Professional Documents
Culture Documents
• Generally, contractors are NOT held liable
for loss of Government Property under the
following types of contracts:
– COST REIMBURSEMENT contracts
– TIME AND MATERIAL contracts
– LABOR HOUR contracts
– NEGOTIATED Fixed Price contracts for which
price is NOT based upon an exception at FAR
15.403‐1:
• SO, in ESSENCE there are TWO FORMS of
LIABILITY:
– LIMITED RISK OF LOSS PROVISIONS
• Found at 52.245‐1(h)
And the
– FULL RISK OF LOSS PROVISIONS
• Found at 52.245‐1 (Alternate I)
• FIXED PRICE Contract
– (Under a COMPETITIVE contract)
– (52.245‐1 Alternate I)
– “The contractor assumes the risk of, and shall be
responsible for, ANY loss of Government property
upon its delivery to the contractor as Government‐
furnished property. However, the contractor is NOT
responsible for reasonable wear and tear to
Government property or for Government property
properly consumed in performing this contract.”
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FULL RISK OF LOSS
• IN ENGLISH…
CONTRACTOR IS LIABLE FOR
“ANY”
LOSS, THEFT, DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION
EXCEPT FOR:
– REASONABLE WEAR AND TEAR OR
– REASONABLE AND PROPER CONSUMPTION
• YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!!
• SCENARIO:
– CONTRACTOR HAS 1 ITEM OF ST
– ACQUISITION COST ‐ $200
– AGE ‐ 10 Years Old
• CONTRACTOR LOSES THE ST
• TWO QUESTIONS:
– IS THE CONTRACTOR LIABLE?
• ____________________ (Simple yes or no answer.)
– FOR HOW MUCH IS THE CONTRACTOR LIABLE?
• ____________________
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LIABILITY FOR LDD&T
• QUANTUM
– ACQUISITION COST?
– APPRECIATED VALUE?
– DEPRECIATED VALUE?
– SCRAP VALUE?
– REPLACEMENT COST?
• QUANTUM was Determined by a
Court Case
– Dynalectron Corporation vs U.S.
– ASBCA No 29,831;
85‐3 BCA Para 18,320
• The Court used the term
“Intrinsic Value”
To define QUANTUM
– The QUANTUM may range from
• Replacement cost where the Government has a need ‐‐either current or
probable future
• Repair cost for DAMAGED GP where the Government has a need ‐‐ current
or future need for the GP
• Salvage value for DAMAGED GP where the Government has no need for
the GP
• Scrap value for LOST GP where the Government has no need for the GP
GP is damaged. GP is damaged.
Government has NO Government still has a
current or probable current or probable
Future need. Future need.
LIABILITY VALUATION: LIABILITY VALUATION:
SALVAGE REPAIR
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QUICK RECAP
• Under the FULL RISK OF LOSS concept
– Fixed Price Competitive Contracts
– Quantum means…
•INTRINSIC VALUE TO THE GOVERNMENT
• EXCEPT… THE CONTRACTOR SHALL BE LIABLE when one
of the following applies:
– 1. The Risk is Covered by INSURANCE
– 2. WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, LACK OF GOOD
FAITH ON THE PART OF MANAGERIAL
PERSONNEL
– 3. WITHDRAWAL of the Government’s
Assumption of Risk
• Generally we have two instances where
INSURANCE may come into play:
– INSTANCE # 1
• INSURANCE that the Government REQUIRES the
contractor to acquire
• MUST BE SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT
• IF Contract is SILENT – INSURANCE IS NOT
REQUIRED and therefore NOT ALLOWABLE
– Generally, INSURANCE for GP is NOT an ALLOWABLE
expense (See FAR Part 31)
• INSTANCE # 2
–“In Fact” Insurance
• Anyone got an example???
• 2nd allowance where the
Government MAY hold the
Contractor Liable has THREE
Components:
– Willful Misconduct
– Lack of Good Faith
– On The Part Of Managerial Personnel
• DEFINE:
–Willful Misconduct
• Either a deliberate act or failure to act that causes or results in
Loss, Damage or Destruction to Government property.
–Lack of Good Faith
• Failure to honestly carry out a duty including gross neglect or
disregard of the terms of the Government property clause or of
appropriate directions from the Property Administrator (PA).
Note: These definitions are from the “OLD” DoD Property Manual
4161.2-M. These terms are NOT defined in the FAR.
“Managerial
Personnel?”
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MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL
• As used in this clause means:
– the Contractor’s directors, officers, managers,
superintendents, or equivalent representatives
who have supervision or direction of…
– ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL of the contractor’s
business;
– ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL of the contractor’s
operation at any one plant or a separate and
complete major industrial operation connected
with performing the contract
• Fairchild Hiller Corporation ASBCA No. 14387 (1971)
– Contract for the Stripping, Washing, and Cleaning of C‐130
Aircraft
• The burning of aircraft No. 1
• The burning of aircraft No. 2
– Methylethyl‐ketone & Naptha Based Solution
• The court was concerned with the actions of the
CONTRACTOR’S MANAGERIAL
PERSONNEL.
Not its lower level employees!
• LAST OPTION TO HOLD A CONTRACTOR
LIABLE…
– The Contracting Officer has, in writing, revoked the
Government's assumption of risk for loss of
Government property due to a determination
under paragraph (g) of this clause that the
Contractor's property management practices are
inadequate, and/or present an undue risk to the
Government, and the Contractor failed to take
timely corrective action.
ACO Authority
Must be in WRITING!
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LIMITED RISK OF LOSS
• When the Government “REVOKES” its
ASSUMPTION OF RISK – the contractor
becomes liable for “ANY” Loss, theft,
damage, or destruction of Government
Property, regardless of how it occurs,
UNLESS…
• Contractor may be granted relief if…
– If the Contractor can establish by clear and
convincing evidence that the loss of Government
property occurred while the Contractor had:
• adequate property management practices or
• the loss did not result from the Contractor's failure to
maintain adequate property management practices,
– the Contractor shall NOT be held liable.
• Why does the Government have this
policy?
• It is an economically advantageous
methodology to have the Government
act as a Self Insurer. So long as the
Contractor is a “Good Insurance Risk.”
(In other words, maintains an
adequate Property Management
System!)
– In point of fact YOU – each and every one of
you – does the same thing in your PERSONAL
LIVES!!!
– EXAMPLE???
IS A CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT:
FAR 52.245‐1(f)(1) “Contractor Plans and Systems”
Contractors shall develop property management plans, systems, and
procedures at the contract, program, site or entity level to enable
the following outcomes:…
(v) Subcontractor control.
(A) The Contractor shall award subcontracts that
clearly identify assets to be provided and shall ensure
APPROPRIATE flow down of contract
terms and conditions, (e.g., limited liability for loss of
Government property).
(B) The Contractor shall assure its subcontracts are
properly administered and reviews are periodically
performed to determine the adequacy of the
subcontractor’s property management system.
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SUBCONTRACTOR CONTROL
• It is the CONTRACTOR’S responsibility to
establish the PROCESS, i.e., the methods and
methodologies, to accomplish this process in
accordance with & using:
– ILPs and
– VCSes and
– CCPs!
* NOTE: There are exceptions at 15.403-1 where this clause is NOT required.
THIRD FAR APPLICATION
1. COST REIMBURSEMENT NEGOTIATED or
2. FIXED PRICE NEGOTIATED
PRIME CONTRACT/CONTRACTOR
EXCEEDING $700,000
(Requiring a Cert of Current Cost and Pricing Data)
AND FAR 52.215-12* or
AND (For all above)
WITH GOVERNMENT PROPERTY CLAUSE
Of FAR 52.245-1
LIMITED RISK OF LOSS
Flow Down
The FULL Risk of Loss
GP Provision to a
FIXED PRICE
SUBCONTRACTOR
Being awarded a
COMPETITIVE subcontract
Regardless of $ Value
AND
Providing Government Property +
GP MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
* NOTE: There are exceptions at 15.403-1 where this clause is NOT required.
FOURTH FAR APPLICATION
1. COST REIMBURSEMENT NEGOTIATED
PRIME CONTRACT/CONTRACTOR UNDER $700,000
(NOT Requiring a Cert of Current Cost and Pricing Data)
AND WITH GOVERNMENT PROPERTY CLAUSE
Of FAR 52.245-1
LIMITED RISK OF LOSS
In Awarding a In Awarding a
FIXED PRICE COMPETITIVE FIXED PRICE NEGOTIATED
Contract, PRIME WOULD Contract, PRIME MAY*
FLOW DOWN THE FLOW DOWN
FULL RISK OF LOSS LIMITED RISK OF LOSS
TO ITS TO ITS
SUBs and VENDORS SUBs and VENDORS
WHEN WHEN
GP IS PROVIDED TO SUB GP IS PROVIDED TO SUB
+ +
GP MANAGEMENT GP MANAGEMENT
REQUIREMENTS. REQUIREMENTS
* Prime MAY flow down Limited Risk Of Loss if… Prime requires
sub to exclude insurance for GP. See 31.205-19 for allowability
of Insurance costs. If Subktr is unable/unwilling to exclude
insurance then Prime would flow down full!
CAREFUL ON FLOW DOWN!!!
• BOTTOM LINE:
– CONTRACTORS ‐‐ You need to speak with
you SUBCONTRACTS PEOPLE to ensure that
the RULES your company establishes are:
• KNOWN and
• APPLIED!!!
– CPSR ELEMENT OF REVIEW
• ACO SHALL issue final liability
determination where contractor is held
liable
• ACO may make a contract price
adjustment or withhold financing,
• ACO SHALL request corrective action for
contractor’s property control system
(45.105)
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So – Ya’ think liability is EASY???
• It’s not!!!
• Not because of the FAR Regulations, but because
of LAW and COMMERCIAL PRACTICE.
– Things Like the UCC
– Things like the COMMON Law of Bailment
– Things Like the INSURANCE Industry
– And things like Accidents!!!