Subpart 17.2 - Options

Parent topic: Part 17 - Special Contracting Methods

17.200 Scope of subpart.

This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for the use of option solicitation provisions and

contract clauses. Except as provided in agency regulations, this subpart does not apply to contracts

for (a) services involving the construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging, excavating, and

painting) of buildings, bridges, roads, or other kinds of real property; (b) architect-engineer services;

and (c) research and development services. However, it does not preclude the use of options in those

contracts.

17.201 [Reserved]

17.202 Use of options.

(a) Subject to the limitations of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, for both sealed bidding and

contracting by negotiation, the contracting officer may include options in contracts when it is in the

Government’s interest. When using sealed bidding, the contracting officer shall make a written

determination that there is a reasonable likelihood that the options will be exercised before

including the provision at 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options, in the solicitation. (See 17.207(f) with

regard to the exercise of options.)

(b) Inclusion of an option is normally not in the Government’s interest when, in the judgment of the

contracting officer-

(1) The foreseeable requirements involve-

(i) Minimum economic quantities (i.e., quantities large enough to permit the recovery of startup

costs and the production of the required supplies at a reasonable price); and

(ii) Delivery requirements far enough into the future to permit competitive acquisition, production,

and delivery.

(2) An indefinite quantity or requirements contract would be more appropriate than a contract with

options. However, this does not preclude the use of an indefinite quantity contract or requirements

contract with options.

(c) The contracting officer shall not employ options if-

(1) The contractor will incur undue risks; e.g., the price or availability of necessary materials or

labor is not reasonably foreseeable;

(2) Market prices for the supplies or services involved are likely to change substantially; or

(3) The option represents known firm requirements for which funds are available unless-
(i) The basic quantity is a learning or testing quantity; and

(ii) Competition for the option is impracticable once the initial contract is awarded.

(d) In recognition of-

(1) The Government’s need in certain service contracts for continuity of operations; and

(2) The potential cost of disrupted support, options may be included in service contracts if there is

an anticipated need for a similar service beyond the first contract period.

17.203 Solicitations.

(a) Solicitations shall include appropriate option provisions and clauses when resulting contracts will

provide for the exercise of options (see 17.208).

(b) Solicitations containing option provisions shall state the basis of evaluation, either exclusive or

inclusive of the option and, when appropriate, shall inform offerors that it is anticipated that the

Government may exercise the option at time of award.

(c) Solicitations normally should allow option quantities to be offered without limitation as to price,

and there shall be no limitation as to price if the option quantity is to be considered in the evaluation

for award (see 17.206).

(d) Solicitations that allow the offer of options at unit prices which differ from the unit prices for the

basic requirement shall state that offerors may offer varying prices for options, depending on the

quantities actually ordered and the dates when ordered.

(e) If it is anticipated that the Government may exercise an option at the time of award and if the

condition specified in paragraph (d) of this section applies, solicitations shall specify the price at

which the Government will evaluate the option (highest option price offered or option price for

specified requirements).

(f) Solicitations may, in unusual circumstances, require that options be offered at prices no higher

than those for the initial requirement; e.g., when-

(1) The option cannot be evaluated under 17.206; or;

(2) Future competition for the option is impracticable.

(g) Solicitations that require the offering of an option at prices no higher than those for the initial

requirement shall-

(1) Specify that the Government will accept an offer containing an option price higher than the base

price only if the acceptance does not prejudice any other offeror; and

(2) Limit option quantities for additional supplies to not more than 50 percent of the initial quantity

of the same line item. In unusual circumstances, an authorized person at a level above the

contracting officer may approve a greater percentage of quantity.

(h) Include the value of options in determining if the acquisition will exceed the World Trade
Organization Government Procurement Agreement or Free Trade Agreement thresholds.

17.204 Contracts.

(a) The contract shall specify limits on the purchase of additional supplies or services, or the overall

duration of the term of the contract, including any extension.

(b) The contract shall state the period within which the option may be exercised.

(c) The period shall be set so as to provide the contractor adequate lead time to ensure continuous

production.

(d) The period may extend beyond the contract completion date for service contracts. This is

necessary for situations when exercise of the option would result in the obligation of funds that are

not available in the fiscal year in which the contract would otherwise be completed.

(e) Unless otherwise approved in accordance with agency procedures, the total of the basic and

option periods shall not exceed 5 years in the case of services, and the total of the basic and option

quantities shall not exceed the requirement for 5 years in the case of supplies. These limitations do

not apply to information technology contracts. However, statutes applicable to various classes of

contracts, for example, the Service Contract Labor Standards statute (see 22.1002-1), may place

additional restrictions on the length of contracts.

(f) Contracts may express options for increased quantities of supplies or services in terms of-

(1) Percentage of specific line items,

(2) Increase in specific line items; or

(3) Additional numbered line items identified as the option.

(g) Contracts may express extensions of the term of the contract as an amended completion date or

as additional time for performance; e.g., days, weeks, or months.

17.205 Documentation.

(a) The contracting officer shall justify in writing the quantities or the term under option, the

notification period for exercising the option, and any limitation on option price under 17.203(g); and

shall include the justification document in the contract file.

(b) Any justifications and approvals and any determination and findings required by part 6 shall

specify both the basic requirement and the increase permitted by the option.

17.206 Evaluation.

(a) In awarding the basic contract, the contracting officer shall, except as provided in paragraph (b)

of this section, evaluate offers for any option quantities or periods contained in a solicitation when it
has been determined prior to soliciting offers that the Government is likely to exercise the options.

(See 17.208.)

(b) The contracting officer need not evaluate offers for any option quantities when it is determined

that evaluation would not be in the best interests of the Government and this determination is

approved at a level above the contracting officer. An example of a circumstance that may support a

determination not to evaluate offers for option quantities is when there is a reasonable certainty that

funds will be unavailable to permit exercise of the option.

17.207 Exercise of options.

(a) When exercising an option, the contracting officer shall provide written notice to the contractor

within the time period specified in the contract.

(b) When the contract provides for economic price adjustment and the contractor requests a revision

of the price, the contracting officer shall determine the effect of the adjustment on prices under the

option before the option is exercised.

(c) The contracting officer may exercise options only after determining that-

(1) Funds are available;

(2) The requirement covered by the option fulfills an existing Government need;

(3) The exercise of the option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the Government’s need,

price and other factors (see paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section) considered;

(4) The option was synopsized in accordance with part 5 unless exempted by 5.202(a)(11) or other

appropriate exemptions in 5.202;

(5) The contractor does not have an active exclusion record in the System for Award Management

(see FAR 9.405-1);

(6) The contractor’s past performance evaluations on other contract actions have been considered;

and

(7) The contractor’s performance on this contract has been acceptable, e.g., received satisfactory

ratings.

(d) The contracting officer, after considering price and other factors, shall make the determination

on the basis of one of the following:

(1) A new solicitation fails to produce a better price or a more advantageous offer than that offered

by the option. If it is anticipated that the best price available is the option price or that this is the

more advantageous offer, the contracting officer should not use this method of testing the market.

(2) An informal analysis of prices or an examination of the market indicates that the option price is

better than prices available in the market or that the option is the more advantageous offer.

(3) The time between the award of the contract containing the option and the exercise of the option

is so short that it indicates the option price is the lowest price obtainable or the more advantageous
offer. The contracting officer shall take into consideration such factors as market stability and

comparison of the time since award with the usual duration of contracts for such supplies or

services.

(e) The determination of other factors under paragraph (c)(3) of this section-

(1) Should take into account the Government’s need for continuity of operations and potential costs

of disrupting operations; and

(2) May consider the effect on small business.

(f) Before exercising an option, the contracting officer shall make a written determination for the

contract file that exercise is in accordance with the terms of the option, the requirements of this

section, and part 6. To satisfy requirements of part 6 regarding full and open competition, the

option must have been evaluated as part of the initial competition and be exercisable at an amount

specified in or reasonably determinable from the terms of the basic contract, e.g.-

(1) A specific dollar amount;

(2) An amount to be determined by applying provisions (or a formula) provided in the basic contract,

but not including renegotiation of the price for work in a fixed-price type contract;

(3) In the case of a cost-type contract, if-

(i) The option contains a fixed or maximum fee; or

(ii) The fixed or maximum fee amount is determinable by applying a formula contained in the basic

contract (but see 16.102(c));

(4) A specific price that is subject to an economic price adjustment provision; or

(5) A specific price that is subject to change as the result of changes to prevailing labor rates

provided by the Secretary of Labor.

(g) The contract modification or other written document which notifies the contractor of the exercise

of the option shall cite the option clause as authority.

17.208 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

(a) Insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.217-3, Evaluation Exclusive of

Options, in solicitations when the solicitation includes an option clause and does not include one of

the provisions prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) Insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.217-4, Evaluation of Options

Exercised at Time of Contract Award, in solicitations when the solicitation includes an option clause,

the contracting officer has determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the option will be

exercised, and the option may be exercised at the time of contract award.

(c) Insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options, in

solicitations when-
(1) The solicitation contains an option clause;

(2) An option is not to be exercised at the time of contract award;

(3) A firm-fixed-price contract, a fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment, or other type

of contract approved under agency procedures is contemplated; and

(4) The contracting officer has determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the option will

be exercised. For sealed bids, the determination shall be in writing.

(d) Insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.217-6, Option for Increased Quantity, in

solicitations and contracts, other than those for services, when the inclusion of an option is

appropriate (see 17.200 and 17.202) and the option quantity is expressed as a percentage of the

basic contract quantity or as an additional quantity of a specific line item.

(e) Insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.217-7, Option for Increased QuantitySeparately Priced Line Item, in solicitations and contracts, other than those for services, when the

inclusion of an option is appropriate (see 17.200 and 17.202) and the option quantity is identified as

a separately priced line item having the same nomenclature as a corresponding line item.

(f) Insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, in

solicitations and contracts for services when the inclusion of an option is appropriate. (See 17.200,

17.202, and 37.111.)

(g) Insert a clause substantially the same as the clause at 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the

Contract, in solicitations and contracts when the inclusion of an option is appropriate (see 17.200

and 17.202) and it is necessary to include in the contract any or all of the following:

(1) A requirement that the Government must give the contractor a preliminary written notice of its

intent to extend the contract.

(2) A statement that an extension of the contract includes an extension of the option.

(3) A specified limitation on the total duration of the contract.