[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25703]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 18, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 538 and 552

[APD 2800.12A, CHGE 57]

 

General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Multiple 
Award Schedule Price Reductions Clause

AGENCY: Office of Acquisition Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation 
(GSAR) is amended to prescribe a Price Reductions clause for use in 
multiple award schedule (MAS) solicitations and contracts. The clause 
is a modification of that currently in use. The modifications clarify 
the clause's applicability, reduce contractor reporting requirements 
and eliminate MAS price reductions based on a lower price to an 
individual Federal agency.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 19, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ida M. Ustad, Office of GSA Acquisition Policy (202) 501-1224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Public Comment

    A notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal 
Register on February 23, 1994 (59 FR 8590). Public comments and 
comments received from other Federal agencies and GSA activities were 
considered in formulating this final rule. The significant issues and 
concerns raised during the comment period are summarized below:
    Two organizations suggested the entire Price Reductions clause be 
eliminated because it is confusing and inconsistent with commercial 
practice. GSA has clarified the aspects of the clause that commentors 
found to be confusing. GSA does not agree that the clause is 
inconsistent with commercial practice. Some large commercial contracts 
contain similar price protection provisions.
    GSA believes the clause is necessary to assure that the Government 
maintains the relative discount position, negotiated at the time of 
contract award, throughout the term of the contract.
    Two organizations offered comments in support of the change in the 
Price Reductions clause that eliminates certain reporting requirements, 
increases the time given contractors to notify the Government of price 
reductions, and requires that the Government be extended price 
reductions under the same terms and with the same effective dates which 
the contractor extends to the commercial customers.
    Comments were mixed on the elimination of paragraph (c) of the 
current clause which deals with price reductions to Federal agencies. 
Federal agencies submitted comments in support of the change, while 
some contractors and associations representing them opposed the change 
and argued the MAS price would become the starting point for 
negotiation on orders and eliminate the need to negotiate a schedule 
contract. GSA disagrees; the final rule provides that there shall be no 
price reduction for sales to Federal agencies. GSA believes this 
change, when combined with revised MAS ordering procedures, gives 
agencies the flexibility to obtain reductions within the MAS 
contractual framework and will lead to greater MAS usage.
    Several organizations suggested the requirement in paragraph (d) of 
the proposed clause to pass on general price reductions be deleted as 
unnecessary. The suggestion was adopted and the provision is not 
included in the final rule.

B. Executive Order 12866

    This rule was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) in accordance with Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and 
Review.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The rule is not expected to have an economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities as defined under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. An initial regulatory flexibility analysis was 
prepared and submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration. Copies of the initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis were made available for public comment. No comments were 
received on the impact of the rule on small business. The final 
regulatory flexibility analysis indicates that the rule will affect 
contractors, including small businesses, that are awarded contracts 
under GSA's MAS program. Historically, approximately seventy percent of 
MAS contractors have been small businesses. Based on the number of MAS 
contracts currently in effect, it is estimated that 4,288 small 
businesses will be impacted by the new rule. The final regulatory 
flexibility analysis has been submitted to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Copies of the final 
regulatory analysis are available from the office identified above.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Price Reductions clause contains an information collection 
requirement which is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 
3501 et sequentia. The information collection has been approved by OMB 
and assigned OMB Control Number 3090-0235. The title of the information 
collection is ``GSAR 552.238-75 Price Reductions.''
    The Price Reductions clause is intended to ensure that the 
Government maintains its price/discount (and/or term and condition) 
advantage in relation to the contractor's commercial customer(s) upon 
which the MAS contract is predicated. The customer or category of 
customer upon which the award is predicated is identified at the 
conclusion of negotiations and reflected in the MAS contract.
    The Price Reductions clause requires MAS contractors to notify the 
contracting officer of price reductions at the same time that 
commercial customers are notified.
    The Price Reductions clause is needed to assure that the Government 
maintains the relative discount position, negotiated at the time of 
contract award, throughout the term of the contract.
    The estimated annual burden for the Price Reductions clause is 
24,508 hours. This is based upon an estimated average burden per 
response of 2 hours, a frequency of 2 responses per respondent, and an 
estimated number of likely respondents of 6,127.
    Any comments concerning the accuracy of the burden may be directed 
to the Director, Office of GSA Acquisition Policy (VP), 18th & F 
Streets, NW, Room 4006, Washington, DC, 20405 and to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention Desk Officer for 
GSA, Washington, DC 20503.

List of Subjects in CFR Parts 538 and 552

    Government procurement.

    Accordingly, 48 CFR parts 538 and 552 are amended to read as 
follows:

PARTS 538 AND 552--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 538 and 552 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

    2. Section 538.203-71 is amended by revising the heading and adding 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


538.203-71  Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

* * * * *
    (e) Contracting officers shall insert the clause at 552.238-76, 
Price Reductions, in all MAS solicitations and contracts.
    3. Section 538.272 is added to read as follows:


538.272  MAS price reductions.

    (a) Prior to the award of a MAS contract, the contracting officer 
and the offeror shall reach an agreement as to the customer (or 
category of customers), price lists, and discounts which will serve as 
the basis of contract award. The award document shall expressly state 
the price/discount relationship between the Government and the 
identified commercial customer which is the basis of contract award. 
The Price Reductions clause is intended to maintain this price/discount 
relationship (and/or term and condition relationship) between the 
Government and the offeror's customer or category of customers upon 
which the MAS contract was predicated for the contract period.
    (b) During the term of the contract, any changes in discount/
pricing practices by the contractor which result or will result in a 
less advantageous relationship between the Government and the customer 
or category of customers upon which the MAS contract discount/price was 
predicated, shall result in a price reduction to the Government to the 
extent necessary to reflect the original relationship.
    4. Section 552.238-76 is added to read as follows:


552.238-76  Price reductions.

    As prescribed in 538.203-71(e), insert the following clause:

Price Reductions (Oct 1994)

    (a) Before award of a contract, the Contracting Officer and the 
Offeror will agree upon (1) The customer (or category of customers) 
which will be the basis of award, and (2) the Government's price or 
discount relationship to the identified customer (or category of 
customers). This relationship shall be maintained throughout the 
contract period. Any change in the Contractor's commercial pricing 
or discount arrangement applicable to the identified customer (or 
category of customers) which disturbs this relationship shall 
constitute a price reduction.
    (b) During the contract period, the Contractor shall report to 
the Contracting Officer all price reductions to the customer (or 
category of customers) that was the basis of award. The Contractor's 
report shall include an explanation of the conditions under which 
the reductions were made.
    (c) (1) A price reduction shall apply to purchases under this 
contract if, after the date negotiations conclude, the Contractor--
    (i) Revises the commercial catalog, pricelist, schedule or other 
document upon which contract award was predicated to reduce prices;
    (ii) Grants more favorable discounts or terms and conditions 
than those contained in the commercial catalog, pricelist, schedule 
or other documents upon which contract award was predicated; or
    (iii) Grants special discounts to the customer (or category of 
customers) that was the basis of award, and the change disturbs the 
price/discount relationship of the Government to the customer (or 
category of customers) that was the basis of award.
    (2) The Contractor shall offer the price reduction to the 
Government with the same effective date, and for the same time 
period, as extended to the commercial customer (or category of 
customers).
    (d) There shall be no price reduction for sales--
    (1) To commercial customers under firm, fixed-price definite 
quantity contracts with specified delivery in excess of the maximum 
order limitation specified in this contract;
    (2) To Federal agencies; or
    (3) Caused by an error in quotation or billing, provided 
adequate documentation is furnished by the Contractor to the 
Contracting Officer.
    (e) The Contractor may offer the Contracting Officer a voluntary 
Governmentwide price reduction at any time during the contract 
period.
    (f) The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of any 
price reduction subject to this clause as soon as possible, but not 
later than 15 calendar days after its effective date.
    (g) The contract will be modified to reflect any price reduction 
which becomes applicable in accordance with this clause.

(End of Clause)

    Dated: August 18, 1994.
Arthur E. Ronkovich,
Acting Associate Administrator for Acquisition Policy.
[FR Doc. 94-25703 Filed 10-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-61-M