Terms and Conditions Applicable
to Information Technology
Professional Services
(Special Item 132-51)

1A. SCOPE

a. The prices, terms and conditions stated under Special Item Number 132-51 Information Technology Professional Services apply exclusively to IT Services within the scope of this Information Technology Schedule.

b. The Contractor shall provide services at the Contractor's facility and/or at Government location, as agreed to by the Contractor and the ordering office.

1B. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES

a. When using a performance based statement of work, performance incentives may be agreed upon between the Contractor and the ordering office on individual fixed price orders or Blanket Purchase Agreements, for fixed price tasks, under this contract in accordance with this clause.

b. The ordering office must establish a maximum performance incentive price for these services and/or total solutions on individual orders or Blanket Purchase Agreements.

c. To the maximum extent practicable, ordering offices shall consider establishing incentives where performance is critical to the agency's mission and incentives are likely to motivate the contractor. Incentives shall be based on objectively measurable tasks.

d. The above procedures do not apply to Time and Material or labor hour orders.

**NOTE: Include paragraph 2 only if hourly rates for IT Professional Services are offered. If the IT Professional Services are firm-fixed price solutions for a specifically defined service or task, use FAR 8.404 ordering procedures. FAR 8.404 is provided under item 12, Information for Ordering Offices Section of the price list.**

2. ORDERING PROCEDURES FOR SERVICES (REQUIRING A STATEMENT OF WORK)

FAR 8.402 contemplates that GSA may occasionally find it necessary to establish special ordering procedures for individual Federal Supply Schedules or for some Special Item Numbers (SINs) within a Schedule. GSA has established special ordering procedures for services that require a Statement or Work. These special ordering procedures take precedence over the procedures in FAR 8.404(b)(2) through (b)(3).

GSA has determined that the rates for IT professional services contained in the contractor's price list applicable to this Schedule are fair and reasonable. However, the ordering office using this contract is responsible for considering the level of effort and mix of labor proposed to perform a specific task being ordered and for making a determination that the total firm-fixed price or ceiling price is fair and reasonable.

a. When ordering services ordering offices shall--

1) Prepare a Request (Request for Quote or other communication tool):

(i) A statement of work (a performance-based statement of work is preferred) that outlines, at a minimum, the work to be performed, location of work, period of performance, deliverable schedule, applicable standards, acceptance criteria, and any special requirements (i.e., security clearances, travel, special knowledge, etc.) should be prepared.

(ii) The request should include the statement of work and request the contractors to submit either a firm-fixed price or a ceiling price to provide the services outlined in the statement of work. A firm-fixed price order shall be requested, unless the ordering office makes a determination that it is not possible at the time of placing the order to estimate accurately the extent or duration of the work or to anticipate cost with any reasonable degree of confidence. When such a determination is made, a labor hour or time and materials proposal may be requested. The firm-fixed price shall be based on the hourly rates in the schedule contract and shall consider the mix of labor categories and level of effort required to perform the services described in the statement of work. The firm-fixed price of the order should also include any travel costs or other incidental costs related to performance of the services ordered, unless the order provides for reimbursement of travel costs at the rates provided in the Federal Travel or Joint Travel Regulations. A ceiling price must be established for labor hour and time and material orders.

The request may ask the contractors, if necessary or appropriate, to submit a project plan for performing the task and information on the contractor's experience and/or past performance performing similar tasks.

The request shall notify the contractors what basis will be used for selecting the contractor to receive the order. The notice shall include the basis for determining whether the contractors are technically qualified and provide an explanation regarding the intended use of any experience and/or past performance information in determining technical qualification of responses. If consideration will be limited to schedule contractors who are small business concerns as permitted by paragraph (2)(i) below, the request shall notify the contractors that will be the case.

2) Transmit the Request to Contractors:

(i) Based upon an initial evaluation of catalogs and price lists, the ordering office should identify the contractors that appear to offer the best value (considering the scope of services offered, pricing and other factors such as contractors' locations, as appropriate). When buying IT professional services under SIN 132-51 ONLY, the ordering office, at its discretion, may limit consideration to those schedule contractors that are small business concerns. This limitation is not applicable when buying supplies and/or services under other SINs as well as SIN 132-51. The limitation may only be used when at least three (3) small businesses that appear to offer services that will meet the agency's needs are available, if the order is estimated to exceed the micro-purchase threshold.

(ii) The request should be to three (3) contractors if the proposed order is estimated to exceed the micro-purchase threshold, but not exceed the maximum order threshold. For proposed orders exceeding the maximum order threshold, the request should be provided to additional contractors that offer services that will meet the agency's needs. Ordering offices should strive to minimize the contractors' costs associated with responding to requests for proposals for specific orders. Requests should be tailored to the quotes minimum level necessary for adequate evaluation and selection for order placement. Oral presentations should be considered, when possible.

3) Evaluate responses and select the contractor to receive the order:

After responses have been evaluated against the factors identified in the request for quotation, the order should be placed with the schedule contractor that represents the best value (See FAR 8.404).

b. The establishment of Federal Supply Schedule Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for recurring services is permitted when the procedures outlined herein are followed. All BPAs for services must define the services that may be ordered under the BPA, along with delivery or performance time frames, billing procedures, etc. The potential volume of orders under BPAs, regardless of the size of individual orders, may offer the ordering office the opportunity to secure volume discounts. When establishing BPAs ordering offices shall--

1) Inform contractors in the request for quotation (based on agency's requirement) if a single BPA or multiple BPAs will be established, and indicate the basis that will be used for selecting the contractors to be awarded the BPAs.

(i) SINGLE BPA: Generally, a single BPA should be established when the ordering office can define the tasks to be ordered under the BPA and establish a firm-fixed price or ceiling price for individual tasks or services to be ordered. When this occurs, authorized users may place the order directly under the established BPA when the need for service arises. The schedule contractor that represents the best value should be awarded the BPA (See FAR 8.404).

(ii) MULTIPLE BPAs: When the ordering office determines multiple BPAs are needed to meet its requirements, the ordering office should determine which contractors can meet any technical qualifications before establishing the BPAs. When multiple BPAs are established, the authorized users must follow the procedure in (a)(2)(ii) above, and then place the order with the schedule contractor that represents the best value.

2) Review BPAs periodically. Such reviews shall be conducted at least annually. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the BPA still represents the best value (See FAR 8.404).

c. The ordering office should give preference to small business concerns when two or more contractors can provide the services at the same firm-fixed price or ceiling price.

d. When the ordering office's requirement involves both products as well as executive, administrative and/or professional, services, the ordering office should total the prices for the products and the firm-fixed price for the services and select the contractor that represents the greatest value (See FAR 8.404).

e. The ordering office, at a minimum, should document orders by identifying the contractor from which the services were purchased, the services purchased, and the amount paid. If other than a firm-fixed price order is placed, such documentation should include the basis for the determination to use a labor-hour or time-and-materials order. For agency requirements in excess of the micro-purchase threshold, the order file should document the evaluation of schedule contractors' quotes that formed that basis for the selection of the contractor that received the order and the rationale for any trade-offs made in making the selection.

f. Ordering procedures for other services available on schedule at fixed prices for specifically defined services or tasks should use the procedures in FAR 8.404. These procedures are listed in the price list, under "Information for Ordering Offices," paragraph #12.

3. ORDER

a. Agencies may use written orders, EDI orders, blanket purchase agreements, individual purchase orders, or task orders for ordering services under this contract. Blanket Purchase Agreements shall not extend beyond the end of the contract period; all services and delivery shall be made and the contract terms and conditions shall continue in effect until the completion of the order. Orders for tasks, which extend beyond the fiscal year for which the funds are available, shall include FAR 52.232-19 Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year. The purchase order shall specify the availability of funds and the period for which funds are available.

b. All task orders are subject to the terms and conditions of the contract. In the event of a conflict between a task order and the contract, the contract will take precedence.

4. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES

a. The Contractor shall commence performance of services on the date agreed to by the Contractor and the ordering office.

b. The Contractor agrees to render services only during normal working hours, unless otherwise agreed to by the Contractor and the ordering office.

c. The Contractor guarantees the satisfactory completion of the IT Services performed under the task order and that all contract personnel utilized in the performance of IT services under the task order shall have the education, experience, and expertise as stated in the task order.

d. Any Contractor travel required in the performance of IT Services must comply with Federal Travel Regulation or Joint Travel Regulations, as applicable, in effect on the date(s) the travel is performed. Established Federal Government per diem rates will apply to all Contractor travel. Contractors cannot use GSA city pair contracts.

5. INSPECTION OF SERVICES

The Inspection of Services-Fixed Price (AUG 1996) clause at FAR 52.246-4 applies to firm-fixed price orders placed under this contract. The Inspection-Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour (JAN 1986) clause at FAR 52.246-6 applies to time-and-materials and labor-hour orders placed under this contract.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR

The Contractor shall comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations (Federal, State, City, or otherwise) covering work of this character. If the end product of a task order is software, then FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data-General, may apply.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT

Subject to security regulations, the ordering office shall permit Contractor access to all facilities necessary to perform the requisite IT Services.

8. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

All IT Services performed by the contractor under the terms of this contract shall be as an independent Contractor, and not as an agent or employee of the Government.

9. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

a. Definitions.

"Contractor" means the person, firm, unincorporated association, joint venture, partnership, or corporation that is a party to this contact.

"Contractor and its affiliates" and "Contractor or its affiliates" refers to the Contractor, its chief executives, directors, officers, subsidiaries, affiliates, subcontractors at any tier, and consultants and any joint venture involving the Contractor, any entity into or with which the Contractor subsequently merges or affiliates, or any other successor or assignee of the Contractor.

An "Organizational conflict of interest" exists when the nature of the work to be performed under a proposed Government contract, without some restriction on activities by the Contractor and its affiliates, may either (i) result in an unfair competitive advantage to the Contractor or its affiliates or (ii) impair the Contractor's or its affiliates' objectivity in performing contract work.

b. To avoid an organizational or financial conflict of interest and to avoid prejudicing the best interests of the Government, ordering offices may place restrictions on the Contractors, its affiliates, chief executives, directors, subsidiaries and subcontractors at any tier when placing orders against schedule contracts. Such restrictions shall be consistent with FAR 9.505 and shall be designed to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate organizational conflicts of interest that might otherwise exist in situations related to individual orders placed against the schedule contract. Examples of situations, which may require restrictions, are provided at FAR 9.508.

10. INVOICES

The Contractor, upon completion of the work ordered, shall submit invoices for IT services. Progress payments may be authorized by the ordering office on individual orders if appropriate. Progress payments shall be based upon completion of defined milestones or interim products. Invoices shall be submitted monthly for recurring services performed during the preceding month.

11. PAYMENTS

For firm-fixed price orders the Government shall pay the Contractor, upon submission of proper invoices or vouchers, the prices stipulated in this contract for service rendered and accepted. Progress payments shall be made only when authorized by the order. For time-and-materials orders, the Payments under Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts (Alternate I (APR 1984)) at FAR 52.232-7 applies to time-and-materials orders placed under this contract. For labor-hour orders, the Payment under Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts (FEB 1997) (Alternate II (JAN 1986)) at FAR 52.232-7 applies to labor-hour orders placed under this contract.

12. RESUMES

Resumes shall be provided to the GSA contracting officer or the user agency upon request.

13. INCIDENTAL SUPPORT COSTS

Incidental support costs are available outside the scope of this contract. The costs will be negotiated separately with the ordering agency in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the FAR.

14. APPROVAL OF SUBCONTRACTS

The ordering activity may require that the Contractor receive, from the ordering activity's Contracting Officer, written consent before placing any subcontract for furnishing any of the work called for in a task order.

15. DESCRIPTION OF IT SERVICES AND PRICING

Refer to pages 18 through 33.