[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 48, Volume 1]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 48CFR16.203-4]



[Page 306-307]

 

            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM

 

                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION

 

PART 16_TYPES OF CONTRACTS--Table of Contents

 

                   Subpart 16.2_Fixed-Price Contracts

 

Sec. 16.203-4  Contract clauses.



    (a) Adjustment based on established prices--standard supplies. (1) 

The contracting officer shall, when contracting by negotiation, insert 

the clause at 52.216-2, Economic Price Adjustment--Standard Supplies, or 

an agency-prescribed clause as authorized in subparagraph (2) below, in 

solicitations and contracts when all of the following conditions apply:

    (i) A fixed-price contract is contemplated.

    (ii) The requirement is for standard supplies that have an 

established catalog or market price.

    (iii) The contracting officer has made the determination specified 

in 16.203-3.

    (2) If all the conditions in subparagraph (a)(1) above apply and the 

contracting officer determines that the use of the clause at 52.216-2 is 

inappropriate, the contracting officer may use an agency-prescribed 

clause instead of the clause at 52.216-2.

    (3) If the negotiated unit price reflects a net price after applying 

a trade discount from a catalog or list price, the contracting officer 

shall document in the contract file both the catalog or list price and 

the discount. (This does not apply to prompt payment or cash discounts.)

    (b) Adjustment based on established prices--semistandard supplies. 

(1) The contracting officer shall, when contracting by negotiation, 

insert the clause at 52.216-3, Economic Price Adjustment--Semistandard 

Supplies, or an agency-prescribed clause as authorized in subparagraph 

(2) below, in solicitations and contracts when all of the following 

conditions apply:

    (i) A fixed price contract is contemplated.

    (ii) The requirement is for semistandard supplies for which the 

prices can be reasonably related to the prices of nearly equivalent 

standard supplies that have an established catalog or market price.

    (iii) The contracting officer has made the determination specified 

in 16.203-3.

    (2) If all conditions in subparagraph (b)(1) above apply and the 

contracting officer determines that the use of the clause at 52.216-3 is 

inappropriate, the contracting officer may use an agency-



[[Page 307]]



prescribed clause instead of the clause at 52.216-3.

    (3) If the negotiated unit price reflects a net price after applying 

a trade discount from a catalog or list price, the contracting officer 

shall document in the contract file both the catalog or list price and 

the discount. (This does not apply to prompt payment or cash discounts.)

    (4) Before entering into the contract, the contracting officer and 

contractor must agree in writing on the identity of the standard 

supplies and the corresponding contract line items to which the clause 

applies.

    (5) If the supplies are standard, except for preservation, 

packaging, and packing requirements, the clause prescribed in 16.203-

4(a), shall be used rather than this clause.

    (c) Adjustments based on actual cost of labor or material. (1) The 

contracting officer shall, when contracting by negotiation, insert a 

clause that is substantially the same as the clause at 52.216-4, 

Economic Price Adjustment--Labor and Material, or an agency-prescribed 

clause as authorized in subparagraph (2) below, in solicitation and 

contracts when all of the following conditions apply:

    (i) A fixed-price contract is contemplated.

    (ii) There is no major element of design engineering or development 

work involved.

    (iii) One or more identifiable labor or material cost factors are 

subject to change.

    (iv) The contracting officer has made the determination specified in 

16.203-3.

    (2) If all conditions in subparagraph (c)(1) above apply and the 

contracting officer determines that the use of the clause at 52.216-4 is 

inappropriate, the contracting officer may use an agency-prescribed 

clause instead of the clause at 52.216-4.

    (3) The contracting officer shall describe in detail in the contract 

Schedule--

    (i) The types of labor and materials subject to adjustment under the 

clause;

    (ii) The labor rates, including fringe benefits (if any) and unit 

prices of materials that may be increased or decreased; and

    (iii) The quantities of the specified labor and materials allocable 

to each unit to be delivered under the contract.

    (4) In negotiating adjustments under the clause, the contracting 

officer shall--

    (i) Consider work in process and materials on hand at the time of 

changes in labor rates, including fringe benefits (if any) or material 

prices;

    (ii) Not include in adjustments any indirect cost (except fringe 

benefits as defined in 31.205-6(m)) or profit; and

    (iii) Consider only those fringe benefits specified in the contract 

Schedule.

    (d) Adjustments based on cost indexes of labor or material. The 

contracting officer should consider using an economic price adjustment 

clause based on cost indexes of labor or material under the 

circumstances and subject to approval as described in subparagraphs (1) 

and (2) below.

    (1) A clause providing adjustment based on cost indexes of labor or 

materials may be appropriate when--

    (i) The contract involves an extended period of performance with 

significant costs to be incurred beyond 1 year after performance begins;

    (ii) The contract amount subject to adjustment is substantial; and

    (iii) The economic variables for labor and materials are too 

unstable to permit a reasonable division of risk between the Government 

and the contractor, without this type of clause.

    (2) Any clause using this method shall be prepared and approved 

under agency procedures. Because of the variations in circumstances and 

clause wording that may arise, no standard clause is prescribed.



[48 FR 42219, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 52 FR 19803, May 27, 1987; 

60 FR 48217, Sept. 18, 1995; 62 FR 259, Jan. 2, 1997]