[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR13.500]

[Page 213-214]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 13_SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart 13.5_Test Program for Certain Commercial Items
 
Sec.  13.500  General.


    (a) This subpart authorizes, as a test program, use of simplified 
procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services in amounts 
greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding 
$5,000,000, including options, if the contracting officer reasonably 
expects, based on the nature of the supplies or services sought, and on 
market research, that offers will include only commercial items, except 
as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. Under this test program, 
contracting officers may use any simplified acquisition procedure in 
this part, subject to any specific dollar limitation applicable to the 
particular procedure. The purpose of this test program is to vest 
contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and 
flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range 
may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner 
that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and 
administrative costs for both the Government and industry (10 U.S.C. 
2304(g) and 2305 and 41 U.S.C. 253(g) and 253a and 253b).
    (b) For the period of this test, contracting activities must employ 
the simplified procedures authorized by the test to the maximum extent 
practicable.
    (c) When acquiring commercial items using the procedures in this 
part, the requirements of part 12 apply subject to the order of 
precedence provided at 12.102(c). This includes use of the provisions 
and clauses in subpart 12.3.
    (d) The authority to issue solicitations under this subpart expires 
on January 1, 2004. Contracting officers may award contracts after the 
expiration of this authority for solicitations issued before the 
expiration of the authority.
    (e) The $5,000,000 limitation provided in this subpart 13.5 does not 
apply to acquisitions of supplies or services using the authority 
provided by 12.102(f)(1). Notwithstanding the expiration of the test 
program specified in paragraph (d) of this section, authority to use 
simplified procedures under this

[[Page 214]]

paragraph applies to an acquisition when the solicitation is issued by 
any agency from January 24, 2003, through November 24, 2003.

[62 FR 64917, Dec. 9, 1997, as amended at 64 FR 72448, Dec. 27, 1999; 67 
FR 6115, Feb. 8, 2002; 67 FR 80321, Dec. 31, 2002; 68 FR 4050, Jan. 27, 
2003]