April 24, 2017
Does your U.S. Government contract include requirements for you to obtain competition for goods and services acquired in the performance of your contract? The U.S. government pursues full and open competition in its acquisitions to the maximum extent possible. There are also requirements in many prime contracts for the prime contractor to do the same.
Pay Attention to these Clauses
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause, FAR 52.244-5, entitled Competition in Subcontracting, will be inserted into most solicitations and contracts in excess of $150,000 when contracting by negotiation unless the prime contract is awarded based on adequate competition. This clause requires that you select subcontractors (in other words, any suppliers of goods or services) on a competitive basis to the maximum practical extent consistent with the objectives and requirements of the contract.
In addition, the clause at FAR 52.244-2, entitled Subcontracts, is included in all cost reimbursable contracts, and many other non-competitively awarded negotiated contracts in excess of $150,000. This clause contains requirements for you to obtain consent before entering into some subcontracts unless you have an approved purchasing system.
The degree of price competition you obtain and your compliance with FAR 52.244-5 are specific special considerations in obtaining purchasing system approval.
Department of Defense contracts containing FAR 52.244-2 will also include the clause in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.244-7001 Contractor Purchasing System Administration. This DFARS clause further delineates the criteria for an adequate purchasing system, including criteria for using competitive sourcing to the maximum extent practicable and requiring management level justification for any sole or single source award.
How Is a “Subcontract” Defined?
For purposes of applying the requirements of these clauses, a “subcontract” means any contract entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract. It includes but is not limited to purchase orders and changes and modifications to purchase orders.
A contractor purchasing system review (CPSR) is normally performed by the U.S. government to ascertain if your purchasing system should be approved. During the conduct of this review, U.S. government oversight officials will review your purchasing files for:
Documentation demonstrating your pursuit and success in obtaining adequate competition; or
Your justification(s) for not doing so.
Consequently, if you are unable to produce adequate documentation and/or justifications, you may find yourself in noncompliance with your contract clauses and with a determination that your purchasing system is inadequate. This will not only require you to obtain consent to subcontract, but could also lead to interim payment and contract financing withhold, exacerbated audit oversight frequency and scrutiny, and contract negotiation and award disruption.
Unusual and Compelling Urgency
FAR Part 6, entitled Competition Requirements, identifies a number of circumstances permitting U.S. government officials to procure goods and services using other than full and open competition, including when there is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements or when there is an unusual and compelling urgency.
There are also several other circumstances delineated in FAR Part 6. While FAR Part 6 does not address non-competitive subcontracting, prime contractors should consider these same circumstances when justifying their non-competitive acquisition of goods and services procured for contract performance.
© 2017