

between the Government and its contractors. The contracting officer should consider the following

when contemplating a construction acquisition as a commercial purchase—

(1) FAR 12, as currently promulgated, should rarely be used for new construction acquisitions or

non-routine alteration and repair services.

(2) FAR 12 and GSAM part 512 may be used in limited circumstances involving construction

contracting, primarily for routine alteration and repair services as well as for the acquisition of

commercial construction materials and associated ancillary services. It may be appropriate to use

FAR 12 and GSAM part 512 for routine projects such as painting or carpeting, simple hanging of

drywall, everyday electrical or plumbing work, and similar noncomplex services, as well as for

purchases of commercial construction material and associated ancillary services.

(3) Whether a construction acquisition is conducted under FAR 36 or FAR 12, the contracting officer

must adhere to the policies of FAR Subpart 22.4. This subpart addresses labor standards for

contracts involving construction. Prior to making the determination that a construction acquisition

can be conducted as a commercial purchase, the contracting officer should conduct appropriate

market research in accordance with FAR 10 and GSAM part 510.

(4) Construction contracts in excess of $2,000 must include an applicable Construction Wage Rate

Requirements statute wage determination found under the System for Award Management Wage

Determinations at https://www.sam.gov. If the construction contract is greater than $30,000, then

the SF 1442 should be used in lieu of the SF 1449 and the bonds or alternate payment protection

provisions of FAR 28.102-1, 28.102-2 and 28.102-3 apply.

(5) Construction contracts awarded as commercial acquisitions should not exceed the prospectus

threshold. The prospectus threshold as referenced in section 102-73.35 of the Federal Management

Regulation (FMR) is posted at https://www.gsa.gov/annualprospectusthreshold.

(d) Acquisitions with Commercial Supplier Agreements. For acquisitions with commercial supplier

agreements, the deviated commercial products and commercial services clause 552.212-4 as

prescribed in 512.301 addresses common commercial terms that conflict with Federal law and

makes the terms unenforceable against the Government. The contracting officer is responsible for:

(1) Identifying objectionable terms not covered by the deviated clause;

(2) Negotiating terms as necessary to meet the Government's needs; and

(3) Documenting the full commercial supplier agreement, including referenced terms, as addenda to

the contract (see 504.803(b)(23)).

512.204 Solicitation/contract form.

COs shall follow the INFORM procedures in section 515.370 for all applicable GSA acquisitions.

512.212 Computer software.

Common commercial supplier agreement terms that conflict with Federal law have been addressed
in paragraphs (u) and (w) of the clause at 552.212-4.

512.216 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.

GSA has a deviation to FAR 12.216 for this section. For commercial contracts, supplier license

agreements are referred to as commercial supplier agreements (defined in 502.101). Paragraph (u)

of clause 552.212-4 prevents violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341) for supplies or

services acquired subject to a commercial supplier agreement.

Subpart 512.3 - Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses

for the Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial

Services

512.301 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the acquisition of

commercial products and commercial Services.

(a) Contract clauses. Insert the following clauses in solicitations and contracts for the acquisition of

commercial products and commercial services:

(1) The clause at 552.212-71, Contract Terms and Conditions Applicable to GSA Acquisitions of

Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This clause incorporates by reference only those

clauses required to implement GSA requirements applicable to the acquisition of commercial

products and commercial services. This clause may be tailored in accordance with FAR 12.302 and

GSAM 512.302.

(2) The clause at 552.212-72, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or

Executive Orders Applicable to GSA Acquisitions of Commercial Products and Commercial Services,

when any listed clauses therein apply. This clause incorporates by reference only those clauses

required to implement provisions of law or Executive orders that apply to commercial products and

commercial services acquisitions.

(b) FAR deviation. GSA has a FAR deviation that allows use of the clause at 552.212-4 in lieu of the

FAR clause at 52.212-4. Insert the clause at 552.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial

Products and Commercial Services, in lieu of the FAR clause at 52.212-4. This clause may be tailored

in accordance with FAR 12.302 and GSAM 512.302.

(c) Discretionary use of GSAR provisions and clauses. Consistent with the limitations contained in

FAR 12.302 and 512.302, the contracting officer may include in solicitations and contracts by

addendum other GSAR provisions and clauses.

(d) Use of additional provisions and clauses . The Senior Procurement Executive shall approve the

use of a provision or clause that is either not:

(1) Prescribed in the FAR or GSAR for use in acquisitions for commercial products and commercial

services.

(2) Consistent with customary commercial practice.
512.302 Tailoring of provisions and clauses for the acquisition of commercial

products and commercial services.

(a) FAR 12.302(c) severely limits tailoring of clauses or otherwise including additional terms or

conditions in commercial products and commercial services solicitations or contracts in a manner

that is inconsistent with customary commercial practice. Such tailoring requires a waiver approved

as follows:

(1) Individual contract. The contracting officer’s supervisor approves the request.

(2) Class of contracts. The contracting director approves the request.

(b) Paragraph (w) of 552.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Products and

Commercial Services (FAR DEVIATION), implements statutory requirements, clarifies the

application of statutory requirements to common terms and conditions in commercial supplier

agreements, sets forth a list of such terms and conditions that do not meet the Government's needs,

and shall not be tailored.