SUBPART 16.1 – SELECTING CONTRACT

TYPES

(Revised October 13, 2020 through PROCLTR 20 21-01 )

Parent topic: PART 16 – TYPES OF CONTRACTS

16.190 Long–term contracting.

Contracting officers shall establish and process LTCs in accordance with the following:

Use LTCs for stock replenishment consumable items that have frequent, consistent, and predictable

demands, as well as non-replenishment items having at least 12 demands per year. Renew items

currently on LTC, provided they have had at least 4 demands in the previous year. Exclude items if

they have 2 years DLA stock on hand, unless the PLT is 18 months or greater or there is no planned

buy within 2 years. The DLR sites will follow the Military Service procedures for managing items on

LTCs.

16.191 Bridge contracts.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms “contract” and “contracts” include contract actions with a

total estimated value above the SAT, including task or delivery orders, and orders against GSA

Schedule contracts. When determining if the acquisition meets the bridge contract definition in

2.101, contracting officers shall ensure compliance with FAR 13.003(c)(2) regarding splitting

requirements.

(b) Bridge contracts impede competitive awards, and contracting officers shall limit their use in

accordance with this paragraph. Contracting officers shall only use a bridge contract when it is not

possible to award the planned follow-on contract in sufficient time to meet the Government’s

requirements. A bridge contract may be appropriate when—

(1) The competitive follow-on contract or solicitation has been protested;

(2) The approved acquisition strategy requires a necessary change that the HCA endorses;

(3) A statutory or regulatory change necessitates a change prior to award; or

(4) Other circumstances that the contracting officer can demonstrate are not due to lack of advance

planning or inadequate procurement execution result in delay of a solicitation or award.

(c) The contracting officer shall—

(1) Coordinate with the requiring activity to prepare the appropriate justifications for a noncompetitive action to support solicitation and award of a bridge contract. Justifications include a

formal justification and approval (FAR Part 6 or Subpart 13.5), limited sources justification (FAR

Subpart 8.4), and exception to fair opportunity (FAR Subpart 16.5). The clearance levels are based

on the type of justification and the total estimated value of the bridge contract action. Include the
following in the justification:

(i) A clear statement that the action is a bridge contract in accordance with the definition at 2.101:

(ii) A detailed rationale for use of a bridge contract, including documentation that demonstrates the

need for a bridge contract is not due to lack of advance planning or inadequate procurement

execution;

(iii) A justification for the length of the bridge contract; and

(iv) A discussion of actions to be taken to avoid this bridge request and additional bridge contracts.

(2) Prepare a Decision Memorandum requesting approval to proceed with awarding a bridge

contract. The approval authorities listed in 16.191(c)(3) must sign and approve the request before

the contracting officer issues a solicitation or otherwise commences negotiations for award of the

bridge. Contracting officers shall include the following in all bridge contract approvals:

(i) Supporting documentation in accordance with FAR 4.801(b);

(ii) Signatures meeting the FAR 2.101 definition; and

(iii) The justification in accordance with 16.191(c)(1), unless FAR 6.302-2 or other provision of FAR

Subpart 6.3 not requiring preparation of a J&A prior to commencing negotiations applies.

(3) Subparagraphs (i)-(iii) identify the authorities for recommendation and approval of bridge

contracts. The recommending and approval authorities shall not be the same person.

(i) The contracting officer recommends and the HCA approves initial bridge contracts. The HCA may

delegate approval authority to the CCO for actions up to $1M.

(ii) The HCA recommends, and the DLA Competition Advocate approves the second bridge contract,

except for actions where the DLA Acquisition Deputy Director is also the HCA. For actions where the

DLA Acquisition Deputy Director is also the HCA, the DLA Acquisition Operations Division Chief

makes the recommendation for a second bridge contract to the DLA Competition Advocate who

remains the approval authority. The recommendation and approval authorities in this subparagraph

are nondelegable.

(iii) The HCA and the DLA Competition Advocate recommend for SPE approval any additional bridge

contracts beyond the second bridge, except for actions where the DLA Acquisition Deputy Director is

also the HCA. For actions where the DLA Acquisition Deputy Director is the HCA, the DLA

Acquisition Operations Division Chief makes the recommendation for any additional bridge contract

through the DLA Competition Advocate. After receiving an authorized recommendation from the

DLA Acquisition Operations Division Chief, the DLA Competition Advocate will include their

recommendation for SPE approval. The recommendation authority in this subparagraph is

nondelegable.

(d) Approval to award a bridge contract does not relieve the contracting officer from any other

regulatory requirements that the contracting officer must fulfill before making an award. For

example, contracting officers must comply with requirements for acquisition plans in accordance

with 7.102, synopsizing in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2, and solicitation. The contracting officer

must determine the contractor is responsible and ensure the contractor agrees to all terms and

conditions currently required by the FAR and subordinate guidance. If required, the contracting

officer shall document the Price Negotiation Objective Memorandum and Price Negotiation
Memorandum or provide the Simplified Acquisition Award Documentation. These examples are not a

comprehensive list of contract documentation requirements. Contracting officers shall not use

documents from an existing contract as substitutes for documents required in the bridge contract or

incorporate terms and conditions from an existing contract into the new bridge contract by

reference.

(e) Bridge contracts are independent acquisitions; therefore, contracting officers shall issue a

separate contract when awarding a bridge. Contracting officers shall not award bridge contracts by

modifying an existing contract.

(f) The contracting officer shall complete recording requirements in accordance with DFARS PGI

204.606, Reporting Data, and ensure appropriate coding of sole source awards.

(g) The contracting officer shall include the request, the approval, and all supporting documentation

in the contract file.

(h) Reporting. Procuring organizations shall provide—

(1) A copy of the approval and relevant supporting documentation (e.g., J&A, and acquisition plan) to

the DLA Acquisition Operations Division within thirty (30) days after awarding a bridge contract;

and

(2) The DLA Acquisition Bridge Contracts Report to the DLA Acquisition Operations Division by the

10th of each month and include the status of all bridge contracts with a period of performance that

has not expired.