THRIFT FEDERAL ACQUISITION SUPPLEMENT (T-FAS)

FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
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PART T01—THRIFT FEDERAL ACQUISITION SUPPLEMENT (T-FAS)

Preamble.

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) was established by the Federal 

Employees’ Retirement System Act (FERSA), which mandates that FRTIB fiduciaries 

manage Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) assets in the sole interest of the TSP participants and 

beneficiaries, and expend funds for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to 

participants and beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the 

TSP. 5 U.S.C. § 8477. In doing so, FRTIB fiduciaries must act with the skill, care, and 

diligence of a prudent person engaged in a similar enterprise with analogous aims and 

objectives. In exercising its due diligence, FRTIB must closely examine the rules by which 

it will direct the expenditure of these funds. For most of the federal government, those 

rules are found in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The FAR, which is a 

comprehensive set of rules that govern federal procurements, applies specifically to 

acquisitions made with appropriated funds. (FAR 1.104). FRTIB is a self-funded Federal 

Agency with independent budgetary authority that receives no annual appropriations from 

Congress. Due to its unique status, FRTIB is not strictly bound to adhere to the FAR. But, 

the Agency has determined that, in most circumstances, it is in the Agency’s interest to 

follow the FAR for FRTIB’s procurements of goods and services. To that end, FRTIB 

procurements will largely adhere to the FAR, unless doing so might infringe upon the 

Agency’s fiduciary obligations under FERSA. This supplement specifies when FRTIB 

policies and practices deviate from the FAR for that purpose.

Section Contents.

T01.000 Scope of part.

This part describes the Thrift Federal Acquisition Supplement (T-FAS) in terms of 

establishment, relationship to the FAR, arrangement, applicability, and deviation 

procedures.

Subpart T01.1—Purpose, Authority, Applicability, Issuance

T01.101—Purpose.

The T-FAS describes FRTIB’s implementation, supplementation, and deviation from the 

FAR. 

T01.103—Authority.

The T-FAS is issued under the authority of the Executive Director (ED) of FRTIB to

enable the prudent expenditure of plan assets and ensure the reasonableness of plan 

expenses. 

T01.104—Applicability.
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The T-FAS applies to all FRTIB acquisitions, other than those made through 

agreements with other Federal Government entities, which are governed by FRTIB 

procedures on Interagency Agreements (IAA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), 

and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA).

T01.105—Issuance.

T01.105-1—Publication and Code Arrangement.

The T-FAS is available at https://www.frtib.gov on the “Doing Business with FRTIB” 

page. 

T01.105-2—Arrangement of Regulations.

(a) General. The T-FAS follows the basic FAR format, except that T or T0 will precede 

the citation (e.g., T-FAS coverage of FAR 1.602-1 is cited as T01.602-1).

(b) Numbering. Where the T-FAS does not supplement or deviate from the FAR, there 

is no corresponding T-FAS section. 

T-FAS—Part T02

Definitions of Words and Terms

T02.000—Scope of Part.

This part defines words and terms that are specific to FRTIB and not already defined in 

FAR Part 2.

Subpart T02.1—Definitions

T02.101—Definitions.

“Agency Head” or “Head of the Agency” means the Executive Director (ED) of FRTIB. 

“Chief Acquisition Officer” means the lead acquisition official responsible for the 

performance of FRTIB acquisition activities and acquisition programs.

T-FAS—Part T05

Publicizing Contract Actions

T05.002—Policy.

(c) FRTIB does not publicize contract actions solely to assist small business concerns in 

obtaining contracts and subcontracts.
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Subpart 5.1—Dissemination of Information 

T05.101—Methods of Disseminating Information. 

(a) FRTIB does not comply with The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. § 631 et seq.) and 

will not give special preference to proposals submitted under sections of the Small 

Business Act. 

T-FAR—Part T06

Competition Requirements 

Subpart T06.2—Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources

T06.203—Set-Asides for Small Business Concerns.

FRTIB does not set aside solicitations to allow only small business concerns to 

compete. 

T06.204—Section 8(a) Competition.

FRTIB does not limit competition to only Section 8(a) Small Business Act participants.

T06.205—Set-asides for HUBZone Small Business Concerns.

FRTIB does not to set aside solicitations to allow only qualified HUBZone small 

business concerns to compete. 

T06.206—Set-asides for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 

Concerns.

FRTIB does not set aside solicitations to allow only service-disabled veteran-owned 

small business concerns to compete.

T06.207—Set-asides for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small 

Business (EDWOSB) Concerns or Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) 

Concerns Eligible Under the WOSB Program.

FRTIB does not set aside solicitations for only EDWOSB concerns or WOSB concerns 

eligible under the WOSB Program to compete. 

T06.208—Set-asides for Local Firms During a Major Disaster or Emergency.

FRTIB does not to set aside solicitations to allow only offerors residing or doing 

business primarily in the area affected by a major disaster or emergency to compete.

Subpart T06.5—Advocates for Competition 
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T06.501—Requirements.

FRTIB does not have an advocate for competition. However, FRTIB will conduct 

procurement activities in a manner that promotes full and open competition, promotes 

the acquisition of commercial items; and challenges barriers to acquisition, including 

unnecessarily restrictive statements of need, unnecessarily detailed specifications, and 

unnecessarily burdensome contract clauses.

T-FAS—Part T07

Acquisition Planning

Subpart T07.1—Acquisition Plans

T07.104—General Procedures.

(d) FRTIB does not have a small business specialist; and does not coordinate the 

acquisition plan or strategy to set aside contracts for small business under FAR Part 19, 

or consolidate or bundle contracts.

T-FAS—Part T08

Required Sources of Supplies and Services

T08.002—Priorities for Use of Mandatory Sources.

FRTIB does not satisfy requirements for supplies and services from or through 

mandatory Government sources and publications. 

T08.003—Use of Other Mandatory Sources.

FRTIB does not satisfy requirements for public utility services, printing and related 

supplies, leased motor vehicles, strategic and critical materials, or helium from or 

through the specified sources described in FAR Part 41, Subparts 8.8, 8.11, or 8.5.

T08.005—Contract Clause.

FRTIB does not satisfy requirements for supplies and services from or through 

mandatory Government sources and publications or from or through the specified 

sources described in FAR Part 41, and Subparts 8.8, 8.11, and 8.5. Therefore, FRTIB 

does not use FAR clause 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply 

and Services, in solicitations or awards.

Subpart T08.4—Federal Supply Schedules

T08.405-5—Small Business.

(a) FRTIB does not set aside orders for small business concerns.
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Subpart T08.6—Acquisition from Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

FRTIB is not required to purchase supplies and services from Federal Prison Industries, 

Inc.

Subpart T08.7—Acquisition from Nonprofit Agencies Employing People Who Are 

Blind or Severely Disabled

FRTIB is not required to purchase supplies and services from People Who Are Blind or 

Severely Disabled, or comply with the rules of the Committee for Purchase from People 

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

Subpart 8.8—Acquisition of Printing and Related Supplies

T08.802—Policy.

FRTIB may authorize printing by an entity other than the Government Printing Office.

T-FAS—Part T09

Contractor Qualifications

T09.000—Scope of Part.

Subpart T09.1—Responsible Prospective Contractors

T09.103—Policy.

(b) FRTIB does not request or consider Certificates of Competency and Determinations 

of Responsibility for small business concerns. 

T09.104-3—Application of Standards.

(b) Satisfactory performance record. FRTIB does not request subcontracting plans for 

small businesses or consider prospective contractors’ compliance with subcontracting 

plans under recent contracts.

(d)(1) Small business concerns. FRTIB does not refer matters to the Small Business 

Administration and will not request or consider Small Business Administration decisions 

on whether to issue a Certificate of Competency.

(d)(2) FRTIB does not use FAR clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, in 

solicitations or awards.

T09.105-2—Determinations and Documentation.
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(a)(2) If a small business lacks certain elements of responsibility, FRTIB does not follow 

the procedures in FAR Subpart 19.6 by requesting or considering a Certificate of 

Competency issued for a small business concern. Further, the contracting officer shall 

not request or accept the Small Business Administration’s decision to issue a Certificate 

of Competency and award the contract to the concern.

T09.107—Surveys of Nonprofit Agencies Participating in the AbilityOne Program.

FRTIB does not participate in the AbilityOne Program.

Subpart T09.4—Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility

See also FRTIB Suspension and Debarment Program Memorandum. 

T-FAS—Part T10

Market Research

T10.001—Policy.

(c) FRTIB does not comply with the Small Business Act, therefore, it will not consult with 

small business specialists and/or local Small Business Administration procurement 

center representatives or notify any affected incumbent small business concerns of the 

Agency’s intention pertaining to bundling requirements or small business concerns.

T10.002—Procedures.

(b)(1)(vii) FRTIB does not consider the size and status of potential sources.

T-FAS—Part T11

Describing Agency Needs

Subpart T11.5—Liquidated Damages

T11.501—Policy.

(d) The ED may reduce or waive the amount of liquidated damages assessed under a 

contract without the approval of the Commissioner, Financial Management Service or 

designee. 

T-FAS—Part T12

Acquisition of Commercial Items

T12.207—Contract Type.

Each determination and finding (D&F) required by paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A) of this Part 

shall contain sufficient facts and rationale to justify that no other contract type 
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authorized by the subpart is suitable. FAR 12.207(b)(2) provides the minimum D&F 

requirements. 

Subpart T12.3—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition 

of Commercial Items

T12.301—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition of 

Commercial Items.

(b)(1) FRTIB shall not include any of the FAR clauses relating to the Small Business 

Act, Small Business Program, Small Business Concerns, Small Business 

Subcontracting Plan, or Small Business Set-Asides in solicitations or awards.

(d)(4) FRTIB does not use clause 52.207-6, Solicitation of Offers from Small Business 

Concerns and Small Business Teaming Arrangements or Joint Ventures (MultipleAward Contracts), in solicitations or awards. 

(d)(9) FRTIB does not use clause 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small 

Business Subcontractors, in solicitations or awards. 

T-FAS—Part T13

Simplified Acquisition Procedures

T13.003—Policy.

FRTIB does not reserve or set aside awards exclusively for small business concerns. 

Simplified procurement procedures are used when buying products or services valued 

at $250,000 or less.

Subpart T13.1—Procedures

T13.101—General.

(a)(2) FRTIB does not use the procedures described in subpart 19.6 with respect to 

Certificates of Competency before rejecting a quotation, oral or written, from a small 

business concern determined to be nonresponsible.

T-FAS—Part T15

Contracting by Negotiation

Subpart T15.3—Source Selection

T15.304—Evaluation Factors and Significant Subfactors.

(c)(3)(ii) and (c)(4) FRTIB does not set aside procurements for small business concerns. 
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T15.305—Proposal Evaluation

(a)(2)(v) FRTIB does not set aside procurements for small businesses.

(a)(5) FRTIB does not structure solicitations to give offers from small business concerns 

the highest rating for the evaluation factors in 15.304(c)(3)(ii) and (c)(4).

Subpart T15.4—Contract Pricing

T15.404-4—Profit.

(d)(1)(iii) FRTIB does not provide greater profit opportunity to contractors that have 

displayed unusual initiative in Federal socioeconomic programs, such as those involving 

small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and 

economically disadvantaged individuals, women-owned small business concerns, 

veteran-owned, HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, 

sheltered workshops for workers with disabilities, and energy conservation.

T15.407-2—Make-or-Buy Programs.

(d)(2) FRTIB does not consider the viability of small, small disadvantaged, womenowned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, small business 

concerns for subcontracting in evaluating the proposed program. When prospective 

contractors are required to submit proposed make-or-buy programs, the solicitation 

should not include a description of those factors. 

Subpart T15.5—Preaward, Award, and Postaward Notifications, Protests, and 

Mistakes

T15.503—Notifications to Unsuccessful Offerors.

(a)(2) FRTIB will provide pre-award notice to all offerors, including small business 

programs, in accordance with FAR 15.503(a)(1).

T15.507—Protests Against Award.

See FRTIB Protest Procedures.

T15.606—Agency Procedures.

(b) The Division Chief of Contracting is the point of contact to coordinate the receipt and 

handling of unsolicited proposals. 

T-FAS—Part T16

Types of Contracts
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Subpart T16.1—Selecting Contract Types

T16.102—Policies.

(b) FRTIB may award other contract types (except cost plus percentage of cost) as 

deemed necessary by the contracting officer. 

T16.103—Negotiating Contract Type.

(d)(2)(iii) FRTIB does not set aside solicitations or awards for small business concerns.

T-FAS—Part T17

Special Contracting Methods

Subpart T17.1—Multi-Year Contracting

T17.104—General.

(c) This paragraph does not apply to FRTIB contracts. The sums in the Thrift Savings 

Fund are not appropriated and shall remain available without fiscal year limitation. 

T17.105—Policy.

T17.105-1—Uses.

(d) If funds are not available to support the succeeding years’ requirements, FRTIB 

must cancel the contract.

T17.204—Contracts.

(e) A request to exceed the 5-year limitation specified in FAR 17.204(e) must follow 

general policies and procedures for the use of determinations and findings (D&F’s)

prescribed in FAR Part 1.7, and be approved by the Executive Director.

Subpart T17.5—Interagency Acquisitions

T17.502—Procedures.

T17.502-1—General.

T17.502-2—The Economy Act.

The Economy Act grants agencies using appropriated funds the authority to enter into 

Interagency Agreements (IAA) for supplies and services. Because FRTIB does not fund 

IAAs with appropriated funds, the contracting officer shall use 5 U.S.C. § 8474(c)(5)

(FERSA) instead of the Economy Act as the authority for FRTIB’s use of an IAA.
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T17.504—Reporting Requirements.

(a) FRTIB does not submit an annual report on interagency acquisitions to the Director 

of OMB.

T-FAS—Part T19

Small Business Programs

FRTIB does not comply with The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. § 631 et seq.) and 

associated FAR set-aside requirements. 

T-FAS—Part T22

Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions

T22.001—Definitions. 

The “Office of General Counsel” or “OGC,” as used in this part, means the office 

responsible for advising FRTIB officials on federal contract labor matters. 

Subpart T22.1—Basic Labor Policies

T22.101—Labor relations.

T22.101-3—Reporting Labor Disputes.

(b) The contracting officer shall seek legal advice and assistance from OGC when a 

potential or actual labor dispute that may interfere with the contract performance occurs.

T-FAS—Part T24

Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information

Subpart 24.1—Protection of Individual Privacy

T24.103—Procedures.

FRTIB’s regulations with respect to the Privacy Act of 1974 are found at 5 C.F.R. § 

1630.

Subpart 24.2—Freedom of Information Act

T24.203—Policy.

FRTIB regulations with respect to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are found in 5 

C.F.R. § 1631.
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T-FAS—Part T32

Contract Financing

T32.009—Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors.

Small businesses are not entitled to early payment of invoices based on the authority of 

FAR 32.903(a)(5) concerning the use of accelerated payment methods specified at 5 

C.F.R. § 1315.5(b). 

FRTIB has not issued a policy allowing the blanket early payment of any category of 

small businesses. The contracting officer shall not place provisions in solicitations or 

contracts with small businesses which authorize payment in advance of the payment 

dates set forth in FAR Subpart 32.9, Prompt Payment.

T32.104—Providing Contract Financing.

(b) If the contractor is a small business concern, the contracting officer may give special 

attention to meeting the contractor’s contract financing need. However, a contractor’s 

receipt of a Certificate of Competency from the Small Business Administration has no 

bearing on the contractor’s need for or entitlement to contract financing.

T-FAS—Part T33

Protests, Disputes, and Appeals

Subpart T33.1—Protests

T33.102—General.

(a) Contracting officers shall promptly notify OGC and seek legal advice upon receiving 

notice that a protest has been filed in any forum.

T33.103—Protests to the Agency.

All FRTIB protest decisions shall be reviewed by OGC before transmittal to the 

protester. See FRTIB Protest Procedures.

T33.104—Protests to GAO.

(a) Only OGC may communicate with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the 

Court of Federal Claims and the Department of Justice regarding protests. OGC shall 

be responsible for preparation and submission of the agency report to the GAO and 

litigation reports to the Department of Justice.

Subpart T33.2—Disputes and Appeals

T33.202—Disputes.
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The contracting officer shall promptly notify OGC and seek legal advice upon receiving 

a contractor claim.

T-FAS—Part T37

Service Contracting

Subpart T37.1—Service Contracts -- General

T37.108—Small Business Certificate of Competency.

FRTIB does not consider small business Certificates of Competency in the evaluation of 

technical/management proposals and any resultant technical evaluation and source 

selection.

T-FAS—Part T41

Acquisition of Utility Services

Subpart T41.2—Acquiring Utility Services

T41.206—Interagency Agreements.

FRTIB shall use interagency agreements (e.g., consolidated purchase, joint use, or 

cross-service agreements) when acquiring utility services or facilities from other 

Government agencies. However, FRTIB’s authority for entering into Interagency 

Agreements derives from FERSA, rather than the Economy Act.

Subpart T41.3—Requests for Assistance

FRTIB does not use the procedures described in FAR Subpart 41.3 for requesting GSA 

contracting assistance for utility services.

T-FAS—Part T42

Contract Administration and Audit Services

T42.002—Interagency Agreements.

(b) As a self-funded agency, FRTIB shall reimburse the servicing agency for rendered 

services pursuant to its authority under FERSA (5 U.S.C. § 8474(c)(5)), rather than the 

Economy Act.

T-FAS—Part T44

Subcontracting Policies and Procedures

Subpart T44.3—Contractors Purchasing Systems Reviews
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T44.303—Extent of Review.

(f) FRTIB does not give special attention to policies and procedures pertaining to small 

business concerns, including small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, 

HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.

T-FAS—Part T47

Transportation

Subpart T47.1—General

T47.101—Policies.

(f) FRTIB does not give preference for offers from small business concerns in 

purchases and contracts for transportation and transportation-related services.

T-FAS—Part T49

Termination of Contracts

Subpart T49.1—General Principles

T49.106—Fraud or Other Criminal Conduct.

If the contracting officer suspects fraud or other criminal conduct related to the 

settlement of a terminated contract, the contracting officer shall immediately discontinue 

negotiations and prepare a written report concerning the matter. The report shall be 

submitted to the FRTIB Alternate Designated Agency Ethics Official (ADAEO). See

FRTIB Suspension and Debarment Program Memorandum.

Subpart T49.2—Additional Principles for Fixed-Price Contracts Terminated for 

Convenience

T49.201— General.

No action relating to a default termination, including issuance of a show cause letter, 

cure notice, or notice of default, shall be taken until OGC has reviewed the action for 

legal sufficiency.

Subpart T49.4—Termination for Default

T49.402—Termination of Fixed-Price Contracts for Default

T49.402-3—Procedures for Default.

(e)(4) FRTIB does not provide a copy of cure or show cause notices to the contracting 

office’s small business specialist or the Small Business Administration Regional Office 
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and will not consult with a small business specialist before proceeding with a default 

termination.

T-FAS—Part T52

Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses

52.204-5, Women-Owned Business (other Than Small Business). 

FRTIB does not give preference or set aside awards for women-owned 

businesses and does not use clause 52-204-5. 

52.207-6, Solicitation of Offers from Small Business Concerns and Small Business 

Teaming Arrangements or Joint Ventures (Multiple-Award Contracts). 

FRTIB does not give preference for offers from small business concerns and 

small business teaming arrangements or joint ventures and does not use clause 

52.207-6.

52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply and Services.

FRTIB does not use clause 52.208-9.

52.219-3 to 52.219-30, Small Business Program Clauses.

FRTIB does not give preference, set aside, or sole source awards to small 

business concerns and therefore does not use any of the FAR 52.219 clauses. 

52.225-1, Buy American—Supplies (May 2014).

FRTIB should include the following language when using this clause: “FRTIB 

does not give preference or set aside acquisitions for small business concerns.”

52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 

2013).

FRTIB does not provide accelerated payments to small businesses 

subcontractors and therefore does not use clause 52.232-40. 
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Authorities and References

• Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA)

Revision History

Date Version FRTIB Author

Comments

(briefly summarize change)

09/13/2018 1 Wesley Beemer Initial version

Approval

Name: _________________________________

 Susan C. Crowder

Title: Chief Financial Officer, FRTIB