Part 532 - Contract Financing

Subpart 532.1 —Financing for Other Than a Commercial Purchase

532.103 Progress payments under construction contracts.

532.111 Contract clauses for non-commercial purchases.

532.112 Non payment of subcontractors under contracts other than for commercial products and

commercial services.

532.112-1 Subcontractor assertions of nonpayment.

Subpart 532.4 - Advance Payments for Other Than Commercial Acquisitions

532.402 General.

532.407 Interest.

Subpart 532.5 - Progress Payments Based on Costs

532.501 General.

532.501-2 Unusual progress payments.

532.502 Preaward matters.

532.502-2 Contract finance office clearance.

532.503-5 Administration of progress payments.

532.503-6 Suspension or reduction of payments.

532.503-9 Liquidation rates—alternate method.

Subpart 532.6 - Contract Debts

532.606 Debt determination and collection.

Subpart 532.7 - Contract Funding

532.700 Scope of subpart.

532.702 Policy.

532.703 Contract funding requirements.

532.705 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.

532.706 Contract clauses.

532.706-3 Contract clauses for unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.
Subpart 532.8 - Assignment of Claims

532.805 Procedure.

532.806 Contract clauses.

Subpart 532.9 - Prompt Payment

532.904 Determining payment due dates.

532.905 Payment documentation and process.

532.905-70 Final payment—construction and building service contracts.

532.908 Contract clauses.

Subpart 532.11 - Electronic Funds Transfer

[Reserved]

Subpart 532.70 - Authorizing Payment by Government Charge Card

532.7002 Solicitation requirements.

532.7003 Contract clause.

Subpart 532.71 - [Reserved]

Subpart 532.72 - Payments Under Contracts Subject to Audit

532.7201 General.

532.7202 Submission and processing of invoices or vouchers.

532.7203 Action upon receipt of an audit report.

532.7204 Suspension and disapproval of amounts claimed.

Parent topic: General Services Administration Acquisition Manual

Subpart 532.1 —Financing for Other Than a Commercial

Purchase

532.103 Progress payments under construction contracts.

GSA Form 184 and, to the extent necessary, GSA Forms 184A and 184B, shall be prepared by

Government personnel or agents of GSA to document satisfactory progress of work prior to

processing each progress payment request submitted by the construction contractor in accordance

with FAR 52.232-5 and 552.232-5. Generally, construction contractors are not considered agents of

GSA. Certain other contractors, including, but not necessarily limited to, construction management

contractors (CMs), however, may be considered agents of GSA if they are authorized to act on behalf

of GSA to obtain the information for the referenced forms.
532.111 Contract clauses for non-commercial purchases.

(a) FAR deviation. GSA has a FAR deviation that allows use of the clause at 552.232-1 in lieu of the

FAR clause at 52.232-1. Insert the clause at 552.232-1, Payments, in solicitations and contracts

when a fixed-price supply contract, a fixed-price service contract, or a contract for nonregulated

communication services is contemplated, in lieu of the FAR clause at 52.232-1.

(b) Construction contracts. Insert the clause at 552.232-5, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction

Contracts, in solicitations and contracts when a fixed-price construction contract is contemplated.

532.112 Non payment of subcontractors under contracts other than for

commercial products and commercial services.

532.112-1 Subcontractor assertions of nonpayment.

If the contracting officer determines under FAR 32.112-1 that a contractor’s certification of payment

is inaccurate in any material respect, the contracting officer shall report the matter to the Office of

Inspector General.

Subpart 532.4 - Advance Payments for Other Than

Commercial Acquisitions

532.402 General.

The contracting officer shall prepare the findings and determinations required by FAR 32.402(e) in

coordination with the contract finance office. The HCA approves the findings, determinations and

authorization for advance payments.

532.407 Interest.

The contract finance office will give the contracting officer the interest rate to be charged on the

unliquidated balance of advance payments.

Subpart 532.5 - Progress Payments Based on Costs

532.501 General.

532.501-2 Unusual progress payments.

The HCA must approve or disapprove requests for “unusual” progress payments.
532.502 Preaward matters.

532.502-2 Contract finance office clearance.

Before providing for progress payments based on costs, the contracting officer shall request the

Office of the Chief Financial Officer to provide advice and assistance about a contractor’s financial

condition and the adequacy of its accounting system and controls.

532.503-5 Administration of progress payments.

The contracting officer shall ensure that the contract finance office provides to the contracting

office:

(a) The date and amount of each progress payment to a contractor; and

(b) Written recommendations if findings warrant action by the Government.

532.503-6 Suspension or reduction of payments.

The HCA must approve any action recommended under FAR 32.503-6. Upon approval, the

contracting officer shall request the contract finance office to suspend or reduce payments.

532.503-9 Liquidation rates—alternate method.

Reduction of the liquidation rates specified in paragraph (b) of FAR 52.232-16 may be made only

with the contracting officer’s approval after coordination with the contract finance office. Upon

approval, the contracting officer shall request the finance office to reduce the rate.

Subpart 532.6 - Contract Debts

532.606 Debt determination and collection.

(a) The contract finance office is responsible for the administration of debt collection pursuant to

GSA directives, currently found in the Accounting Operations—Accounts Receivable and Credit and

Finance Operations, and Related Activities Handbook (PFM P 4253.1).

(b) If the contracting officer determines that a debt in excess of $100 is delinquent, he/she shall

notify the applicable finance office for collection in accordance with the Debt Collection

Improvement Act of 1996, and possibly forward the information to the Department of the Treasury’s

Financial Management Service for administrative offset and cross-servicing.

(c) If the contractor appeals the demand for payment pursuant to the Disputes clause of its contract,

the contracting officer shall advise the Finance Office whether to suspend collection efforts pending
resolution of the dispute.

Subpart 532.7 - Contract Funding

532.700 Scope of subpart.

GSA fiscal regulations are in the Budget Administration Handbook (CFO 4251.4), Accounting

Classification Handbook (CFO P 4240.1), and Accounting Operations—Voucher Examination

Payment Handbook (CFO P 4252.1).

532.702 Policy.

GSA’s contract funding policies are in compliance with the full funding policy at 2, Section 31.6,

OMB-C A-11, published June 26, 2008.

532.703 Contract funding requirements.

(a) “Severable services” means services that are continuing and ongoing in nature—such as helpdesk support, maintenance, or janitorial services—for which benefit is received each time the service

is rendered.

(b) “Non-severable services” means work that results in a final product or end-item and for which

benefit is received only when the entire project is complete, such as systems design, building

conversion, or environmental study.

(c) Contracts for severable services may cross fiscal years as long as the period of performance

(excluding options) is no more than 12 months. Contracts for goods or non-severable services are

not similarly limited.

532.705 Unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.

Supplier license agreements defined in FAR 32.705 are equivalent to commercial supplier

agreements defined in 502.101.

532.706 Contract clauses.

532.706-3 Contract clauses for unenforceability of unauthorized obligations.

GSA has a FAR deviation that allows use of the clause in paragraph (a) of this subsection in lieu of

the FAR clause at 52.232-39.

(a) Insert the clause at 552.232-39, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations in all solicitations

and contracts in lieu of the FAR clause at 52.232-39.
(b) Insert the clause at 552.232-78, Commercial Supplier Agreements—Unenforceable Clauses, in all

solicitations and contracts (including orders) when not using FAR part 12.

Subpart 532.8 - Assignment of Claims

532.805 Procedure.

(a) When acknowledging receipt of the notice of assignment, the contracting officer shall notify the

contractor that all future invoices or other requests for payment under the contract must specify the

name and address of the assignee and include a notation that payments due thereunder have been

duly assigned. The contracting officer must send a copy of the acknowledgment to the contract

finance office.

(b) When payments under requirements or indefinite quantity contracts that are for the sole use of

GSA have been assigned, the contracting officer shall provide all GSA offices that will place orders

against the contract the name and address of the assignee that will receive amounts due under the

contract. The notification should also state that the contracting officer requested the contractor to

specify the name and address of the assignee on future invoices.

532.806 Contract clauses.

Insert the clause at 552.232-23, Assignment of Claims, in solicitations and requirements or indefinite

quantity contracts under which more than one agency may place orders.

Subpart 532.9 - Prompt Payment

532.904 Determining payment due dates.

Payment due dates for construction contracts are addressed at FAR 32.904(d). The following

procedures apply to construction and building service contracts:

(a)The amount of final payment must include, as appropriate, deductions to cover any of the

following:

(1)Liquidated damages for late completion.

(2)Liquidated damages for labor violations.

(3)Amounts withheld for improper payment of labor wages.

(4)The amount of unilateral change orders covering defects and omissions.

(5)The agreed-upon dollar amount in a Deficiency Report, which is included in all applicable

Operation and Maintenance (O&M) service contracts.

(b) An official one level above the contracting officer shall approve justifications exercising the
authority prescribed by FAR 32.904(d)(1)(i)(B). The time needed should be determined on a case-bycase basis, but the specified constructive acceptance period shall not exceed 30 days.

532.905 Payment documentation and process.

(a) Contractors are to submit invoices or vouchers to the contracting officer for approval. Invoices

must be annotated with the date of receipt, as required by FAR 32.905. That date will be used to

determine interest penalties for late payments. The contracting officer or designee must review the

processing of invoices or vouchers before payment to determine if the items and amounts claimed

are consistent with the contract terms and represent prudent business transactions. The contracting

officer must ensure that these payments are commensurate with physical and technical progress

under the contract. If the contractor has not deducted questionable amounts from the invoice or

amounts required to be withheld, the contracting officer must make the required deduction, except

as provided in 532.7203. Subject to 532.7201, the contracting officer must note approval of any

payment on (or attached to) the invoice or voucher submitted by the contractor and forward the

invoice or voucher to the appropriate contract finance office for retention after certification and

scheduling for payment by a disbursing office.

(b) See GSAM 532.7203 for the handling of audit findings.

532.905-70 Final payment—construction and building service contracts.

The following procedures apply to construction and building service contracts:

(a)The Government shall pay the final amount due to the contractor under this contract after the

documentation in the payment clauses of the contract is submitted. This includes the final release

prescribed for construction at FAR 52.232-5, and for building services at GSAR 552.232-72.

(b) A contracting officers may only process the final payment for a construction or building service

contracts once:

(1) The contractor submits a properly executed GSA Form 1142, Release of Claims; or

(2) The contracting officer documents in the contract file:

(i) That the contracting officer requested a release of claims from the contractor and did not receive

a response within 60 calendar days; and

(ii) Approval to process the final payment from one level above the contracting officer.

532.908 Contract clauses.

(a) Building services contracts. Insert the clause at 552.232-72, Final Payment Under Building

Services Contracts, in solicitations and contracts for building services.

(b) Stock, Special Order, and Schedules Programs.
(1)GSA has a FAR deviation to authorize payment within 10 days of receipt of a proper invoice. The

authority applies only to:

(i)Orders placed by GSA under Stock, Special Order, and Schedules programs;

(ii)That include FAR clause at 52.232-33, Mandatory Information for Electronic Funds Transfer

Payment; and

(iii)For which the order is placed, and the contractor submits invoices using EDI in accordance with

the Trading Partner Agreement.

(2)If the contract is for other than commercial products or commercial services, use the clause at

552.232-25, Prompt Payment, in lieu of the FAR clause at 52.232-25.

Subpart 532.11 - Electronic Funds Transfer

[Reserved]

Subpart 532.70 - Authorizing Payment by Government

Charge Card

532.7002 Solicitation requirements.

(a) In solicitations for supplies and services, except FSS schedule solicitations, request offerors to

indicate if they will accept payment by Governmentwide commercial purchase card. Identify the card

brand(s) under the GSA SmartPay® program that may be used to make payments under the

contract, on the cover page or in Section L of the solicitation.

(b) For FSS schedule contracts, identify the card brand(s) under the GSA SmartPay® program that

may be used to make payments under the contract in the contract award letter.

(c) For orders placed by GSA, you may authorize payment by Governmentwide commercial purchase

card only for orders that do not exceed $100,000 (see GSA Order, Guidance on Use of the Credit

Card for Purchases (CFO 4200.1)).

(d)Consider requesting offerors to designate different levels for which they may accept payment by

Governmentwide commercial purchase card, for example:

If awarded a contract under this solicitation, the offeror agrees to accept payment by

Governmentwide commercial purchase card for orders of:

______ $2,500 or less

______ $25,000 or less

______ $50,000 or less

______ $100,000 or less
532.7003 Contract clause.

For Schedule contracts that provide for payment using the Government charge card, use the

clause(s) prescribed at part 538.

Subpart 532.71 - [Reserved]

Subpart 532.72 - Payments Under Contracts Subject to Audit

532.7201 General.

532.7202 Submission and processing of invoices or vouchers.

(a) Contractors should be required to submit invoices or vouchers to the contracting officer. The

date on which the contracting officer receives the invoice or voucher will be used to determine

interest penalties for late payments. The contracting officer, or designee, must review the

processing of invoices or vouchers before payment to determine if the items and amounts claimed

are consistent with the contract terms and represent prudent business transactions. The contracting

officer must ensure that these payments are commensurate with physical and technical progress

under the contract. If the contractor has not deducted questionable amounts from the invoice or

amounts required to be withheld, the contracting officer is responsible for making the required

deduction, except as provided in 532.7203.

(b) Subject to 532.7201, the contracting officer should note approval of any payment on (or

attached to) the invoice or voucher submitted by the contractor, then forward the invoice or voucher

to the appropriate contract finance office for retention after certification and scheduling for payment

by a disbursing office.

532.7203 Action upon receipt of an audit report.

Audit reports will be furnished to the contracting officer with a copy to the appropriate contract

finance office. Upon receipt of an audit report, pursuant to contract terms, the contracting officer is

responsible for determining the allowability of all costs covered by audit. While the auditor’s

recommendations should be given full consideration, the contracting officer must make an

independent business judgment before taking any action based on the audit report. If there is doubt

or question about the auditor’s recommendations, the contracting officer is required to follow the

audit resolution procedures in GSA Order ADM 2030.2, Internal Audit Follow-up Handbook.

532.7204 Suspension and disapproval of amounts claimed.

(a) The contracting officer shall notify the appropriate contract finance office in writing when
amounts claimed for payment are—

(1) Suspended;

(2) Disapproved as not being allowable according to contract terms; or

(3) Not allocable to the contract.

(b) The contracting officer’s notice forms the basis for the contract finance office to issue GSA Form

533-1, Administrative Difference Statement. Finance will attach a copy of GSA Form 533-1 to each

copy of the invoice or voucher from which the deduction has been made, and will include an

explanation of the deduction.