The AF recently published a new guide that I am having trouble understanding.
https://cs.eis.af.mil/airforcecontracting/knowledge_center/Documents/Other_Pubs/Other_Guides/cpff_loe_guide.pdf#zoom=100%
It seems that the guide is in direct conflict with the FAR 16.306(a) which states that the fee is "fixed at the inception of the contract" however page 5 paragraph (h) of the guide states that the fee can be reduced if the contractor works less hours than the stated LOE. (To be clear, this is not an adjustment based on change in the work to be performed, but an adjustment based on the number of hours actually worked to achieve the LOE).
According to the guide, the fee is tied directly to the actual hours incurred and gets proportionally adjusted when the contractor expenses hours which is less than the identified LOE. Additionally, the guide specifies that the Fee is paid based upon hours expended. So my question for the WIFCON community is: If the guide were utilized, how exactly would the fee be considered fixed?
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Note: I have been directed to utilize this contract type for emergency repair services as opposed to T&M. In my situation the LOE is unknown, definite goals as well as how long it will take components to be repaired are unknown, and the end products are also unknown as I cannot predict what component or product will need to be repaired. I had some creative solutions but after reading the guide, I am lost as to how a fixed fee is able to fluctuate. If the guide is accurate, my revised solution would be to set the LOE so high that it would be improbable that the contractor could ever attain it then simply be adjust the fee each period relative to actual hours expensed.