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buonomma

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  1. It is not. This is a sole source requirement for that reason. These items are being evaluated and repaired by the manufacturer
  2. Thanks for the input and ideas, everyone! Based on the responses, I take that there is in fact no tried and true, or commonly accepted procedure for such requirements. Everything above has crossed my mind in some manner, which ultimately led me to my above proposed process. With that, I'd like to pose my original question, which is... Does any one have any thoughts on "oral orders", as referenced in FAR 16.504(a)(4)(vi), which states, "Include authorization for placing oral orders, if appropriate, provided that the Government has established procedures for obligating funds and that oral orders are confirmed in writing." I don't see much else, or anywhere for that matter, that references oral orders or outlines any characteristics. As long as the below procedures are established in the master contract, would the following be permitted? Step 1: Issue an Oral Task Order (or other name) to the Contractor. This will comprise of the Government notifying the Contractor of the number of assets for repair and shipping them to the Contractor's facility where they will perform the test and evaluation. A draft task order can be provided to the Contractor, if necessary, which reflects 1 CLIN for test/evaluation and separate CLIN for repair costs. Step 2: The Contractor will then provide the results of the testing and evaluation, along with price for the repairs, if any. Step 3 (Confirm Order in Writing): Update the draft task order by adding the repair costs and issue the official task order, obligating the funding. I tried poking holes in this process but could not find anything that would prohibit it. If this is not what oral orders are, I can change the name of the first step to anything. Really just want to be sure there would be nothing stopping us from from sending this GFP to the contractor without a TO in place. I would ensure the process is included in the contracts terms and conditions. Thanks again for your input!
  3. I am currently working on a Sole Source IDIQ for the repair of commercial GFP. In the past, when my office has issued single contracts for this exact same requirement to the same sole source contractor, it was solicited and awarded as FFP, with only the testing/evaluation being the FFP portion. The cost to actually perform the repairs is unknown at the time of contract/order issuance. As a result, the award is issued with a ceiling price, which includes the FFP test and evaluation cost as well as a not to exceed amount for the actual repairs. This results in 99% of the contracts/orders requiring a second modification to deobligate excess funds. This is in accordance with FAR 13.302-2 - Unpriced Purchase Orders. As this is a recurring need for the Government, the goal is to put a FFP IDIQ in place for this requirement. My goal is to come up with a task order issuance process that eliminates, or at least reduces, the need to issue a mod to deobligate the excess funds. If this is even possible... Any one have any thoughts on "oral orders", as referenced in FAR 16.504(a)(4)(vi), which states, "Include authorization for placing oral orders, if appropriate, provided that the Government has established procedures for obligating funds and that oral orders are confirmed in writing." I don't see much else, or anywhere for that matter, that references oral orders or outlines any characteristics. As long as the below procedures are established in the master contract, would the following be permitted? Step 1: Issue an Oral Task Order to the Contractor. This will comprise of the Government notifying the Contractor of the number of assets for repair and shipping them to the Contractor's facility where they will perform the test and evaluation. A draft task order can be provided to the Contractor, if necessary, which reflects 1 CLIN for test/evaluation and separate CLIN for repair costs. Step 2: The Contractor will then provide the results of the testing and evaluation, along with price for the repairs, if any. Step 3 (Confirm Order in Writing): Update the draft task order by adding the repair costs and issue the official task order, obligating the funding. If I'm crazy, and the only way to do this is by issuing TOs IAW FAR 13.302-2 - Unpriced Purchase Orders, as described above, then I suppose I will accept that. But I feel there has to be a better way to do this. Any thoughts or input would be much appreciated.
  4. Doing some past research regarding FAR 52.217-8 (6 Month Option), I strongly remember reading SOMEWHERE, that once all 6 months have been exercised (whether for a single 6 month extension or any other monthly increments totaling 6 months) IAW this clause that the Contract is ended and there is no further recourse to extend the contract, even if any other option periods (IAW -9) remain. Did I make this up? Did I misinterpret something? I have been searching for hours and can't find anything remotely alluding to this. So, am I stupid or bad at researching? Or both? Any responses are appreciated.
  5. Why should the Government be responsible for paying this premium all because their bonding agency demanded it? This is not standard practice nor should it become one. Maybe in certain circumstances in would be advantageous for one/some subcontractors to be bonded, but certainly not in my specific situation. Just because it may be the surety's policy to require bonds of the subs does not make it a "sound business practice". It provides no additional advantages or assurances for the Government, rather only to the surety and maybe the Contractor, so why should we be responsible for reimbursing them (with markups on top, at that) for something we do not require? Regarding the SBA as the prime contractor, this is not the case, and I cannot remember the last time it was. The Government negotiates and issues awards directly with the 8(a) Contractor.
  6. We are currently in negotiations for a FFP sole-source 8(a) construction requirement. The offeror provided a breakdown of all subcontractor costs, which showed that the prime contractor is "back bonding" their subcontractors, essentially requiring performance bonds of them. This is not a requirement of the solicitation, nor of Government policy, for subcontractors to be bonded. Rather the prime will be required to provide payment and performance bonds, which they are, in addition to this "back bonding". This additional cost to the Government for this is a relatively substantial number. I don't believe it's reimbursable under 52.232-5(g), as it's not my opinion that this is either coinsurance or reinsurance. I do not believe this is an allowable cost and should be removed from the proposal. Why would we pay for such "back bonds" in addition to the performance bonds? Is this an allowable cost? I just can't seem to stomach this...
  7. I am very familiar and aware of every point made thus far, and am greatly appreciative for everyone's time. However, I am trying to be creative here to meet my customer's needs, so was trying to find out if there was anything prohibiting me from doing the following... My goal is to NOT require the Contractor (therefore the surety) to increase the penal sum of the bond amount and cover the added work. Given the circumstances of the contract, and the scope of the modification, there is little to no benefit to the Government in requiring payment/performance bonds. Would this require consent from the surety?
  8. I did not mention anything about "reducing" the amount of the bonds, nor do I wish to do so. Rather, the intent is to NOT require any ADDITIONAL bonds as a result of increase in the contract price via modification; we do not require an increase in the penal amount/ A significant portion of work (>90%) is in fact completed.
  9. I appreciate the quick response! It sure does. I am leaning towards the applicable FAR Clause, 52.228-15 -- Performance and Payment Bonds -- Construction, which states: "The Government may require additional performance and payment bond protection if the contract price is increased. The increase in protection generally will equal 100 percent of the increase in contract price." Furthermore, "The Government may secure the additional protection by directing the Contractor to increase the penal amount of the existing bond or to obtain an additional bond."
  10. I have an upcoming modification to a construction contract for work within scope, which will increase the contract price by <$150k. The Payment and Performance Bonds have been required by the contract and provided by the Contractor. In all previous modifications, the Government has paid the Contractor's bond rate for each increase. IAW FAR 28.102-2(d), if the contract price increases, the Government must secure any additional bonding needed. Is there any wiggle room on this? We only have a certain amount of funding and applying the bond rate to the Contractor's proposal puts us over that amount. Can we not require additional bonding for any given modification? Any help would be appreciated.
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