(a) Contracting officers, acting within the scope of their appointments (and in some cases acting through their authorized representatives) are the exclusive agents of their respective agencies to enter into and administer contracts on behalf of the Government in accordance with agency procedures. Each contracting officer is responsible for performing or having performed all administrative actions necessary for effective contracting. The contracting officer shall exercise reasonable care, skill, and judgment and shall avail himself of all of the organizational tools (such as the advice of specialists in the fields of contracting, finance, law, contract audit, engineering, traffic management, and cost or price analysis) necessary to accomplish the purpose as, in his discretion, will best serve the interests of the Government.

(b) To the extent services of specialists are utilized in the negotiation of contracts, the contracting officer must coordinate a team of experts, requesting advice from them, evaluating their counsel, and availing himself of their skills as much as possible. The contracting officer shall obtain simultaneous coordination of the specialists' efforts to the greatest practical extent. He shall not, however, transfer his own responsibilities to them. Thus, determination of the suitability of the contract price to the Government always remains the responsibility of the contracting officer.

(c) When the contractor insists on a price or demands a profit or fee which

the contracting officer considers unreasonable, the contracting officer shall (1) determine the feasibility of developing an alternate source of supply, and (2) take such other action within his authority as may be appropriate in the circumstances. If, after exhausting the above course of action, a satisfactory solution has not been obtained, the contracting officer shall proceed in accordance with agency regulations. With regard to a contractor's refusal to provide cost or pricing data, see § 1-3.807-6. [34 F.R. 2659, Feb. 27, 1969] § 1-3.801-3

sonnel.

Responsibility of other per

(a) Requirements and other logistics personnel. Personnel, other than the contracting officer, who determine type, quality, quantity, and delivery requirements for property and services to be procured, can influence the degree of competition obtainable and exert a material effect upon prices. Failure to determine requirements in sufficient time to allow (1) a reasonable period for preparation of requests for proposals, (2) preparation of quotations by offerors, (3) contract negotiation and preparation, or (4) adequate lead time for manufacturing or performance causes delays in deliveries and uneconomical prices. Requirements issued on an urgent basis or with unrealistic delivery schedules should be avoided since they generally increase prices or restrict desired competition. Personnel determining requirements, specifications, adequacy of sources of supply, and like matters have responsibility in such areas for timely, sound, and economical procurements.

(b) Pricing personnel. To the extent they are available and their use is appropriate, the services of pricing personnel shall be utilized as provided in this paragraph (b).

(1) The contract pricing team to support the contracting officer in the review and analysis of pricing proposals may include a price specialist (or analyst), negotiator, buyer, project engineer, contract auditor, and other professional and technical specialists, such as production, quality control, packaging, and transportation specialists.

(2) The advice and assistance of pricing personnel (such as a price specialist or analyst, or contract auditor) should be obtained when complex pricing techniques are indicated, including the

use of contract types involving the skillful balancing of price, cost, and performance incentive arrangements. Such pricIng personnel or negotiators supporting the contracting officer may be designated to develop a Government pricing objective prior to the negotiation. In such case, this may include the responsibility for:

(i) Determining the extent of advice required from other specialists, requesting, obtaining, and considering such advice, and for obtaining pricing data, omission of such clause, the clause in torical cost or pricing data, independent Government cost estimates, economic analyses and the like; and

(ii) Consolidating and evaluating the findings of the pricing team members, and for the analysis of proposed prices in consideration of, but not limited to, such factors as the need for quantities and kinds of materials included in the proposal; the need for the number and kinds of man-hours; the need for special tooling and facilities; and the reasonableness of scrap and spoilage factors. These analyses shall be based on the team members' knowledge of production, quality control, engineering and manufacturing practices and techniques and information as to plant capacity, scheduling, engineering and production "know-how." Government property, make-or-buy considerations, and industrial security, particularly as these relate to the practices of the specific prospective contractor.

(3) The contract auditor is responsible for submission of information and advice, based on his analysis of the contractor's books and accounting records or other related data, as to the acceptability of the contractor's incurred and estimated costs. The auditor shall report any denial by the contractor of access to records or cost or pricing data which the auditor considers essential to the preparation of a satisfactory report. If the auditor believes that the contractor's estimating methods or accounting system are inadequate to produce valid support for the proposal or to permit satisfactory administration of the type of contract contemplated, this shall be stated in the audit report and concurrently made known to the contractor so that he may have the opportunity of presenting his views to the contracting officer. Where the contracting officer determines that deficiencies in the contractor's ac

counting system or estimating methods are such that the proposed contract cannot be adequately priced or administered, he shall, with the advice of the contract auditor, ensure that necessary corrective action is initiated prior to the award of such contract. Generally, the auditor has responsibility for performing that part of reviews and cost or price analyses which requires access to the contractor's books and financial records supporting proposed cost or pricing data, regardless of the dollar amount involved. This does not preclude the contracting officer or his technical representatives from requesting any data from, or reviewing records of, the contractor (such as cost or pricing data, list of labor operations, process sheets, etc.) necessary to the discharge of their responsibilities.

(4) In order to provide the contracting officer with maximum support, it is essential that there be close cooperation and communication between the contract auditors and the production and other technical specialists. Such coordination will be accomplished in a manner which will minimize duplication of analysis (see § 1-3.809(b)(3)). The analyses by technical and audit personnel are of mutual interest, and information relating thereto shall be exchanged throughout the review process. It is recognized that the duties of auditors and those of other technical specialists in many cases require both to evaluate the same elements of estimated costs. While they shall review the data jointly or concurrently wherever possible, each shall render his services within his own area of responsibility. For example, on quantitative factors (such as labor hours), the auditor will frequently find It necessary to compare proposed hours with hours actually expended on the same or similar products in the past as reflected on the cost records of the contractor. From this information he can often project trend data. The technical specialist may also analyze the proposed hours on the basis of his knowledge of such things as shop practices, industrial engineering, time and motion factors. and the contractor's plant organization and capabilities. The interchange of this Information will not only prevent duplication but will ensure adequate and complementary analysis.

(5) Pricing based on cost analysis involves, among other things, an appraisal of estimates of costs expected to

be incurred in the future. The accounting projection of trends based on cost or pricing data, together with any known changes therein, is only one method of conducting this appraisal, others being:

(i) An engineering appraisal of the need for the estimated labor and material costs and of tooling and facilities, and the reasonableness of scrap and spoilage factors; and

(ii) The preparation of independent estimates by competent technical personnel.

Occasionally, differences of opinion will exist not only on the reasonableness of cost projections but also on the accountIng techniques on which they are based. In addition, it is normally not possible to negotiate a pricing result which is in strict accord with all of the opinions of all the specialists, or even with the Government's pricing objective. Reasonable compromises are normally necessary and this fact must be understood by all members of the team. For all of these reasons audit reports or pricing recommendations by others must be considered to be advisory only. The contracting officer is responsible for the exercise of the requisite judgments and is solely responsible for the final pricing decision. In these instances where the contracting officer does not adopt audit or other specialist recommendations that have particular significance on the contract price, appropriate comments shall be inIcluded in the record of the negotiation (see § 1-3.811).

(6) Whenever it becomes apparent to the contracting officer that the negotiations will require the resolution of complex problems which involve items significant in amount, he shall request attendance by audit and other appropriate representatives at the negotiation meeting.

[34 F.R. 2659, Feb. 27, 1969]

§ 1-3.802 Preparation for negotiation.

(a) Product or service. Knowledge of the product or service, and its use, is essential to sound pricing. Before soliciting quotations, every contracting officer should develop, where feasible, an estimate of the proper price leve! or value of the product or service to be purchased. Such estimates may be based on a physical inspection of the product and review of such items as drawings, specifications, job process sheets, and

prior procurement data. When necessary, requirements and technical specialists should be consulted. The primary responsibility for the adequacy of specifications and for the delivery requirements must necessarily rest with requirements and technical groups. However, the contracting officer should be aware of the effect which these factors may have on prices and competition, and should, prior to award, inform requirements and technical groups of any unsatisfactory effect which their decisions have on prices or competition.

(b) Selection of prospective sources. Selection of qualified sources for solicitation of proposals is basic to sound prices. Proposals should be invited from a sufficient number of competent potential sources to insure adequate competition (see § 1-1.302, 1-1.702, 1-1.1203, and 1-3.101). The bidder's mailing lists prescribed by § 1-2.205 should be used where appropriate.

(c) Requests for proposals. Requests for proposals shall contain the information necessary to enable a prospective offeror to properly prepare a quotation or proposal. The request for proposals shall be as complete as possible with respect to: Item description or statement of work; specifications; Governmentfurnished property, if any; required delivery schedule; special provisions; cost or pricing data requirements (see § 1-3.807-3); and contract clauses. Requests for proposals shall specify a date and time for submission of proposals. Any extension of time granted to one prospective offeror shall be granted uniformly to all. Each request for proposals shall be released to all prospective offerors at the same time and no offeror shall be given the advantage of advance knowledge that proposals are to be requested. Requests for proposals shall be in writing except in those cases where the urgency of the procurement is such that there is not sufficient time to prepare a written request. In such cases oral requests are authorized.

[29 F.R. 10155, July 24, 1964, as amended at 36 FR 17422, Aug. 31, 1971; 38 FR 26914. Sept. 27, 1973]

time set for receipt in the request for each proposals shall be placed in solicitation:

LATE PROPOSALS, MODIFICATIONS OF PROPOSALS, AND WITHDRAWALS OF PROPOSALS

(a) Any proposal received at the office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, and:

(1) It was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the fifth calendar day prior to the date specified for receipt of offers (e.g., an offer submitted in response to a solicitation requiring receipt of offers by the 20th of the month must have been mailed by the 15th or earlier);

(2) It was sent by mail (or telegram if authorized) and it is determined by the Government that the late receipt was due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the Government installation;

or

(3) It is the only proposal received.

(b) Any modification of a proposal, except a modification resulting from the Contracting Officer's request for "best and final" offer, is subject to the same conditions as in (a) (1) and (a) (2) of this provision.

(c) A modification resulting from the Contracting Officer's request for "best and final" offer received after the time and date specified in the request will not be considered unless received before award and the late receipt is due solely to mishandling by the Government after receipt at the Government installation.

(d) The only acceptable evidence to establish:

(1) The date of mailing of a late proposal or modification sent either by registered or certified mail is the U.S. Postal Service postmark on the wrapper or on the original receipt from the U.S. Postal Service. If neither postmark shows a legible date, the proposal or modification shall be deemed to have been mailed late. (The term "postmark" means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed impression that is readily identifiable without further action as having been supplied and affixed on the date of mailing by employees of the U.S. Postal Service.)

(2) The time of receipt at the Government installation is the time-date stamp of such installation on the proposal wrapper or other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation.

(e) Notwithstanding (a), (b), and (c), of this provision, a late modification of an otherwise successful proposal which makes its terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(f) Proposals may be withdrawn by written or telegraphic notice received at any time prior to award. Proposals may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or his author

(b) Proposals and modifications of proposals received in the office designated in the request for proposals after the exact time specified are late proposals and shall be considered for award only if the circumstances set forth in the provision in § 1-3.802-1(a), above, are applicable. When a late proposal or modification of proposal is received and it is clear from available information that it cannot be considered for award (e.g., when the postmark clearly shows that the proposal was mailed later than the fifth day prior to the date specified), the contracting officer, or his authorized representative, shall promptly notify the offeror that it was received late and will not be considered for award. However, when a late proposal or modification of proposal is transmitted by registered or certified mail and it is received before award but it is not clear from the available information whether it can be considered, the offeror shall be promptly notified substantially in accordance with the notice in § 1-2.303-6, appropriately modified to relate to proposals. Disposition of late proposals that cannot be considered for award shall be in accordance with agency procedures.

(c) Where only one proposal is involved and it is received after the time specified, it may be evaluated and considered for award in accordance with agency procedures. As used in this section the term "only proposal received" means a proposal which is one submitted by (1) the only offeror responding to the request for proposals, (2) a sole source, or (3) an offeror who is offering proprietary items in response to a request for proposals which specifies that awards will be made on the basis of proprietary items identified by the offeror by brand name, model, type, or other identification. With respect to (3) of this paragraph (c), the term does not mean an offer which is based on a performance specification or a brand name product which is specifically identified in the request for proposals.

(d) The normal revisions of proposals by offerors selected for discussion during the usual conduct of negotiations with such offerors are not to be considered as late proposals or later modifications to