[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53997-54007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21382]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 12, 13, 32, 33, 36, 42, and 52

[FAC 2005-27; FAR Case 2005-018; Item VI; Docket 2006-0020; Sequence 
11]
RIN 9000-AK59


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2005-018, Contract Debts

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the 
policies and procedures for contract debts.

DATES: Effective Date: October 17, 2008

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement 
Analyst, at (202) 208-6925 for clarification of content. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-27, FAR case 
2005-018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In 2003, the DoD Comptroller established the DoD Accounts 
Receivable Workgroup to evaluate the processes and procedures for 
reporting accounts receivables. This Workgroup concluded that 
contracting officers may not be properly reporting contract debts. 
Based on the Workgroup's recommendations, DoD established a Contract 
Debt Integrated Process Team (IPT).
    The mission of the IPT was to evaluate the adequacy of DoD's 
existing controls and procedures for ensuring that contract debts are 
identified and recovered in a timely manner, properly accounted for in 
DoD's books and records, and properly coordinated with the appropriate 
Government officials. Contract debts result from compliance, or a 
failure to comply, with the terms of a contract and include debts 
identified by auditors, contracting officers, disbursing officials, and 
contractors. On May 26, 2005, a final report was issued that included a 
number of recommended FAR changes to improve contract debt controls and 
procedures, and to ensure consistency within/between existing 
regulations.
    The Councils established this case to evaluate the DoD 
recommendations and apply them, where appropriate, Governmentwide. The 
rule makes the following changes:
    1. Reorganizes FAR 32.6. Reorganizes FAR 32.6 to add clarity and 
provide a logical sequence. The section has been reorganized as 
follows:
    32.600--Scope of subpart.
    32.601--General.
    32.602--Responsibilities.
    32.603--Debt determination.
    32.604--Demand for payment.
    32.605--Final decisions.
    32.606--Debt collection.
    32.607--Installment payments and deferment of collection.
    32.608--Interest.
    32.609--Delays in receipt of notices or demands.

[[Page 53998]]

    32.610--Compromising debts.
    32.611--Contract clause.
    2. Scope of Subpart. Revises FAR 32.600 to provide a more accurate 
description of the scope of this FAR subpart. FAR Subpart 32.6 
prescribes policies and procedures for identifying, collecting, and 
deferring collection of contract debts (including interest, if 
applicable).
    3. Responsible Official. Replaces the term ``responsible official'' 
with the specific individual/organization responsible for fulfilling 
the FAR requirement. Some of the responsibilities currently listed are 
assigned to one individual/organization (e.g., the Procuring 
Contracting Officer) and other responsibilities are assigned to another 
individual/organization (e.g., the payment office). To assure a clear 
understanding of the process and applicable duties, the rule specifies 
the responsible party for each required action (e.g., the Procuring 
Contracting Officer, the Administrative Contracting Officer, the 
payment office, etc.) rather than referring to all parties as 
``responsible officials.''
    4. Contract Debt--General. Revises FAR 32.601 to specify what 
constitutes a contract debt, rather than how a contract debt may arise. 
In addition, this section is amended to include payments determined to 
be in excess of contract limitations for commercial financing, because 
such payments constitute a contract debt.
    5. Contract Debt Responsibilities--Identifying, Demanding Payment, 
Collecting, and Liquidating. Adds a section to clearly define the 
responsibilities of the contracting officer and the payment officials 
to assure an efficient and non-duplicative process. Under the rule--
    a. The contracting officer is responsible for identifying a 
contract debt and demanding payment of a contract debt. The contracting 
officer is prohibited from collecting contract debts or otherwise 
liquidating contract debts (e.g., offsetting the amount of the debt 
against existing unpaid bills due the contractor or allowing 
contractors to retain contract debts to cover amounts that may be 
payable to the contractor in the future); and
    b. The payment office is responsible for collecting payment of the 
contract debt and liquidating the contract debt.
    6. Contract Debt Determinations. Consolidates all discussions of 
contract debt determinations in FAR 32.603, Debt Determinations, 
including the responsibility of the contracting officer in making debt 
determinations.
    7. Tax Credit. Deletes the current FAR 32.607 because the 
referenced tax credit (Sec. 1481) was repealed on November 5, 1990, by 
Public Law 101-508.
    8. Demand for Payment. Consolidates all discussions of the demand 
for payment in a single section, at FAR 32.604, Demand for payment, to 
include--
    a. A requirement to issue the demand letter except in specific 
circumstances;
    b. A requirement that the demand letter include accounting 
information to enable the payment office to correctly record the 
amounts in the proper accounts;
    c. A requirement that the demand letter include the amount of 
interest owed under statutes that require interest assessments from the 
date of noncompliance to the date of repayment (CAS and TINA).
    d. A paragraph implementing the requirements of 31 U.S.C. 
3717(e)(1) and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996; and
    e. A paragraph addressing instances where overpayments exist but a 
demand for payment is not necessary.
    9. Final Decisions. Consolidates all discussions of final decisions 
in a single section at FAR 32.605, Final Decisions, to include--
    a. When a final decision must be issued;
    b. A statement that the due date for a demand letter is not 
extended simply because a final decision is being issued; and
    c. A need to obtain evidence of receipt by the contractor to 
establish the starting date for interest computations and the statute 
of limitations.
    10. Debt Collection. Consolidates all discussions of debt 
collection in a single section, at FAR 32.606, Debt Collection, to 
include--
    a. The current requirements at FAR 32.612;
    b. The current requirements for transferring debts to the 
Department of Treasury; and
    c. A requirement to assure the debt is being collected by 
maintaining communication between the contracting officer and the 
payment office.
    11. Installment Payments and Deferment of Collection. Clarifies 
procedures for processing installment payments and deferment of 
collection requests.
    12. Interest. Consolidates and simplifies all discussions of 
interest in a single section, at FAR 32.608, Interest, to include--
    a. The substance of the current language at FAR 32.614; and
    b. Computing interest credits. The discussion focuses on how to 
compute the interest, i.e., from the time of overcollection until the 
time the overcollection is remitted to the contractor.
    13. Revises FAR 12.215 and 32.008 to refer to the responsibilities 
of the contracting officer at 32.604 when notified by the contractor of 
an overpayment.
    14. FAR Contract Clauses--Payment. Revises the contract clauses at 
FAR 52.212-4(i)(5) and (6); 52.232-25(d); 52.232-26(c); and FAR 52.232-
27(l) to assure that the contractor remits payment to the payment 
office (rather than the contracting officer) and the payment office is 
able to properly account for the remittance. Also, revises Alternate I 
of the clause at FAR 52.212-4 to be consistent with the requirements of 
the basic clause.
    15. FAR 52.232-17, Interest. Revises FAR 52.232-17 to conform with 
the other revisions.
    16. FAR 52.212-4 and 52.232-17. Revises the subject clauses to be 
consistent with the policy at FAR Part 32:
    a. The Government's right to make a demand for payment and start 
the interest clock running under the contract is ensured by adding a 
procedure to the Interest Clause permitting a demand for payment.
    b. The Government's right to make a demand for payment without 
first issuing a final decision of the contracting officer is ensured by 
incorporating the procedure into the interest clause. A final decision 
is required only if the contractor disagrees with the demand for 
payment.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register at 71 FR 62230, October 24, 2006. Comments were received from 
three respondents in response to the proposed rule. The Councils 
considered all of the comments and recommendations in developing the 
final rule. A discussion of the comments is provided below.

B. Disposition of Comments:

    1. Comment. One commenter recommended deleting the requirement at 
FAR 32.607-2(a)(2) for contractors to provide contracting officers 
information on the advisability of debt deferment to avoid possible 
over-collections when the contractor is not disputing the debt. When 
the contractor does not dispute the debt, there can be no over-
collection.
    Response. Under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978, contractors have 
one year to file an appeal. While a contractor may not initially 
dispute the claim, a contractor can subsequently decide to file an 
appeal within the statutory time limits. Therefore, over-collections 
can occur when a contractor

[[Page 53999]]

does not initially dispute the claim but subsequently files a claim. 
However, the office designated in agency procedures is responsible for 
determining whether the deferment of collection should be granted to 
avoid possible over-collections. That determination does not require 
input from the contractor. Therefore, the Councils deleted the 
requirement as recommended. In addition, the proposed rule also 
required contractors to provide the same information when the 
contractor is disputing the debt. The Councils also deleted that 
requirement since the determination does not require input from the 
contractor.
    2. Comment. One commenter recommended moving the requirement at FAR 
32.607-2(c)(2) for contracting officers to consider any information 
necessary to develop a recommendation on a deferment request before the 
requirement for the contracting officer to forward the recommendation 
on the deferment request to the office designated in agency procedures 
since the contracting officer should consider the information before 
developing and sending the recommendation.
    Response. The Councils agreed and revised the rule as recommended.
    3. Comment. One commenter said the statement at FAR 32.607-2(d) 
that an agency is required to use current year unexpired funds to pay 
interest on over-collections is unnecessary since the information is 
related to a financial management matter, not a contracting matter.
    Response. The rule requires contracting officers to provide a 
recommendation on the contractor's request for a deferment of 
collection, including the advisability of deferment to avoid possible 
over-collections. Contracting officers need to know the possible 
ramifications of over-collections to make an informed recommendation.
    4. Comment. One commenter stated that ``actions filed by 
contractors shall not suspend or delay collection'' in the last 
paragraph at FAR 32.607-2(j), ``deferment of collection,'' made no 
sense since the subsection provides the rule for processing a deferment 
to suspend or defer collection. The commenter recommended rewording the 
requirement to say ``the filing of an action under the Disputes clause 
does not suspend or delay the need for collection of a debt'' and 
moving the requirement to the beginning of the subsection.
    Response. The Councils agree and revised the rule as recommended.
    5. Comment. One commenter said the statement in FAR 32.607-2(j) 
that ``until the action is decided'' was unnecessary and confusing 
since contractors do not have to file an ``action'' or appeal in order 
to be eligible for a deferment of collection.
    Response. The Councils agree and deleted the statement.
    6. Comment. One commenter recommended deleting the requirement at 
FAR 32.607-2(j) for contractors to present ``a good and sufficient bond 
or other acceptable collateral in the amount of the claim'' for a 
deferment of collection because the requirement conflicts with the 
requirements that allow deferment of collections when a claim is not 
filed. The contractor's financial condition and promise to pay are 
considered ``other acceptable collateral.'' Also, the requirement for 
the contractor to present the collateral to the contracting officer 
within 30 days of filing a dispute makes no sense because there is no 
time limit requirement for filing a dispute.
    Response. A contractor's financial condition and promise to pay are 
not ``other acceptable collateral.'' Collateral is property pledged by 
a contractor to protect the interests of the Government. However, the 
office designated in agency procedure, not the contracting officer, is 
responsible for determining whether a bond or other acceptable 
collateral is needed. Therefore, the Councils deleted the statement as 
recommended.
    7. Comment. One commenter said the statement at FAR 32.607-2(j) 
that ``any amount collected by the Government in excess of the amount 
found to be due on appeal shall be refunded to the contractor with 
interest'' was misplaced since there can be no excess collection if 
payment is deferred. Also, this requirement would apply to cases where 
there is no deferment of collection but including it only in the 
subpart on deferment of collection means it would only apply to cases 
with deferments of collection. The requirement should be addressed in 
subsection FAR 32.608-2 on ``interest credits.'' Further, the 
requirement says interest will be refunded to the contractor for any 
amounts collected by the Government in excess of the amount found due 
on appeal from ``the date of collection'' conflicts with the 
requirements in the subsection on ``interest credits'' that says the 
interest will be computed from the ``date specified in the first demand 
for payment.'' If the requirement is addressed in the subsection on 
``interest credits,'' the last sentence of subpart FAR 32.607-2(j) that 
includes additional requirements for calculating interest on excess 
amounts collected by the Government becomes unnecessary and should be 
deleted.
    Response. The requirements of the subpart apply to all contractor 
requests for deferment of collections, not just to deferments granted 
by the Government. Therefore, there can be over-collections when the 
Government does not grant the deferment of collections. In addition, 
the requirements apply to all Government over-collections, not just 
those involving deferment of collections. Therefore, the coverage was 
relocated to the subsection on interest credits, and the last sentence 
of subpart 32.607-2(j) was deleted as recommended. Also, the 
methodology for calculating interest in the subpart did conflict with 
the methodology in the subpart on ``interest credits.'' Therefore, the 
rule was revised to make the requirements consistent. Interest on 
Government over-collections begins on the date of over-collection, not 
the date of the first demand for payment.
    8. Comment. One commenter recommending deleting the methodology for 
computing interest charges from 32.608-1(a)(2) because it duplicates 
coverage in the clause at FAR 52.232-7, Interest.
    Response. The Councils agree the language is redundant and deleted 
the text as recommended.
    9. Comment. One commenter recommended adding the requirement for 
making interest on contract debts part of the required elements for 
deferment agreements at 32.608-2(g) and deleting the requirement at 
32.608-1(b) because it duplicates coverage at 32.607(c) on installment 
payments and deferment of collection.
    Response. The Councils agree and revised the rule as recommended.
    10. Comment. One commenter recommended revising the coverage at 
32.608-2(b)(1) on interest credits to say interest ``to be credited'' 
instead of interest ``to be charged'' since the subsection deals with 
``interest credits.''
    Response. The Councils disagree and leave the rule as is.
    11. Comment. One commenter said including information such as lines 
of accounting in the demand for payment is excessive and not 
particularly relevant to the contractor. Instead, require the 
contracting officer to provide the distribution of the debt by line of 
accounting and ``additional information'' to allow the payment or 
finance office to identify the affected lines of accounting, 
appropriations, and contracts, when the demand for payment is forwarded 
to the payment office. Finance offices have procedures for debt 
collection or other recovery of monies owed that are in accordance

[[Page 54000]]

with Department of Treasury regulations and policy. Most payment 
offices also know how to apply payments. Some of these procedures may 
overlap other policy or regulations such as those issued by the 
Department of Treasury.
    Response. The lines of accounting are required for agency finance 
or payment offices to properly record the debt. If the lines of 
accounting are not readily available, the rule authorizes issuing the 
demand for payment without the lines of accounting. The Councils see no 
reason to require contracting officers to separately report the lines 
of accounting if the information is readily available when the demand 
for payment is made. In addition, the Councils are unaware of any 
conflict with Treasury or other agency's policy or regulations.
    12. Comment. One commenter recommended combining the requirements 
of FAR 32.604(b)(4)(iii) and (i).
    Response. The Councils believe the commenter is recommending 
combining the requirements at FAR 32.604(b)(4)(iii) and FAR 
32.604(b)(4)(i). Both references discuss the methodology for 
calculating interest on contract debts that result from specific 
contract terms. The Councils agree and have revised the rule as 
recommended.
    13. Comment. One commenter said the rule should also allow 
contractors to remit checks ``payable to the agency,'' instead of 
requiring that the checks be ``payable to the Treasurer of the United 
States'' because payments due an agency are made payable to the agency.
    Response. Section 2015 of the Treasury Financial Manual (TFM) says 
checks should be made payable to the organization maintaining the 
account to be credited, not to the Department of Treasury. Therefore, 
the Councils revised the rule to be consistent with the TFM.
    14. Comment. One commenter asked whether the required notification 
at 32.604(b)(6) that the payment office may offset the debt against any 
payments otherwise due the contractor means any payment owed to the 
contractor by any Federal agency under any contract or only payments 
under the cognizant contract or other contracts awarded by the agency 
issuing the demand for payment.
    Response. For the first 180 days after the demand for payment, the 
agency issuing the demand for payment will attempt to offset the debt 
against any payments otherwise due from the agency to the contractor. 
If an agency is unable to recover the debt within 180 days, agencies 
are required to transfer the debt to the Department of Treasury in 
accordance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. The 
Department of Treasury will then offset the debt against any payment 
made by a Federal agency under any contract and other Federal payments 
to the delinquent debt holder under the cognizant contract or other 
contracts awarded by the agency issuing the demand letter.
    15. Comment. One commenter recommended including a statement in the 
required notice at FAR 32.604(b)(8) that requests for installment 
payments or deferment of collection must be written, provided to the 
contracting officer, and include ``any information required.''
    Response. The commenter did not provide rationale for the change; 
however, the rule already requires that requests for installment 
payments or deferment of collection be written (see 32.607-1 and 
32.607-2(a)). The rule also identifies to whom the contractor should 
submits its request, i.e., payment office for installment payments and 
contracting officer for deferment of collections. Finally, nothing in 
the rule precludes agencies from requiring contractors to provide 
additional information to make a decision on a request for installment 
payments or deferment.
    16. Comment. One commenter asked if there was a point in time that 
the contracting officer is expected to do more than follow up with the 
payment office to determine whether the debt has been collected and 
credited to the correct appropriations.
    Response. The payment office is responsible for collecting debts 
identified by the contracting officer. As discussed above, agencies are 
required to transfer any debt that is delinquent more than 180 days to 
the Department of Treasury for collection. The Department of Treasury 
then offsets the debt against any payment made by a Federal agency 
under any contract and other Federal payments to the delinquent debt 
holder. As stated in the rule, contracting officers are not authorized 
to collect contract debts or otherwise agree to liquidate contract 
debts.
    17. Comment. One commenter said the requirement at 32.607(a) that 
the contracting officer cannot approve or deny a contractor's request 
for installment payments or deferment of collections appears to 
contradict the requirement at FAR 32.605(a)(3) for the contracting 
officer to issue a final decision if the contractor requests a 
deferment of collection on a debt previously demanded by the 
contracting officer.
    Response. Approving or denying a contractor's request for 
installment payments or deferment of collections is not the same as 
issuing a final decision. The contracting officer is required to issue 
a demand for payment as soon as the contracting officer has determined 
the existence and amount of a debt. In most cases, contractors 
willingly repay the debt after receiving the demand for payment. If a 
contractor instead requests a deferment of collection or otherwise does 
not repay the debt in accordance with the demand for payment, the 
Government is required to initiate a claim against the contractor to 
ensure the debt is repaid. Government claims require a contracting 
officer's final decision under the Contract Disputes Act.
    18. Comment. One commenter said the proposed coverage at 
32.607(b)(1) on the circumstances that might justify debt deferment or 
installment payments when the contractor has not appealed the debt or 
filed an action under the disputes clause appears to be information 
necessary for agency financing offices, not contracting officers, since 
the office designed to approve or deny these actions is probably the 
payment or finance office. The commenter questioned the purpose of and 
need for its inclusion in the FAR.
    Response. Contracting officers are required to provide the office 
designated in agency procedures for a decision on a deferment request a 
recommendation on the requests. Therefore, contracting officers need to 
understand the circumstances that might justify a deferment of 
collection. In addition, if the contractor's operations under national 
defense contracts will be seriously impaired by immediate repayment, 
the contracting officer should provide the payment or finance office 
information that will be considered for an installment payment 
agreement or debt deferment. The Councils note the subject requirements 
are not changed by this rule.
    19. Comment. One commenter questioned the need for the deferment/
installment agreement requirements at 32.607(b)(2) in the FAR since 
contracting officers are not authorized to approve or deny requests for 
deferments or installment payments.
    Response. The Councils note the subject requirements are not 
changed by this rule. The Councils believe it is appropriate to include 
the language so contracting officers and contractors understand what 
will be required if an agreement is reached. While the contracting 
officers do not approve or deny these requests, contracting officers

[[Page 54001]]

routinely provide contractors assistance when preparing the requests.
    20. Comment. One commenter questioned how the requirement for the 
contracting officer to forward to the office designated in agency 
procedures for a decision (a) a copy of the contractor's request for a 
deferment of collection, (b) a recommendation on that request, (c) a 
statement as to whether the contractor has an appeal pending or action 
filed under the disputes clause, and (d) a copy of the contracting 
officer's final decision (see 32.607-2(c)(1)) is different from the 
contracting officer's final decision.
    Response. The contracting officer's final decision is one of the 
four items the contracting officer is required to forward to the office 
designated in agency procedure for a decision on the deferment request. 
The other required items provide additional information used by the 
office designated in agency procedure for a decision on the deferment 
request. Finally, a contracting officer has sole authority to determine 
the existence and amount of contract debts and to issue the final 
decision. That contracting officer's final decision is not subject to 
any other office's decision.
    21. Comment. One commenter said the coverage at 32.607-2(f) that 
states contracts and arrangements for deferment shall not provide that 
a claim of the Government will not become due and payable pending 
mutual agreement on the amount of the claim or, in the case of dispute, 
until a decision is reached is confusing and unclear as to its meaning.
    Response. The Councils note that the coverage is not changed by 
this rule. However, the Councils believe stating `contracts and 
arrangements for deferments' could be confusing since deferment 
agreements are binding contracts between the contractor and the 
Government. Therefore, the Councils deleted the reference to 
``contracts'' and changed ``arrangements for deferment'' to ``deferment 
agreements'' to clarify the requirement. The remaining coverage says 
that the Government retains the right to collect the debt at any time. 
The Councils are unaware of any problems with this coverage.
    22. Comment. One commenter asked if the deferment agreement is a 
contract or whether the agreement should be incorporated into the 
contract to ensure the agreement is legally binding.
    Response. There is no need to incorporate the agreements into the 
affected contracts because the agreements themselves are legally 
binding contracts between the contractor and the Government.
    23. Comment. One commenter recommended revising the coverage on 
``compromise'' at 32.610 because the contracting officer has the 
authority to settle any Government claim under the Contract Disputes 
Act at any time except for claims pending litigation, which are the 
responsibility of the Attorney General. While the term ``compromise'' 
is not defined in the Federal Claims Collection Act or the implementing 
regulations at 31 CFR 900.2, Black's Law Dictionary defines 
``compromise'' as settlement. The commenter recommended revising the 
coverage to allow contracting officers to ``compromise'' debt claims 
that fall under the Contract Disputes Act to be consistent with FAR 
33.204 and 33.210.
    Response. Contracting officers have the authority to resolve all 
contractual issues in controversy. Contracting officers do not have the 
authority to compromise any resulting debt after the controversial 
issues have been resolved.
    24. Comment. One commenter recommended requiring contracting 
officers to attempt to resolve any disputes over the existence of a 
debt or the amount through negotiations as part of the initial debt 
determination at FAR 32.605(a) to be consistent with the requirements 
at FAR 33.204.
    Response. The rule is consistent with FAR 33.204, which requires 
contracting officers to use reasonable efforts to resolve controversies 
prior to the submission of a claim. Making a debt determination does 
not constitute submission of a claim. A Government claim is submitted 
when the contracting officer issues a final decision on the claim. 
Nothing in the rule prevents the Government from attempting to resolve 
controversies prior to the contracting officer's final decision.
    25. Comment. One commenter said the coverage on final decisions at 
FAR 32.605 duplicates the coverage on contracting officer's decisions 
at FAR 33.211. The commenter also said all coverage on final decisions 
should be addressed in one FAR section and that section should be FAR 
Subpart 33.2, Disputes and Appeals.
    Response. FAR 32.6 prescribes the policies and procedures for 
identifying, collecting, and deferring contract debts. Part 33 
prescribes policies and procedures for processing contract disputes and 
appeals. Contracting officer's final decisions are key to both 
processes. Therefore, the Councils believe it is appropriate to include 
coverage in both subparts.
    This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is 
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because the regulatory changes 
are predominantly internal operating procedures for contracting 
officers and will not significantly change duties of small entities 
under their contract.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require 
the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 12, 13, 32, 33, 36, 42, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: September 9, 2008.
Al Matera,
Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 12, 13, 32, 33, 36, 
42, and 52 as set forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 12, 13, 32, 33, 36, 42, and 
52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 12--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
2. Revise section 12.215 to read as follows:


12.215  Notification of overpayment.

    If the contractor notifies the contracting officer of a duplicate 
payment or that the Government has otherwise overpaid, the contracting 
officer shall follow the procedures at 32.604.

PART 13--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

0
3. Amend section 13.401 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


13.401  General.

* * * * *
    (b) The contracting officer shall be primarily responsible for 
determining the amount of debts resulting from failure of contractors 
to properly

[[Page 54002]]

replace, repair, or correct supplies lost, damaged, or not conforming 
to purchase requirements (see 32.602 and 32.603).

PART 32--CONTRACT FINANCING

0
4. Revise section 32.008 to read as follows:


32.008  Notification of overpayment.

    If the contractor notifies the contracting officer of a duplicate 
payment or that the Government has otherwise overpaid, the contracting 
officer shall follow the procedures at 32.604.

0
5. Revise Subpart 32.6 to read as follows:

Sec.
32.600 Scope of subpart.
32.601 General.
32.602 Responsibilities.
32.603 Debt determination.
32.604 Demand for payment.
32.605 Final decisions.
32.606 Debt collection.
32.607 Installment payments and deferment of collection.
32.607-1 Installment payments.
32.607-2 Deferment of collection.
32.608 Interest.
32.608-1 Interest charges.
32.608-2 Interest credits.
32.609 Delays in receipt of notices or demands.
32.610 Compromising debts.
32.611 Contract clause.

Subpart 32.6--Contract Debts


32.600  Scope of subpart.

    This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for identifying, 
collecting, and deferring collection of contract debts (including 
interest, if applicable). Sections 32.607, 32.608, and 32.610 of this 
subpart do not apply to claims against common carriers for 
transportation overcharges and freight and cargo losses (31 U.S.C. 
3726).


32.601  General.

    (a) Contract debts are amounts that--
    (1) Have been paid to a contractor to which the contractor is not 
currently entitled under the terms and conditions of the contract; or
    (2) Are otherwise due from the contractor under the terms and 
conditions of the contract.
    (b) Contract debts include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (1) Billing and price reductions resulting from contract terms for 
price redetermination or for determination of prices under incentive 
type contracts.
    (2) Price or cost reductions for defective cost or pricing data.
    (3) Financing payments determined to be in excess of the contract 
limitations at 52.232-16(a)(7), Progress Payments, or 52.232-32(d)(2), 
Performance--Based Payments, or any contract clause for commercial item 
financing.
    (4) Increases to financing payment liquidation rates.
    (5) Overpayments disclosed by quarterly statements required under 
price redetermination or incentive contracts.
    (6) Price adjustments resulting from Cost Accounting Standards 
(CAS) noncompliances or changes in cost accounting practice.
    (7) Reinspection costs for nonconforming supplies or services.
    (8) Duplicate or erroneous payments.
    (9) Damages or excess costs related to defaults in performance.
    (10) Breach of contract obligations concerning progress payments, 
performance-based payments, advance payments, commercial item 
financing, or Government-furnished property.
    (11) Government expense of correcting defects.
    (12) Overpayments related to errors in quantity or billing or 
deficiencies in quality.
    (13) Delinquency in contractor payments due under agreements or 
arrangements for deferral or postponement of collections.
    (14) Reimbursement of amounts due under 33.102(b)(3) and 
33.104(h)(8).


32.602  Responsibilities.

    (a) The contracting officer has primary responsibility for 
identifying and demanding payment of contract debts except those 
resulting from errors made by the payment office. The contracting 
officer shall not collect contract debts or otherwise agree to 
liquidate contract debts (e.g., offset the amount of the debt against 
existing unpaid bills due the contractor, or allow contractors to 
retain contract debts to cover amounts that may become payable in 
future periods).
    (b) The payment office has primary responsibility for--
    (1) Collecting contract debts identified by contracting officers;
    (2) Identifying and collecting duplicate and erroneous payments; 
and
    (3) Authorizing the liquidation of contract debts in accordance 
with agency procedures.


32.603  Debt determination.

    (a) If the contracting officer has any indication that a contractor 
owes money to the Government under a contract, the contracting officer 
shall determine promptly whether an actual debt is due and the amount. 
Any unnecessary delay may contribute to--
    (1) Loss of timely availability of the funds to the program for 
which the funds were initially provided;
    (2) Increased difficulty in collecting the debt; or
    (3) Actual monetary loss to the Government.
    (b) The amount of indebtedness determined by the contracting 
officer shall be an amount that--
    (1) Is based on the merits of the case; and
    (2) Is consistent with the contract terms.


32.604  Demand for payment.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the 
contracting officer shall take the following actions:
    (1) Issue the demand for payment as soon as the contracting officer 
has determined that an actual debt is due the Government and the 
amount.
    (2) Issue the demand for payment even if--
    (i) The debt is or will be the subject of a bilateral modification;
    (ii) The contractor is otherwise obligated to pay the money under 
the existing contract terms; or
    (iii) The contractor has agreed to repay the debt.
    (3) Issue the demand for payment as a part of the final decision, 
if a final decision is required by 32.605(a).
    (b) The demand for payment shall include the following:
    (1) A description of the debt, including the debt amount.
    (2) A distribution of the principal amount of the debt by line(s) 
of accounting subject to the following:
    (i) If the debt affects multiple lines of accounting, the 
contracting officer shall, to the maximum extent practicable, identify 
all affected lines of accounting. If it is not practicable to identify 
all affected lines of accounting, the contracting officer may select 
representative lines of accounting in accordance with paragraph 
(b)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (ii) In selecting representative lines of accounting, the 
contracting officer shall--
    (A) Consider the affected departments or agencies, years of 
appropriations, and the predominant types of appropriations; and
    (B) Not distribute to any line of accounting an amount of the 
principal in excess of the total obligation for the line of accounting; 
and
    (iii) Include the lines of accounting even if the associated funds 
are expired or cancelled. While cancelled funds will be deposited in a 
miscellaneous receipt account of the Treasury if collected, the funds 
are tracked under the closed year appropriation(s) to comply with the 
Anti-Deficiency Act.
    (iv) If the debt affects multiple contracts and the lines of 
accounting are not readily available, the contracting officer shall--

[[Page 54003]]

    (A) Issue the demand for payment without the distribution of the 
principal amount to the affected lines of accounting;
    (B) Include a statement in the demand for payment advising when the 
distribution will be provided; and
    (C) Provide the distribution by the date identified in the demand 
for payment.
    (3) The basis for and amount of any accrued interest or penalty.
    (4)(i) For debts resulting from specific contract terms (e.g., 
debts resulting from incentive clause provisions, Quarterly Limitation 
on Payments Statement, Cost Accounting Standards, price reduction for 
defective pricing), a notification stating that payment should be made 
promptly, and that interest is due in accordance with the terms of the 
contract. Interest shall be computed from the date specified in the 
applicable contract clause until repayment by the contractor. The 
interest rate shall be the rate specified in the applicable contract 
clause. In the case of a debt arising from a price reduction for 
defective pricing, or as specifically set forth in a Cost Accounting 
Standards (CAS) clause in the contract, interest is computed from the 
date of overpayment by the Government until repayment by the contractor 
at the underpayment rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
for the periods affected, under 26 U.S.C. 6621(a)(2).
    (ii) For all other contract debts, a notification stating that any 
amounts not paid within 30 days from the date of the demand for payment 
will bear interest. Interest shall be computed from the date of the 
demand for payment until repayment by the contractor. The interest rate 
shall be the interest rate established by the Secretary of the 
Treasury, as provided in Section 611 of the Contract Disputes Act of 
1978 (Public Law 95-563), which is applicable to the period in which 
the amount becomes due, and then at the rate applicable for each six-
month period as established by the Secretary until the amount is paid.
    (5) A statement advising the contractor--
    (i) To contact the contracting officer if the contractor believes 
the debt is invalid or the amount is incorrect; and
    (ii) If the contractor agrees, to remit a check payable to the 
agency's payment office annotated with the contract number along with a 
copy of the demand for payment to the payment office identified in the 
contract or as otherwise specified in the demand letter in accordance 
with agency procedures.
    (6) Notification that the payment office may initiate procedures, 
in accordance with the applicable statutory and regulatory 
requirements, to offset the debt against any payments otherwise due the 
contractor.
    (7) Notification that the debt may be subject to administrative 
charges in accordance with the requirements of 31 U.S.C. 3717(e) and 
the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.
    (8) Notification that the contractor may submit a request for 
installment payments or deferment of collection if immediate payment is 
not practicable or if the amount is disputed.
    (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the 
contracting officer should not issue a demand for payment if the 
contracting officer only becomes aware of the debt when the 
contractor--
    (1) Provides a lump sum payment or submits a credit invoice. (A 
credit invoice is a contractor's request to liquidate the debt against 
existing unpaid bills due the contractor); or
    (2) Notifies the contracting officer that the payment office 
overpaid on an invoice payment. When the contractor provides the 
notification, the contracting officer shall notify the payment office 
of the overpayment.
    (d) If a demand for payment was not issued as provided for in 
paragraph (c) of this section, the contracting officer shall issue a 
demand for payment no sooner than 30 days after the contracting officer 
becomes aware of the debt unless--
    (1) The contractor has liquidated the debt;
    (2) The contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; 
or
    (3) The payment office has issued a demand for payment.
    (e) The contracting officer shall--
    (1) Furnish a copy of the demand for payment to the contractor by 
certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method that 
provides evidence of receipt; and
    (2) Forward a copy of the demand to the payment office.


32.605  Final decisions.

    (a) The contracting officer shall issue a final decision as 
required by 33.211 if--
    (1) The contracting officer and the contractor are unable to reach 
agreement on the existence or amount of a debt in a timely manner;
    (2) The contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded by 
the contracting officer within the timeline specified in the demand for 
payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the contractor has 
requested an installment payment agreement; or
    (3) The contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt 
previously demanded by the contracting officer (see 32.607-2).
    (b) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, the 
demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify the 
same due date as the original demand for payment.
    (c) The contracting officer shall--
    (1) Furnish the decision to the contractor by certified mail, 
return receipt requested, or by any other method that provides evidence 
of receipt; and
    (2) Forward a copy to the payment office identified in the 
contract.


32.606  Debt collection.

    (a) If the contractor has not liquidated the debt within 30 days of 
the date due or requested installment payments or deferment of 
collection, the payment office shall initiate withholding of principal, 
interest, penalties, and administrative charges. In the event the 
contract is assigned under the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (31 
U.S.C. 3727 and 41 U.S.C. 15), the rights of the assignee will be 
scrupulously respected and withholding of payments shall be consistent 
with those rights. For additional information on assignment of claims, 
see Subpart 32.8.
    (b) As provided for in the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 
(31 U.S.C. 3711(g)(1)), payment offices are required to transfer any 
debt that is delinquent more than 180 days to the Department of 
Treasury for collection.
    (c) The contracting officer shall periodically follow up with the 
payment office to determine whether the debt has been collected and 
credited to the correct appropriation(s).


32.607  Installment payments and deferment of collection.

    (a) The contracting officer shall not approve or deny a 
contractor's request for installment payments or deferment of 
collections. The office designated in agency procedures is responsible 
for approving or denying requests for installment payments or deferment 
of collections.
    (b) If a contractor has not appealed the debt or filed an action 
under the Disputes clause of the contract and the contractor has 
submitted a proposal for debt deferment or installment payments--
    (1) The office designated in agency procedures may arrange for 
deferment/installment payments if the contractor is unable to pay at 
once in full or the contractor's operations under national defense 
contracts would be seriously impaired. The arrangement shall include 
appropriate covenants and

[[Page 54004]]

securities and should be limited to the shortest practicable maturity; 
and
    (2) The deferment/installment agreement shall include a specific 
schedule or plan for payment. It should permit the Government to make 
periodic financial reviews of the contractor and to require payments 
earlier than required by the agreement if the Government considers the 
contractor's ability to pay improved. It should also provide for 
required stated or measurable payments on the occurrence of specific 
events or contingencies that improve the contractor's ability to pay.
    (c) If not already applicable under the contract terms, interest on 
contract debt shall be made an element of any agreement entered into 
for installment payments or deferment of collection.


32.607-1  Installment payments.

    If a contractor requests an installment payment agreement, the 
contracting officer shall notify the contractor to send a written 
request for installment payments to the office designated in agency 
procedures.


32.607-2  Deferment of collection.

    (a) All requests for deferment of collection must be submitted in 
writing to the contracting officer.
    (1) If the contractor has appealed the debt under the procedures of 
the Disputes clause of the contract, the information with the request 
for deferment may be limited to an explanation of the contractor's 
financial condition.
    (2) Actions filed by contractors under the Disputes Clause shall 
not suspend or delay collection.
    (3) If there is no appeal pending or action filed under the 
Disputes clause of the contract, the following information about the 
contractor should be submitted with the request:
    (i) Financial condition.
    (ii) Contract backlog.
    (iii) Projected cash receipts and requirements.
    (iv) The feasibility of immediate payment of the debt.
    (v) The probable effect on operations of immediate payment in full.
    (b) Upon receipt of the contractor's written request, the 
contracting officer shall promptly provide a notification to the 
payment office and advise the payment office that the contractor's 
request is under consideration.
    (c)(1) The contracting officer should consider any information 
necessary to develop a recommendation on the deferment request.
    (2) The contracting officer shall forward the following to the 
office designated in agency procedures for a decision:
    (i) A copy of the contractor's request for a deferment of 
collection.
    (ii) A written recommendation on the request and the basis for the 
recommendation including the advisability of deferment to avoid 
possible overcollections.
    (iii) A statement as to whether the contractor has an appeal 
pending or action filed under the Disputes clause of the contract and 
the docket number if the appeal has been filed.
    (iv) A copy of the contracting officer's final decision (see 
32.605).
    (d) The office designated in agency procedures may authorize a 
deferment pending the resolution of appeal to avoid possible 
overcollections. The agency is required to use unexpired funds to pay 
interest on overcollections.
    (e) Deferments pending disposition of appeal may be granted to 
small business concerns and financially weak contractors, balancing the 
need for Government security against loss and undue hardship on the 
contractor.
    (f) The deferment agreement shall not provide that a claim of the 
Government will not become due and payable pending mutual agreement on 
the amount of the claim or, in the case of a dispute, until the 
decision is reached.
    (g) At a minimum, the deferment agreement shall contain the 
following:
    (1) A description of the debt.
    (2) The date of first demand for payment.
    (3) Notice of an interest charge, in conformity with 32.608 and the 
FAR clause at 52.232-17, Interest; or, in the case of a debt arising 
from a defective pricing or a CAS noncompliance overpayment, interest, 
as prescribed by the applicable Price Reduction for Defective Cost or 
Pricing Data or CAS clause (see 32.607(c)).
    (4) Identification of the office to which the contractor is to send 
debt payments.
    (5) A requirement for the contractor to submit financial 
information requested by the Government and for reasonable access to 
the contractor's records and property by Government representatives.
    (6) Provision for the Government to terminate the deferment 
agreement and accelerate the maturity of the debt if the contractor 
defaults or if bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings are instituted by 
or against the contractor.
    (7) Protective requirements that are considered by the Government 
to be prudent and feasible in the specific circumstances. The coverage 
of protective terms at 32.409 and 32.501-5 may be used as a guide.
    (h) If a contractor appeal of the debt determination is pending, 
the deferment agreement shall also include a requirement that the 
contractor shall--
    (1) Diligently prosecute the appeal; and
    (2) Pay the debt in full when the appeal is decided, or when the 
parties reach agreement on the debt amount.
    (i) The deferment agreement may provide for the right to make early 
payments without prejudice, for refund of overpayments, and for 
crediting of interest.


32.608  Interest.


32.608-1  Interest charges.

    Unless specified otherwise in the clause at 52.232-17, Interest, 
interest charges shall apply to any contract debt unpaid after 30 days 
from the issuance of a demand unless--
    (a) The contract is a kind excluded under 32.611; or
    (b) The contract or debt has been exempted from interest charges 
under agency procedures.


32.608-2  Interest credits.

    (a) An equitable interest credit shall be applied under the 
following circumstances:
    (1) When the amount of debt initially determined is subsequently 
reduced; e.g., through a successful appeal.
    (2) When any amount collected by the Government is in excess of the 
amount found to be due on appeal under the Disputes Clause of the 
contract.
    (3) When the collection procedures followed in a given case result 
in an overcollection of the debt due.
    (4) When the responsible official determines that the Government 
has unduly delayed payments to the contractor on the same contract at 
some time during the period to which the interest charge applied, 
provided an interest penalty was not paid for such late payment.
    (b) Any appropriate interest credits shall be computed under the 
following procedures:
    (1) Interest at the rate under 52.232-17 shall be charged on the 
reduced debt from the date of collection by the Government until the 
date the monies are remitted to the contractor.
    (2) Interest may not be reduced for any time between the due date 
under the demand and the period covered by a deferment of collection, 
unless the contract includes an interest clause; e.g., the clause 
prescribed in 32.611.
    (3) Interest shall not be credited in an amount that, when added to 
other amounts refunded or released to the contractor, exceeds the total 
amount

[[Page 54005]]

that has been collected, or withheld for the purpose of collecting the 
debt. This limitation shall be further reduced by the amount of any 
limitation applicable under paragraph (b)(2) of this subsection.


32.609  Delays in receipt of notices or demands.

    If interest is accrued based on the date of the demand letter and 
delivery of the demand letter is delayed by the Government (e.g., undue 
delay after dating at the originating office or delays in the mail), 
the date of the debt and accrual of interest shall be extended to a 
time that is fair and reasonable under the particular circumstances.


32.610  Compromising debts.

    For debts under $100,000, excluding interest, the designated agency 
official may compromise the debt pursuant to the Federal Claims 
Collection Standards (31 CFR part 902) and agency regulations. Unless 
specifically authorized by agency procedures, contracting officers 
cannot compromise debts.


32.611  Contract clause.

    (a) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.232--17, 
Interest, in solicitations and contracts unless it is contemplated that 
the contract will be in one or more of the following categories:
    (1) Contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold.
    (2) Contracts with Government agencies.
    (3) Contracts with a State or local government or instrumentality.
    (4) Contracts with a foreign government or instrumentality.
    (5) Contracts without any provision for profit or fee with a 
nonprofit organization.
    (6) Contracts described in Subpart 5.5, Paid Advertisements.
    (7) Any other exceptions authorized under agency procedures.
    (b) The contracting officer may insert the FAR clause at 52.232-17, 
Interest, in solicitations and contracts when it is contemplated that 
the contract will be in any of the categories specified in 32.611(a).

PART 33--PROTESTS, DISPUTES, AND APPEALS


33.208  [Amended]

0
6. Amend section 33.208 by removing from paragraph (b) ``32.614'' and 
adding ``the clause at 52.232-17'' in its place.


33.211  [Amended]

0
7. Amend section 33.211 by removing from paragraph (a)(4)(vi) 
``32.610(b'') and adding ``32.604 and 32.605'' in its place.

PART 36--CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS


36.608  [Amended]

0
8. Amend section 36.608 in the fourth sentence by removing ``collect'' 
and adding ``issue a demand for payment of'' in its place.

PART 42--CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES

0
9. Amend section 42.302 by revising paragraph (a)(17) to read as 
follows:


42.302  Contract administration functions.

    (a) * * *
    (17) Analyze quarterly limitation on payments statements and take 
action in accordance with Subpart 32.6 to recover overpayments from the 
contractor.
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
10. Amend section 52.212-4 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraph (i)(5);
0
c. Adding paragraph (i)(6); and
0
d. Amending Alternate I as follows:
0
1. Revising the date of Alternate I;
0
2. Revising paragraph (i)(5); and
0
3. Redesignating paragraphs (i)(6) through (i)(9) as (i)(7) through 
(i)(10), respectively, and adding a new paragraph (i)(6).
    The revised and added text reads as follows:


52.212-4  Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items.

* * * * *
    CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2008)
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (5) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate 
contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has 
otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the 
Contractor shall--
    (i) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in 
the contract along with a description of the overpayment including 
the--
    (A) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, 
erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
    (B) Affected contract number and delivery order number, if 
applicable;
    (C) Affected contract line item or subline item, if applicable; 
and
    (D) Contractor point of contact.
    (ii) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting 
documentation to the Contracting Officer.
    (6) Interest. (i) All amounts that become payable by the 
Contractor to the Government under this contract shall bear simple 
interest from the date due until paid unless paid within 30 days of 
becoming due. The interest rate shall be the interest rate 
established by the Secretary of the Treasury as provided in Section 
611 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-563), which 
is applicable to the period in which the amount becomes due, as 
provided in (i)(6)(v) of this clause, and then at the rate 
applicable for each six-month period as fixed by the Secretary until 
the amount is paid.
    (ii) The Government may issue a demand for payment to the 
Contractor upon finding a debt is due under the contract.
    (iii) Final decisions. The Contracting Officer will issue a 
final decision as required by 33.211 if--
    (A) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor are unable to 
reach agreement on the existence or amount of a debt within 30 days;
    (B) The Contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded 
by the Contracting Officer within the timeline specified in the 
demand for payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the 
Contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; or
    (C) The Contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt 
previously demanded by the Contracting Officer (see 32.607-2).
    (iv) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, 
the demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify 
the same due date as the original demand for payment.
    (v) Amounts shall be due at the earliest of the following dates:
    (A) The date fixed under this contract.
    (B) The date of the first written demand for payment, including 
any demand for payment resulting from a default termination.
    (vi) The interest charge shall be computed for the actual number 
of calendar days involved beginning on the due date and ending on--
    (A) The date on which the designated office receives payment 
from the Contractor;
    (B) The date of issuance of a Government check to the Contractor 
from which an amount otherwise payable has been withheld as a credit 
against the contract debt; or
    (C) The date on which an amount withheld and applied to the 
contract debt would otherwise have become payable to the Contractor.
    (vii) The interest charge made under this clause may be reduced 
under the procedures prescribed in 32.608-2 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation in effect on the date of this contract.
* * * * *
    Alternate I (OCT 2008). * * *
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (5) Overpayments/Underpayments. Each payment previously made 
shall be subject to reduction to the extent of amounts, on preceding 
invoices, that are found by the Contracting Officer not to have been 
properly payable and shall also be subject to reduction for 
overpayments or to increase for underpayments. The Contractor shall

[[Page 54006]]

promptly pay any such reduction within 30 days unless the parties 
agree otherwise. The Government within 30 days will pay any such 
increases, unless the parties agree otherwise. The Contractor's 
payment will be made by check. If the Contractor becomes aware of a 
duplicate invoice payment or that the Government has otherwise 
overpaid on an invoice payment, the Contractor shall--
    (i) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in 
the contract along with a description of the overpayment including 
the--
    (A) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, 
erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
    (B) Affected contract number and delivery order number, if 
applicable;
    (C) Affected contract line item or subline item, if applicable; 
and
    (D) Contractor point of contact.
    (ii) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting 
documentation to the Contracting Officer.
    (6)(i) All amounts that become payable by the Contractor to the 
Government under this contract shall bear simple interest from the 
date due until paid unless paid within 30 days of becoming due. The 
interest rate shall be the interest rate established by the 
Secretary of the Treasury, as provided in section 611 of the 
Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-563), which is 
applicable to the period in which the amount becomes due, and then 
at the rate applicable for each six month period as established by 
the Secretary until the amount is paid.
    (ii) The Government may issue a demand for payment to the 
Contractor upon finding a debt is due under the contract.
    (iii) Final Decisions. The Contracting Officer will issue a 
final decision as required by 33.211 if--
    (A) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor are unable to 
reach agreement on the existence or amount of a debt in a timely 
manner;
    (B) The Contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded 
by the Contracting Officer within the timeline specified in the 
demand for payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the 
Contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; or
    (C) The Contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt 
previously demanded by the Contracting Officer (see FAR 32.607-2).
    (iv) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, 
the demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify 
the same due date as the original demand for payment.
    (v) Amounts shall be due at the earliest of the following dates:
    (A) The date fixed under this contract.
    (B) The date of the first written demand for payment, including 
any demand for payment resulting from a default termination.
    (vi) The interest charge shall be computed for the actual number 
of calendar days involved beginning on the due date and ending on--
    (A) The date on which the designated office receives payment 
from the Contractor;
    (B) The date of issuance of a Government check to the Contractor 
from which an amount otherwise payable has been withheld as a credit 
against the contract debt; or
    (C) The date on which an amount withheld and applied to the 
contract debt would otherwise have become payable to the Contractor.
    (vii) The interest charge made under this clause may be reduced 
under the procedures prescribed in 32.608-2 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation in effect on the date of this contract.
    (viii) Upon receipt and approval of the invoice designated by 
the Contractor as the ``completion invoice'' and supporting 
documentation, and upon compliance by the Contractor with all terms 
of this contract, any outstanding balances will be paid within 30 
days unless the parties agree otherwise. The completion invoice, and 
supporting documentation, shall be submitted by the Contractor as 
promptly as practicable following completion of the work under this 
contract, but in no event later than 1 year (or such longer period 
as the Contracting Officer may approve in writing) from the date of 
completion.
* * * * *

0
11. Amend section 52.213-4 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (a)(2)(iv) to read as follows:


52.213-4  Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than 
Commercial Items).

* * * * *
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS (OTHER THAN 
COMMERCIAL ITEMS) (OCT 2008)
* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iv) 52.232-25, Prompt Payment (OCT 2008).
* * * * *

0
12. Revise section 52.232-17 to read as follows:


52.232-17  Interest.

    As prescribed in 32.611(a) and (b), insert the following clause:
    INTEREST (OCT 2008)
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this contract under a Price 
Reduction for Defective Cost or Pricing Data clause or a Cost 
Accounting Standards clause, all amounts that become payable by the 
Contractor to the Government under this contract shall bear simple 
interest from the date due until paid unless paid within 30 days of 
becoming due. The interest rate shall be the interest rate 
established by the Secretary of the Treasury as provided in Section 
611 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-563), which 
is applicable to the period in which the amount becomes due, as 
provided in paragraph (e) of this clause, and then at the rate 
applicable for each six-month period as fixed by the Secretary until 
the amount is paid.
    (b) The Government may issue a demand for payment to the 
Contractor upon finding a debt is due under the contract.
    (c) Final Decisions. The Contracting Officer will issue a final 
decision as required by 33.211 if--
    (1) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor are unable to 
reach agreement on the existence or amount of a debt in a timely 
manner;
    (2) The Contractor fails to liquidate a debt previously demanded 
by the Contracting Officer within the timeline specified in the 
demand for payment unless the amounts were not repaid because the 
Contractor has requested an installment payment agreement; or
    (3) The Contractor requests a deferment of collection on a debt 
previously demanded by the Contracting Officer (see 32.607-2).
    (d) If a demand for payment was previously issued for the debt, 
the demand for payment included in the final decision shall identify 
the same due date as the original demand for payment.
    (e) Amounts shall be due at the earliest of the following dates:
    (1) The date fixed under this contract.
    (2) The date of the first written demand for payment, including 
any demand for payment resulting from a default termination.
    (f) The interest charge shall be computed for the actual number 
of calendar days involved beginning on the due date and ending on--
    (1) The date on which the designated office receives payment 
from the Contractor;
    (2) The date of issuance of a Government check to the Contractor 
from which an amount otherwise payable has been withheld as a credit 
against the contract debt; or
    (3) The date on which an amount withheld and applied to the 
contract debt would otherwise have become payable to the Contractor.
    (g) The interest charge made under this clause may be reduced 
under the procedures prescribed in 32.608-2 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation in effect on the date of this contract.
    (End of clause)

0
13. Amend section 52.232-25 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (d) to read as follows:


52.232-25  Prompt Payment.

* * * * *
    PROMPT PAYMENT (OCT 2008)
* * * * *
    (d) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate 
contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has 
otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the 
Contractor shall--
    (1) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in 
the contract along with a description of the overpayment including 
the--
    (i) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, 
erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
    (ii) Affected contract number and delivery order number if 
applicable;
    (iii) Affected contract line item or subline item, if 
applicable; and
    (iv) Contractor point of contact.

[[Page 54007]]

    (2) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting 
documentation to the Contracting Officer.
    (End of clause)
* * * * *

0
14. Amend section 52.232-26 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (c) to read as follows:


52.232-26  Prompt Payment for Fixed-Price Architect-Engineer Contracts.

* * * * *
    PROMPT PAYMENT FOR FIXED-PRICE ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS (OCT 
2008)
* * * * *
    (c) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate 
contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has 
otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the 
Contractor shall--
    (1) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in 
the contract along with a description of the overpayment including 
the--
    (i) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, 
erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
    (ii) Affected contract number and delivery order number if 
applicable;
    (iii) Affected contract line item or subline item, if 
applicable; and
    (iv) Contractor point of contact.
    (2) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting 
documentation to the Contracting Officer.
    (End of clause)

0
15. Amend section 52.232-27 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (l) to read as follows:


52.232-27  Prompt Payment for Construction Contracts.

* * * * *
    PROMPT PAYMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS (OCT 2008)
* * * * *
    (l) Overpayments. If the Contractor becomes aware of a duplicate 
contract financing or invoice payment or that the Government has 
otherwise overpaid on a contract financing or invoice payment, the 
Contractor shall--
    (1) Remit the overpayment amount to the payment office cited in 
the contract along with a description of the overpayment including 
the--
    (i) Circumstances of the overpayment (e.g., duplicate payment, 
erroneous payment, liquidation errors, date(s) of overpayment);
    (ii) Affected contract number and delivery order number if 
applicable;
    (iii) Affected contract line item or subline item, if 
applicable; and
    (iv) Contractor point of contact.
    (2) Provide a copy of the remittance and supporting 
documentation to the Contracting Officer.
    (End of clause)
[FR Doc. E8-21382 Filed 9-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S