formerfed

Answers to a couple questions will help with advice. How often over the course of a year are arbitrators needed and how large is the potential pool of BPA holders?

Great point! I’ll add past experiences over the life of the existing contract.

Again,Bob, thanks for all you do with this site. An amazing resource with enjoyable discussions as well. @Voyager thanks for sharing this. Great tip!

This also is potentially way above a contracting officers discretionary actions. I would get the agency budget officer and congressional liaison officer involved. They can check with the committee staffers.

Nope. Google gsa advantage and you’ll see everything it’s used for

Many agencies do use the SF-182 for this if the speaker is presenting educational or informative information.

Where does Vern’s reference support use of agreement?

Sorry, I meant my comment was directed to Carl and others interested here edit: @Vern Edwards Thanks again for the informative and comprehensive response

16.603-1 Description. A letter contract is a written preliminary contractual instrument that authorizes the contractor to begin immediately manufacturing supplies or performing services. It’s a contract and not an “arrangement” whatever that is

From DFARS 217.74

@FrankJonThis also is similar language used by GAO on page 17 of the report linked above by Vern. We can split hairs on contract terminology all day but a contractor performing under a UCA is essentially reimbursed. That’s why it’s critical to definitiize a fixed price contract as soon as possible.

We don’t know what, if anything, the successful offeror provided to the government in way of explanation. I’ve seen situations where a contractor feels they will learn processes well over time and develop methodologies, tools and techniques to become more efficient. The strategy is replace staff over time with lower paid employees. This would be a good point to discuss during the debriefing.

Right

Assuming the parent company has a valid GSA Schedule contract, they must propose their own fixed price hourly rates matching their contractual LCATs. If they want to include their subsidiary in performance, the subsidary must perform under the parents rates and qualify as fully meeting the appropriate LCAT standards. In other words, the parent is free to subcontract to the subsidiary using the parents rates. If for whatever reason, the subsidiary labor doesn’t work, the parent is free to propose the subdiary as “open market”, which is covered under FAR 402(f)

Except many government payment systems won’t allow invoice payments exceeding the CLIN amount.