[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 39, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 39CFR601.103]

[Page 198-199]
 
                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
 
                 CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
 
PART 601--PROCUREMENT OF PROPERTY AND SERVICES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 601.103  Content of Procurement Manual.

    The Procurement Manual consists of 12 chapters and 6 appendices, as 
follows:
    (a) Chapter 1--Authority, Responsibility, and Policy--covers general 
procurement policies, including the delegation of procurement authority 
and responsibility.
    (b) Chapter 2--Procurement Planning--establishes requirements and 
procedures for advance procurement planning including source selection 
plans, and policies regarding specifications and statements of work.
    (c) Chapter 3--Sources--covers sources of supplies and services and 
their priority, including Postal Service sources, other Government 
agencies, and commercial sources. It establishes requirements for 
publicizing procurements and covers matters regarding contractor 
qualifications.
    (d) Chapter 4--Purchasing Methods--covers competitive purchasing 
procedures, including solicitation, evaluation of proposals, price 
negotiation, and contractor selection. It includes simplified procedures 
for purchases below certain dollar ceilings and establishes limitations 
on noncompetitive purchasing. It sets forth rules for filing and 
considering protests against Postal Service contracting procedures and 
awards.

[[Page 199]]

    (e) Chapter 5--Contract Pricing--describes the types of contracts 
authorized for Postal Service use and the circumstances for their use. 
It establishes policies and procedures for price evaluation, including 
price analysis, cost analysis, and principles for determining the 
allowability of costs.
    (f) Chapter 6--Contract Administration--Describes responsibilities 
and procedures for the administration of Postal Service contracts, and 
for their modification and termination.
    (g) Chapter 7--Bonds, Insurance, and Taxes--sets forth policies and 
procedures governing bonds and insurance under contracts, and discusses 
the applicability of Federal, State, and local taxes.
    (h) Chapter 8--Special Categories of Contracts--covers various types 
of contracts subject to special procedures and describes the authorities 
of officials authorized to issue policy and procedural directives 
supplementing the Procurement Manual.
    (i) Chapter 9--Patents and Data Rights--covers the acquisition of 
patents, copyrights, and other rights in data.
    (j) Chapter 10--Socioeconomic policies--contains procedures for 
contracting with minority-owned businesses, and policies carrying out 
the requirements of certain statutes, including the Contract Work Hours 
and Safety Standards Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Service Contract 
Act. It establishes Postal Service policy and preference regarding 
purchase of domestic-source products and services.
    (k) Chapter 11--Facilities and Related Services--covers the 
specialized procedures involved in the procurement of construction, the 
acquisition of real property, and leases.
    (l) Chapter 12--Mail Transportation--prescribes policies and 
procedures for the procurement of mail transportation and directly 
related ancillary services by contract.
    (m) Appendix A--Solicitations--prescribes the forms, format, and 
provisions to be used in preparing solicitations, and the establishment 
and maintenance of solicitation mailing lists. It contains all 
solicitation provisions prescribed in the Manual.
    (n) Appendix B--Contract Clauses--prescribes certain clauses not 
prescribed elsewhere in the Manual and contains all clauses prescribed 
in the Manual.
    (o) Appendix C--Forms and formats--states that the forms and 
computer generated formats necessary to implement and supplement the 
manual are in the Procurement Handbook, the Facilities Design and 
Construction Handbook, the Mail Transportation Procurement Handbook, and 
other publications and directives referenced in the Manual or in these 
handbooks.
    (p) Appendix D--Rules of Practice in Proceedings Relative to 
Debarment and Suspension from Contracting--contains a reprint of the 
rules of practice issued by the Judicial Officer as 39 CFR Part 957.
    (q) Appendix E--Rules of Practice Before the Postal Service Board of 
Contract Appeals--contains a reprint of the rules of practice issued as 
39 CFR Part 955.
    (r) Appendix F--Procurement Manual Index--is an alphabetical index 
of important words and terms used in the Manual.