Contracting Officer Podcast Slides Knowledge & Insights From Contracting Officers

What is the Uniform Contract Format? Episode 041 What is the Uniform Contract Format? Original Air Date: August 23, 2015 Hosts: Kevin Jans & Paul Schauer

Formatting notes Hyperlinks: Blue font indicates hyperlinks – presentation must be in ‘Slide Show’ mode to activate the link Red bold font indicates a point of emphasis Green bold font indicates CO’s personal comment or perspective

Introduction Purpose of this podcast: To define the Uniform Contract Format, or UCF Uniform Contract Format: The framework of government contracts If you don’t understand this framework, you risk losing money and wasting time.

When does the UCF happen? Acquisition Time Zones (from Podcast Episode 003) Requirements Zone Market Research Zone RFP Zone (proposal zone) Source Selection Zone Execution Time Zones (from Podcast Episode 084) Kick Off Zone Performance Zone Re-compete Zone Wrap-up Zone

Uniform Contract Format Required for FAR Part 15 contracts (per FAR Part 15.204) The baseline for how contracts are constructed Briefly in Episodes 10 & 11 where we talked about Sections L&M Uniform is the key concept There are LOTS of RFPs out there and their needs to be some consistency This is not bureaucracy, this is efficiency The other option is have the COs just make up their own format…

The RFP Under the UCF (per FAR Part 15.204) A Solicitation/contract form B Supplies or services and prices/costs (CLINs) C Description/Specifications/Statement of Work D Packaging and marking E Inspection and acceptance F Deliveries or performance G Contract administration data H Special contract requirements I Contract clauses

The RFP Under the UCF (per FAR Part 15.204) J List of attachments K Representations, certifications, and other statements of offerors L Instructions, conditions, and notices to offerors or respondents M Evaluation factors for award

The Uniform Contract Format Required for FAR Part 15 contracts (per FAR 15.204) Used in the majority of RFPs and contracts May be used in others too (FAR 13.5 for example) Not used in FAR Part 12 Commercial See the UCF Webinar or the Sections L&M webinar

UCF is NOT required… Construction contracts (Standard Form 1442) Architect-engineer contracts (Standard Form 252) Contracts requiring special contract formats (such as FAR Part 12 solicitations) Letter RFPs to one company (FAR 15.203(e)) …although a UCF contract will result When exempted by agency head

Fun Fact on Section K…. Remember: Sections K, L and M do not become part of the resultant contract Section K (Reps and Certs) is incorporated by reference in the contract using FAR 52.204-19 Or FAR 52.212-4(v) for commercial acquisitions under FAR Part 12

Why is the UCF important? In pursuit of the Three Cs: Consistency It’s all the same Correctness We all know what the contract says Competence on both sides So we all know what we’re doing

UCF is mostly done with software Standard Procurement System Procurement Desktop – Defense (PD2) ConWrite Several others

Why Should Government Care? A previous podcast talked about why contract type is important Contract type is the foundation of the contract UCF is the framing on which the contract is built Everyone doesn’t just get to make this up as they go It describes the features of contract and where to find them It’s how we communicate

Why Should Government Care? Efficiency – it saves SO much time! Everyone knows exactly where to look in the contract to find specific information. PoP? Section F Funding? Section G What contract type is that CLIN? Section B It’s the system we have, to excel you need to understand it!

Why Should Industry Care? It helps filter opportunities faster You know where to look for key details to quickly decide to pursue or not It would be a mess if we had to hunt for the info in each RFP Understand what needs to be done And how to get paid! Efficiency – it saves so much time

Summary This is not about bureaucracy – it’s about efficiency It saves both sides time! It’s the system we have…

Contact us We are on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook We also started the Government Contracting Network Group on Facebook. Join us there! Send your topics to paul@Contractingofficerpodcast.com For Community support, contact Shelley Hall at shelley.hall@skywayacquisition.com