[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 6]
[Revised as of October 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR1631.205-73]

[Page 138]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
  CHAPTER 16--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH 
                     BENEFITS ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 1631_CONTRACT COST PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart 1631.2_Contracts With Commercial Organizations
 
Sec. 1631.205-73  FEHBP interest expense.

    (a) Interest charges incurred in the administration of FEHBP 
contracts are not allowable in accordance with FAR 31.205-20. However, 
interest charges that are associated with the carrier's investment of 
FEHBP account funds are not considered administrative costs and may be 
allowable under very limited circumstances if all of the following 
criteria are met:
    (1) Borrowing is limited to the positive balance of the carrier's 
entire FEHBP investment portfolio;
    (2) FEHBP funds are tied up in long-term securities;
    (3) Liquidation of long-term securities would cost more than the 
cost of the interest;
    (4) The interest rates charged are at or below current market rates; 
and
    (5) Advance written approval of the contracting officer is obtained 
before such costs are incurred.
    (b) The carrier must demonstrate on a case-by-case basis that 
borrowing rather than cashing in long-term investments shall actually 
result in cost savings to the FEHB Program. Satisfactory demonstration 
of cost savings is a prerequisite to contracting officer approval of the 
interest cost as a charge to the contract.
    (c) If the interest charge is allowed, the risk factor in the 
service charge will be adjusted downward so that the carrier does not 
recover interest costs through both the service charge and an allowance 
under this paragraph.