Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Limitations on subcontracting: FAR change in the works

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It’s been more than a year since the SBA issued a final rule overhauling the limitations on subcontracting for small business contracts.  The SBA’s rule, now codified at 13 C.F.R. 125.6, changes the formulas for calculating compliance with the limitations on subcontracting, and allows small businesses to take credit for work performed by similarly situated subcontractors.

But the FAR’s corresponding clauses have yet to be changed, and this has led to a lot of confusion about which rule applies – especially since many contracting officers abide by the legally-dubious proposition that “if it ain’t in the FAR, it doesn’t count.”  Now, finally, there is some good news: the FAR Council is moving forward with a proposed rule to align the FAR with the SBA’s regulations.

By way of quick background, way back in January 2013, former President Obama signed the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law.  The 2013 NDAA made major changes to the limitations on subcontracting.  The law changed the way that compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is calculated for service and supply contracts – from formulas based on “cost of personnel” and “cost of manufacturing,” to formulas based on the amount paid by the government.  And, importantly, the 2013 NDAA allowed small primes to claim performance credit for “similarly situated entities.”

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/uncategorized/limitations-on-subcontracting-far-change-in-the-works/

Update on government contracts ramifications of the Trump administration

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In December 2016, Jones Day issued “ Government Contracts Ramifications of the Trump Election,” a Commentary in which we discussed several likely impacts of the Trump Administration in the government contracts arena. Specifically, we discussed that the new Administration would:

  • Seek repeal of numerous Executive Orders affecting government contractors.
  • Reject some Obama Administration procurement policies, such as: the preference for fixed-price type contracts; the preference for lowest-price technically acceptable (“LPTA”) evaluation schemes; and the preference against outsourcing government jobs to private companies.
  • Embrace Commercial Item contracting.
  • Increase government spending for defense, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and immigration-related activities.
  • Decrease spending by many agencies, including the Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, and Internal Revenue Service.
  • Focus on compliance issues such as rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse, and ensuring compliance with the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act.
  • Withdraw from, or renegotiate America’s participation in, certain trade relationships, which could affect companies’ supply chains.
  • Decrease the federal workforce, which could result in understaffing and undertraining within the acquisition workforce.
  • Appoint the members of the FAR Council, including the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (“OFPP”) Administrator, Secretary of Defense, Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Administrator of General Services Administration.

Since the issuance of our earlier Commentary, President Trump has taken several actions that provide additional insight into the impact his Administration will have on government contractors.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/564798/Government+Contracts+Procurement+PPP/Update+On+Government+Contracts+Ramifications+Of+The+Trump+Administration

FAR now requires reporting reduced or untimely payments to small business subcontractors

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The FARThe Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has issued a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a section of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.  The new rule, which goes into effect on January 19, 2017, will require certain prime contractors to “self-report” to their contracting officers all reduced or untimely payments to their small business subcontractors within 14 days of when the payment was due and the reason for the reduced or untimely payment.

Specifically, the contract will contain a new FAR clause, 52.242-5, which will state:

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause-

Reduced payment means a payment that is for less than the amount agreed upon in a subcontract in accordance with its terms and conditions, for supplies and services for which the Government has paid the prime contractor.

Untimely payment means a payment that is more than 90 days past due under the terms and conditions of a subcontract, for supplies and services for which the Government has paid the prime contractor.

(b) Notice. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer, in writing, not later than 14 days after-

(1) A small business subcontractor was entitled to payment under the terms and conditions of the subcontract; and

(2) The Contractor-

(i) Made a reduced or untimely payment to the small business subcontractor; or

(ii) Failed to make a payment, which is now untimely.

(c) Content of Notice. The Contractor shall include the reason(s) for making the reduced or untimely payment in any Notice required under paragraph (b) of this clause.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-federal-acquisition-regulation-rule-20809/

New FAR rule encourages ‘constructive exchanges’ between federal agencies and contractors

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The November 29, 2016 edition of the Federal Register contains a proposed amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) aimed at encouraging pre-acquisition communications between industry professionals and federal agencies.  This amendment is part of a five-year long effort by the Obama Administration to clarify that communications between potential government contractors and federal agencies are not only allowed, but encouraged.

The proposed rule would amend FAR 1.102-2(a)(4), which currently states that “[t]he Government must not hesitate to communicate with the commercial sector as early as possible in the acquisition cycle to help the Government determine the capabilities available in the commercial marketplace. The Government will maximize its use of commercial products and services in meeting Government requirements.”  In the revised version, the following language would be added:

“Government acquisition personnel are permitted and encouraged to engage in responsible and constructive exchanges with industry as part of market research … so long as those exchanges are consistent with existing laws, regulations, and promote a fair competitive environment.” 

There are a number of laws and regulations that may be come into play during pre-acquisition exchanges with government officials, including the Procurement Integrity Act, 41 U.S.C. § 423, Anti-Kickback Act, 41 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., restrictions on lobbying activity, regulations on collusive bidding, prohibition on contingent fee arrangements, and various laws prohibiting gifts and gratuities to and bribery of federal officials.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2016/12/new-far-rule-encourages-constructive-exchanges-between-federal-agencies-and-contractors/

FAR Council clarifies 8(a) sole source justification requirements for high value contracts

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The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) has issued a proposed rule to clarify contracting officer and agency responsibilities when justifying sole source awards exceeding $22 million dollars made through the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program.  The revisions directly address recommendations from a December 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled, “Slow Start to Implementation of Justifications for 8(a) Sole-Source Contracts,” which, among other things, highlighted agency “confusion” about the existing justification requirements in the FAR.

The 8(a) sole source justification requirement for high value contracts is a statutory mandate, established by Section 811 of the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, presumably to ensure that these high value awards are in the government’s best interest.  While the FAR Council published implementing regulations in April 2012, as noted in the 2012 GAO report, a number of agencies had difficulty complying with the new requirements, which differ from those governing other sole source justifications.

In subsequent GAO reports (published in September 2014 and in June 2016) reviewing the number of DoD issued 8(a) awards exceeding $20 million dollars, GAO identified a significant decline in high value sole source awards to 8(a) firms since implementation of the justification requirement in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).  Some agency officials at least partly attributed these declines to the new regulations.  GAO also noted a corresponding increase in the number of competitively awarded high value 8(a) contracts.

To see key aspects of the proposed rule and read more, so to: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2016/11/far-council-clarifies-8a-sole-source-justification-requirements-high-value-contracts/

Confidentiality agreements continue to pose potential compliance trap for contractors

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US DoD logoFederal contractors who require employees to sign confidentiality agreements—including those selling only commercial products or in small quantities—need to examine their agreements closely.

For the last two years, the government has sought to prohibit confidentiality agreements that restrict employees’ ability to report fraud, waste, or abuse to “designated investigative or law enforcement representative[s]” for federal agencies authorized to receive that information.”

Most recently, the Department of Defense issued a new class deviation on November 14, 2016 prohibiting DoD from using funds from recent appropriations to contract with companies using overbroad confidentiality agreements. While these restrictions may not be new, the deviation’s broad application and significant consequences mean that contractors should give close scrutiny to ensure any agreements with employees comply with the prohibition.

Specifics of the Latest Class Deviation

DoD’s recent class deviation prohibits DoD agencies from using any money appropriated by the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2017 (or other FY 2017 dollars authorized by future continuing resolutions) to contract with an entity whose confidentiality agreement prevents employees from reporting fraud, waste, or abuse.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2016/11/confidentiality-agreements-continue-pose-potential-compliance-trap-contractors/

Government releases final rule implementing ‘blacklisting’ law

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The final rule and guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, signed by President Barack Obama in July 2014 and finally published on August 25, 2016, remain almost as burdensome and problematic as they were when originally proposed. They will impact many federal contractors and require immediate attention to ensure full compliance, which for some will be required as soon as October 2016.

President Barack Obama signs the "Fair Pay and Safe Workplace" executive order in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, July 31, 2014. The President is joined on stage by Labor Secretary Thomas Perez as well as employers who support fair labor practices, workers who have seen firsthand the effects of workplace violations, and advocates who have worked to improve fair pay and safety standards. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama signs the “Fair Pay and Safe Workplace” executive order in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, July 31, 2014. The President is joined on stage by Labor Secretary Thomas Perez as well as employers who support fair labor practices, workers who have seen firsthand the effects of workplace violations, and advocates who have worked to improve fair pay and safety standards. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Often referred to as the “blacklisting” law, the Executive Order requires prospective and existing contractors to disclose violations of 14 federal labor laws plus state equivalents, requires them to provide certain information each pay period to enable workers to verify the accuracy of their pay, and prohibits certain contractors from using pre-dispute arbitration agreements to address sexual assault and civil rights claims.

The rule from the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. General Services Administration and NASA) and guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) are designed to assist agencies in implementing the Executive Order. They detail procedures for making the disclosures, assessing violations, developing conditions for further consideration of bids, and providing required notices to workers.

The final rule and guidance remain burdensome and problematic for several reasons.  First, they create a publicly available repository of contractor violations. They also require the contracting officer to determine whether a contractor is a “responsible source” based on violations that may not be final or are subject to appeal. Moreover, contracting officers wield the power to require bidders with records deemed less-than-satisfactory to commit to a labor compliance agreement in order for their bids to be considered. Although some minor changes were made to the proposals between the initial release and ultimate finalization, the overall effect remains the same.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/523316/employee+rights+labour+relations/Government+Releases+Final+Rule+Implementing+Blacklisting+Law

FAR Council adds new layer to small business subcontracting rules

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On January 20, 2016, the FAR Council published a proposed rule calling for changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 19 and 52 that address payments to small business subcontractors.

The FARThe proposed changes, which are intended to implement regulations adopted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2013, will expand the range of small business-related obligations imposed on prime contractors.

The proposed rule stems from the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which, as noted in a previous post, called for regulations governing prime contractors’ compliance with their small business subcontracting plans. Among the Act’s requirements was that prime contractors notify their contracting officer if they pay a “reduced price” or make an “untimely payment” to a small business subcontractor.  Although the SBA adopted regulations implementing this statutory directive in July 2013, the Far Council is taking on the task for the first time.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/far-council-adds-new-layer-to-small-business-subcontracting-rules

Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by March 21, 2016.  Comments should reference “FAR Case 2014-004” and may be submitted by mail, email, or online. 

Administration moves ahead with federal contractor labor law guidance

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The Obama administration proposed guidance that requires prospective contractors to disclose labor law violations from the past three years before they can get a contract. But a contractor advocacy group isn’t happy about it.

Dept. of LaborOn May 28, the Labor Department issued proposed guidance and the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council issued a proposed rule to help agencies implement an executive order signed by President Obama in July 2014.

The order is meant to ensure those contractors who “repeatedly violate the rights of their workers and put them in danger, don’t get contracts and thus can’t delay important projects and waste taxpayer money,” a fact sheet that was released with the order says.

Keep reading this article, including objections raised by an industry group, here: http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/administration-moves-ahead-federal-contractor-labor-law-guidance-psc-pushes/2015-05-28

FAR prohibitions on human trafficking take effect Mar. 2, 2015

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The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council has published the a  final rule implementing Executive Order 13627 and title XVII of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, requiring contractors on federal contracts to certify, both prior to award and annually, their human trafficking compliance and monitoring.  The Final Rule prohibits contractors from:

  • engaging in severe forms of human trafficking during the period of performance of the contract,
  • procuring commercial sex acts during the period of performance of the contract,
  • using forced labor in the performance of the contract,
  • destroying, concealing, confiscating or otherwise denying employees’ access to identity or immigration documents,
  • engaging in fraudulent or misleading recruitment practices,
  • employing recruiters that violate the labor laws of the country where the recruitment takes place,
  • charging recruiting fees,
  • failing to provide return transportation to an employee who is not a national of the country where the work is to take place, subject to limited exceptions,
  • providing housing, if required, that fails to meet host country safety or housing laws, and
  • failing to provide a written work document, if required.

The Final Rule is broadly applicable to all Federal contractors and subcontractors, regardless of contract type or dollar amount, including contractors providing commercial items, commercially-available off-the-shelf items, or goods on General Service Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules (FSS).  In addition, certain contractors providing goods and services abroad will be required to make new certifications and implement compliance plans.  Failure to comply may result in financial penalties, termination for default, suspension or debarment, and potential litigation, including false claims suits.

This Final Rule will be effective on March 2, 2015.  The FAR Council has recommended that Contracting Officers to include the Final Rule in Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with task orders remaining after March 2 through bilateral modification, so both new and existing contracts will be subject to the Final Rule after that date.

To supplement and implement the new FAR provisions in Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, DoD is issuing a final rule in the form of its Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) at Subpart 252.235-7004.  In addition, DoD Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) can be found at PGI 222.17.  Included is a sample checklist for auditing compliance: CTIPs_Audit_Checklist_10_May_2011.

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