Subpart 16.1 - Selecting Contract Types

Parent topic: Part 16 - Types of Contracts

16.101 General.

(a) A wide selection of contract types is available to the Government and contractors in order to

provide needed flexibility in acquiring the large variety and volume of supplies and services required

by agencies. Contract types vary according to-

(1) The degree and timing of the responsibility assumed by the contractor for the costs of

performance; and

(2) The amount and nature of the profit incentive offered to the contractor for achieving or

exceeding specified standards or goals.

(b) The contract types are grouped into two broad categories: fixed-price contracts (see subpart 

16.2) and cost-reimbursement contracts (see subpart 16.3). The specific contract types range from

firm-fixed-price, in which the contractor has full responsibility for the performance costs and

resulting profit (or loss), to cost-plus-fixed-fee, in which the contractor has minimal responsibility for

the performance costs and the negotiated fee (profit) is fixed. In between are the various incentive

contracts (see subpart 16.4), in which the contractor’s responsibility for the performance costs and

the profit or fee incentives offered are tailored to the uncertainties involved in contract

performance.

16.102 Policies.

(a) Contracts resulting from sealed bidding shall be firm-fixed-price contracts or fixed-price

contracts with economic price adjustment.

(b) Contracts negotiated under part 15 may be of any type or combination of types that will promote

the Government’s interest, except as restricted in this part (see 10 U.S.C. 3321(a) and 41

U.S.C.3901). Contract types not described in this regulation shall not be used, except as a deviation

under subpart 1.4.

(c) The cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost system of contracting shall not be used (see 10 U.S.C. 3322(a)

and 41 U.S.C.3905(a)). Prime contracts (including letter contracts) other than firm-fixed-price

contracts shall, by an appropriate clause, prohibit cost-plus-a-percentage-of-cost subcontracts (see

clauses prescribed in subpart 44.2 for cost-reimbursement contracts and subparts 16.2 and 16.4 for

fixed-price contracts).

(d) No contract may be awarded before the execution of any determination and findings (D&F’s)

required by this part. Minimum requirements for the content of D&F’s required by this part are

specified in 1.704.
16.103 Negotiating contract type.

(a) Selecting the contract type is generally a matter for negotiation and requires the exercise of

sound judgment. Negotiating the contract type and negotiating prices are closely related and should

be considered together. The objective is to negotiate a contract type and price (or estimated cost

and fee) that will result in reasonable contractor risk and provide the contractor with the greatest

incentive for efficient and economical performance.

(b) A firm-fixed-price contract, which best utilizes the basic profit motive of business enterprise,

shall be used when the risk involved is minimal or can be predicted with an acceptable degree of

certainty. However, when a reasonable basis for firm pricing does not exist, other contract types

should be considered, and negotiations should be directed toward selecting a contract type (or

combination of types) that will appropriately tie profit to contractor performance.

(c) In the course of an acquisition program, a series of contracts, or a single long-term contract,

changing circumstances may make a different contract type appropriate in later periods than that

used at the outset. In particular, contracting officers should avoid protracted use of a costreimbursement or time-and-materials contract after experience provides a basis for firmer pricing.

(d)

(1) Each contract file shall include documentation to show why the particular contract type was

selected. This shall be documented in the acquisition plan, or in the contract file if a written

acquisition plan is not required by agency procedures.

(i) Explain why the contract type selected must be used to meet the agency need.

(ii) Discuss the Government’s additional risks and the burden to manage the contract type selected

(e.g., when a cost-reimbursement contract is selected, the Government incurs additional cost risks,

and the Government has the additional burden of managing the contractor’s costs). For such

instances, acquisition personnel shall discuss –

(A) How the Government identified the additional risks (e.g., pre-award survey, or past performance

information);

(B) The nature of the additional risks (e.g., inadequate contractor’s accounting system, weaknesses

in contractor's internal control, non-compliance with Cost Accounting Standards, or lack of or

inadequate earned value management system); and

(C) How the Government will manage and mitigate the risks.

(iii) Discuss the Government resources necessary to properly plan for, award, and administer the

contract type selected (e.g., resources needed and the additional risks to the Government if

adequate resources are not provided).

(iv) For other than a firm-fixed price contract, at a minimum the documentation should include –

(A) An analysis of why the use of other than a firm-fixed-price contract (e.g., cost reimbursement,

time and materials, labor hour) is appropriate;

(B) Rationale that detail the particular facts and circumstances (e.g., complexity of the
requirements, uncertain duration of the work, contractor’s technical capability and financial

responsibility, or adequacy of the contractor’s accounting system), and associated reasoning

essential to support the contract type selection;

(C) An assessment regarding the adequacy of Government resources that are necessary to properly

plan for, award, and administer other than firm-fixed-price contracts; and

(D) A discussion of the actions planned to minimize the use of other than firm-fixed-price contracts

on future acquisitions for the same requirement and to transition to firm-fixed-price contracts to the

maximum extent practicable.

(v) A discussion of why a level-of-effort, price redetermination, or fee provision was included.

(2) Exceptions to the requirements at (d)(1) of this section are –

(i) Fixed-price acquisitions made under simplified acquisition procedures;

(ii) Contracts on a firm-fixed-price basis other than those for major systems or research and

development; and

(iii) Awards on the set-aside portion of sealed bid partial set-asides for small business.

16.104 Factors in selecting contract types.

There are many factors that the contracting officer should consider in selecting and negotiating the

contract type. They include the following:

(a) Price competition. Normally, effective price competition results in realistic pricing, and a fixedprice contract is ordinarily in the Government’s interest.

(b) Price analysis. Price analysis, with or without competition, may provide a basis for selecting the

contract type. The degree to which price analysis can provide a realistic pricing standard should be

carefully considered. (See 15.404-1(b).)

(c) Cost analysis. In the absence of effective price competition and if price analysis is not sufficient,

the cost estimates of the offeror and the Government provide the bases for negotiating contract

pricing arrangements. It is essential that the uncertainties involved in performance and their

possible impact upon costs be identified and evaluated, so that a contract type that places a

reasonable degree of cost responsibility upon the contractor can be negotiated.

(d) Type and complexity of the requirement. Complex requirements, particularly those unique to the

Government, usually result in greater risk assumption by the Government. This is especially true for

complex research and development contracts, when performance uncertainties or the likelihood of

changes makes it difficult to estimate performance costs in advance. As a requirement recurs or as

quantity production begins, the cost risk should shift to the contractor, and a fixed-price contract

should be considered.

(e) Combining contract types. If the entire contract cannot be firm-fixed-price, the contracting

officer shall consider whether or not a portion of the contract can be established on a firm-fixedprice basis.
(f) Urgency of the requirement. If urgency is a primary factor, the Government may choose to

assume a greater proportion of risk or it may offer incentives tailored to performance outcomes to

ensure timely contract performance.

(g) Period of performance or length of production run. In times of economic uncertainty, contracts

extending over a relatively long period may require economic price adjustment or price

redetermination clauses.

(h) Contractor’s technical capability and financial responsibility.

(i) Adequacy of the contractor's accounting system. Before agreeing on a contract type other than

firm-fixed-price, the contracting officer shall ensure that the contractor’s accounting system will

permit timely development of all necessary cost data in the form required by the proposed contract

type. This factor may be critical–

(1) When the contract type requires price revision while performance is in progress; or

(2) When a cost-reimbursement contract is being considered and all current or past experience with

the contractor has been on a fixed-price basis. See 42.302(a)(12).

(j) Concurrent contracts. If performance under the proposed contract involves concurrent operations

under other contracts, the impact of those contracts, including their pricing arrangements, should

be considered.

(k) Extent and nature of proposed subcontracting. If the contractor proposes extensive

subcontracting, a contract type reflecting the actual risks to the prime contractor should be

selected.

(l) Acquisition history. Contractor risk usually decreases as the requirement is repetitively acquired.

Also, product descriptions or descriptions of services to be performed can be defined more clearly.

16.105 Solicitation provision.

The contracting officer shall complete and insert the provision at 52.216-1, Type of Contract, in a

solicitation unless it is for-

(a) A fixed-price acquisition made under simplified acquisition procedures; or

(b) Information or planning purposes.