Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=pt48.1.41&rgn=div5
Timestamp: 2020-08-04 15:14:24
Document Index: 617683238

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 41', 'art 41', 'art 41', 'art 41', 'art 41', 'art 41', 'arts 6', 'arts 6']

Title 48 → Chapter 1 → Subchapter F → Part 41
Subpart 41.3—Requests for Assistance
Subpart 41.4—Administration
Subpart 41.5—Solicitation Provision and Contract Clauses
Subpart 41.6—Forms
Subpart 41.7—Formats
Source: 59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
Delegated agency means an agency that has received a written delegation of authority from GSA to contract for utility services for periods not exceeding ten years (see 41.103(b)).
Multiple service locations means the various locations or delivery points in the utility supplier's service area to which it provides service under a single contract.
Separate contract means a utility services contract (other than a GSA areawide contract, an Authorization under an areawide contract, or an interagency agreement) to cover the acquisition of utility services.
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 79 FR 24213, Apr. 29, 2014]
(2) Utility services obtained by purchase, exchange, or otherwise by a Federal power or water marketing agency incident to that agency's marketing or distribution program;
(6) Acquisition of rights in real property, acquisition of public utility facilities, and on-site equipment needed for the facility's own distribution system, or construction/maintenance of Government-owned equipment and real property; or
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 72 FR 27385, May 15, 2007]
(a) Statutory authority. (1) The General Services Administration (GSA) is authorized by 40 U.S.C. 501 to prescribe policies and methods governing the acquisition and supply of utility services for Federal agencies. This authority includes related functions such as managing public utility services and representing Federal agencies in proceedings before Federal and state regulatory bodies. GSA is authorized by 40 U.S.C. 501 to contract for utility services for periods not exceeding ten years.
(2) The Department of Defense (DOD) is authorized by 10 U.S.C. 2304, and 40 U.S.C. 474(d)(3) to acquire utility services for military facilities.
(b) Delegated authority. GSA has delegated its authority to enter into utility service contracts for periods not exceeding ten years to DOD and DOE, and for connection charges only to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Contracting pursuant to this delegated authority shall be consistent with the requirements of this part. Other agencies requiring utility service contracts for periods over one year, but not exceeding ten years, may request a delegation of authority from GSA at the address specified in 41.301(a). In keeping with its statutory authority, GSA will, as necessary, conduct reviews of delegated agencies' acquisitions of utility services to ensure compliance with the terms of the delegation and applicable laws and regulations.
(c) Requests for delegations of contracting authority from GSA shall include a certification from the acquiring agency's Senior Procurement Executive that the agency has—
(b) Except for acquisitions at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, agencies shall acquire utility services by a bilateral written contract, which must include the clauses required by 41.501, regardless of whether rates or terms and conditions of service are fixed or adjusted by a regulatory body. Agencies may not use the utility supplier's forms and clauses to avoid the inclusion of provisions and clauses required by 41.501 or by statute. (See 41.202(c) for procedures to be used when the supplier refuses to execute a written contract.)
(e) Prior to acquiring electric utility services on a competitive basis, the contracting officer shall determine, with the advice of legal counsel, by a market survey or any other appropriate means, e.g. consultation with the state agency responsible for regulating public utilities, that such competition would not be inconsistent with state law governing the provision of electric utility service, including state utility commission rulings and electric utility franchises or service territories established pursuant to state statute, state regulation, or state-approved territorial agreements. Proposals from alternative electric suppliers shall provide a representation that service can be provided in a manner consistent with section 8093 of Public Law 100-202 (see 41.201(d)).
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 34759, July 3, 1995; 61 FR 39190, July 26, 1996; 64 FR 10533, Mar. 4, 1999]
(a) Prior to executing a utility service contract, the contracting officer shall comply with parts 6 and 7 and 41.201 (d) and (e). In accordance with parts 6 and 7, agencies shall conduct market surveys and perform acquisition planning in order to promote and provide for full and open competition provided that the contracting officer determines that any resultant contract would not be inconsistent with applicable state law governing the provision of electric utility services. If competition for an entire utility service is not available, the market survey may be used to determine the availability of competitive sources for certain portions of the requirement. The scope of the term “entire utility service” includes the provision of the utility service capacity, energy, water, sewage, transportation, standby or back-up service, transmission and/or distribution service, quality assurance, system reliability, system operation and maintenance, metering, and billing.
(1) GSA areawide contracts (see 41.204);
(2) Separate contracts (see 41.205); and
(c) When a utility supplier refuses to execute a tendered contract as outlined in 41.201(b), the agency shall obtain a written definite and final refusal signed by a corporate officer or other responsible official of the supplier (or if unobtainable, document any unwritten refusal), and transmit this document, along with statements of the reasons for the refusal and the record of negotiations, to GSA at the address specified at 41.301(a). Unless urgent and compelling circumstances exist, the contracting officer shall notify GSA prior to acquiring utility services without executing a tendered contract. After such notification, the agency may proceed with the acquisition and pay for the utility service under the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1501(a)(8)—
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 62 FR 64926, Dec. 9, 1997]
(a) GSA will, upon request, provide technical and acquisition assistance, or will delegate its contracting authority for the furnishing of the services described in this part for any Federal agency, mixed-ownership Government corporation, the District of Columbia, the Senate, the House of Representatives, or the Architect of the Capitol and any activity under the Architect's direction.
(b) Agencies seeking assistance shall provide, upon request by GSA, the information listed in 41.301.
(b) Features. (1) Areawide contracts generally provide for ordering utility service at rates approved and/or established by a regulatory body and published in a tariff or rate schedule. However, agencies are permitted to negotiate other rates and terms and conditions of service with the supplier (see paragraph (c) of this section). Rates other than those published may require the approval of the regulatory body.
(2) Areawide contracts are negotiated with utility service suppliers for the provision of service within the supplier's franchise territory or service area.
(3) Due to the regulated nature of the utility industry, as well as statutory restrictions associated with the procurement of electricity (see 41.201(d)), competition is typically not available within the entire geographical area covered by an areawide contract, although it may be available at specific locations within the utility's service area. When competing suppliers are available, the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of this section apply.
(c) Procedures for obtaining service. (1) Any Federal agency having a requirement for utility services within an area covered by an areawide contract shall acquire services under that areawide contract unless—
(i) Service is available from more than one supplier; or
(3) The utility supplier's rates, connection charges, and termination liability.
(4) Total estimated contract value (including costs in subparagraphs (b) (2) and (3) of this subsection).
(7) The utility's wheeling or transportation policy for utility service.
(1) The Government will obtain lower rates, larger discounts, or more favorable terms and conditions of service;
(2) A proposed connection charge, termination liability, or any other facilities charge to be paid by the Federal Government will be reduced or eliminated; or
[75 FR 77737, Dec. 13, 2010]
(a) Requests for delegations of GSA contracting authority, assistance with a proposed contract as provided in 41.203, and the submission of other information required by this part, shall be sent or submitted to the General Services Administration (GSA) region in which service is required. The names and locations of GSA regional offices are available from the General Services Administration, Energy Division—PMA, 1800 F St NW, Washington, DC 20405; website: www.gsa.gov/energy; Email: [email protected].
(b) Requests for contracting assistance for utility services shall be sent not later than 120 days prior to the date new services are required to commence an existing contract will expire. Requests for assistance shall contain the following information:
(5) Identification of all available sources or methods of supply, an analysis of the cost effectiveness of each, and a statement of the ability of each source to provide the required services, including the location and a description of each available supplier's facilities at the nearest point of service, and the cost of providing or obtaining necessary backup and other ancillary services.
(i) Proposed refundable or nonrefundable connection charge, termination liability, or other facilities charge to be paid by the agency, together with a description of the supplier's proposed facilities and estimated construction costs, and its rationale for the charge (e.g., tariff provisions or policies).
(ii) A copy of the acquiring agency's estimate to make its own connection to the supplier's facilities through use of its own resources or by separate contract. When feasible, the acquiring agency shall provide its estimates to construct and operate its own utility facilities in lieu of participating in a cost-sharing construction program with the proposed utility supplier.
(1) A copy of the most recent 12-months' service invoices.
[69 FR 76358, Dec. 20, 2004, as amended at 83 FR 42574, Aug. 22, 2018]
Agencies shall review utility service invoices on a monthly basis and all utility accounts, with annual values exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, on an annual basis. Annual reviews of accounts with annual values at or below the simplified acquisition threshold shall be conducted when deemed advantageous to the Government. The purpose of the monthly review is to ensure the accuracy of utility service invoices. The purpose of the annual review is to ensure that the utility supplier is furnishing the services to each facility under the utility's most economical, applicable rate and to examine competitive markets for more advantageous service offerings. The annual review shall be based upon the facility's usage, conditions and characteristics of service at each individual delivery point for the most recent 12 months. If a more advantageous rate is appropriate, the Federal agency shall request the supplier to make such rate change immediately.
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 34759, July 3, 1995]
(c) Pursuant to 52.241-7, Change in Rates or Terms and Conditions of Service for Regulated Services, if a regulatory body approves a rate change, any rate change shall be made a part of the contract by unilateral contract modification or otherwise documented in accordance with agency procedures. The approved applicable rate shall be effective on the date determined by the regulatory body and resulting rates and charges shall be paid promptly to avoid late payment provisions. Copies of the modification containing the approved rate change shall be sent to the agency's paying office or office responsible for verifying billed amounts (see 41.401).
(d) If the utility supplier is not regulated and the rates, terms, and conditions of service are subject to negotiation pursuant to the clause at 52.241-8, Change in Rates or Terms and Conditions of Service for Unregulated Services, any rate change shall be made a part of the contract by contract modification, with copies sent to the agency's paying office or office responsible for verifying billed amounts.
(a) Because the terms and conditions under which utility suppliers furnish service may vary from area to area, the differences may influence the terms and conditions appropriate to a particular utility's contracting situation. To accommodate requirements that are peculiar to the contracting situation, this section prescribes provisions and clauses on a “substantially the same as” basis (see 52.101) which permits the contracting officer to prepare and utilize variations of the prescribed provision and clauses in accordance with agency procedures.
(c) The contracting officer shall insert in solicitations and contracts for utility services clauses substantially the same as the clauses at—
(1) 52.241-2, Order of Precedence—Utilities;
(4) 52.241-5, Contractor's Facilities; and
(d) The contracting officer shall insert clauses substantially the same as the clauses listed below in solicitations and contracts under the prescribed conditions—
(1) 52.241-7, Change in Rates or Terms and Conditions of Service for Regulated Services, when the utility services are subject to a regulatory body. (Except for GSA areawide contracts, the contracting officer shall insert in the blank space provided in the clause the name of the contracting officer. For GSA areawide contracts, the contracting officer shall insert the following: “GSA and each areawide customer with annual billings that exceed $250,000.”)
(3) 52.241-9, Connection Charge, when a refundable connection charge is required to be paid by the Government to compensate the contractor for furnishing additional facilities necessary to supply service. (Use Alternate I to the clause if a nonrefundable charge is to be paid. When conditions require the incorporation of a nonrecurring, nonrefundable service charge or a termination liability, see paragraphs (d)(6) and (d)(4) of this section.)
(6) 52.241-12, Nonrefundable, Nonrecurring Service Charge, when the Government is required to pay a nonrefundable, nonrecurring membership fee, a charge for initiation of service, or a contribution for the cost of facilities construction. The Government may provide for inclusion of such agreed amount or fee as a part of the connection charge, a part of the initial payment for services, or as periodic payments to fulfill the Government's obligation.
[59 FR 67018, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 14377, Mar. 17, 1995]
(a) If acquiring utility services under other than an areawide contract, a purchase order, or an interagency agreement, the Standard Form (SF) 33, Solicitation, Offer and Award; SF 26, Award/Contract; or SF 1447, Solicitation/Contract, shall be used.
(a) The following specification formats for use in acquiring utility services are available from the address specified at 41.301(a) and may be used and modified at the agency's discretion:
(a) Formats for use in conducting annual reviews of the following utility services are available from the address specified at 41.301(a) and may be used at the agency's discretion: