CHAPTER 41—TASK AND DELIVERY ORDER CONTRACTS

§4101. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Delivery order contract.—The term "delivery order contract" means a contract for property that—

(A) does not procure or specify a firm quantity of property (other than a minimum or maximum quantity); and

(B) provides for the issuance of orders for the delivery of property during the period of the contract.

(2) Task order contract.—The term "task order contract" means a contract for services that—

(A) does not procure or specify a firm quantity of services (other than a minimum or maximum quantity); and

(B) provides for the issuance of orders for the performance of tasks during the period of the contract.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3778.)

§4102. Authorities or responsibilities not affected

This chapter does not modify or supersede, and is not intended to impair or restrict, authorities or responsibilities under sections 1101 to 1104 of title 40.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3778.)

The text of section 1054(b)(1) of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–355, 41:253h note) is omitted as obsolete.

§4103. General authority

(a) Authority To Award.—Subject to the requirements of this section, section 4106 of this title, and other applicable law, the head of an executive agency may enter into a task or delivery order contract for procurement of services or property.

(b) Solicitation.—The solicitation for a task or delivery order contract shall include—

(1) the period of the contract, including the number of options to extend the contract and the period for which the contract may be extended under each option;

(2) the maximum quantity or dollar value of the services or property to be procured under the contract; and

(3) a statement of work, specifications, or other description that reasonably describes the general scope, nature, complexity, and purposes of the services or property to be procured under the contract.

(c) Applicability of Restriction on Use of Noncompetitive Procedures.—The head of an executive agency may use procedures other than competitive procedures to enter into a task or delivery order contract under this section only if an exception in section 3304(a) of this title applies to the contract and the use of those procedures is approved in accordance with section 3304(e) of this title.

(d) Single and Multiple Contract Awards.—

(1) Exercise of authority.—The head of an executive agency may exercise the authority provided in this section—

(A) to award a single task or delivery order contract; or

(B) if the solicitation states that the head of the executive agency has the option to do so, to award separate task or delivery order contracts for the same or similar services or property to 2 or more sources.

(2) Determination not required.—No determination under section 3303 of this title is required for an award of multiple task or delivery order contracts under paragraph (1)(B).

(3) Single source award for task or delivery order contracts exceeding $100,000,000.—

(A) When single awards are allowed.—No task or delivery order contract in an amount estimated to exceed $100,000,000 (including all options) may be awarded to a single source unless the head of the executive agency determines in writing that—

(i) the task or delivery orders expected under the contract are so integrally related that only a single source can reasonably perform the work;

(ii) the contract provides only for firm, fixed price task orders or delivery orders for—

(I) products for which unit prices are established in the contract; or

(II) services for which prices are established in the contract for the specific tasks to be performed;

(iii) only one source is qualified and capable of performing the work at a reasonable price to the Federal Government; or

(iv) because of exceptional circumstances, it is necessary in the public interest to award the contract to a single source.

(B) Notification of Congress.—The head of the executive agency shall notify Congress within 30 days after any determination under subparagraph (A)(iv).

(4) Regulations.—Regulations implementing this subsection shall establish—

(A) a preference for awarding, to the maximum extent practicable, multiple task or delivery order contracts for the same or similar services or property under paragraph (1)(B); and

(B) criteria for determining when award of multiple task or delivery order contracts would not be in the best interest of the Federal Government.

(e) Contract Modifications.—A task or delivery order may not increase the scope, period, or maximum value of the task or delivery order contract under which the order is issued. The scope, period, or maximum value of the contract may be increased only by modification of the contract.

(f) Inapplicability to Contracts for Advisory and Assistance Services.—Except as otherwise specifically provided in section 4105 of this title, this section does not apply to a task or delivery order contract for the acquisition of advisory and assistance services (as defined in section 1105(g) of title 31).

(g) Relationship to Other Contracting Authority.—Nothing in this section may be construed to limit or expand any authority of the head of an executive agency or the Administrator of General Services to enter into schedule, multiple award, or task or delivery order contracts under any other provision of law.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3778.)

In subsection (a), the words "(as defined in section 253k of this title)" are omitted as unnecessary.

§4104. Guidance on use of task and delivery order contracts

(a) Guidance in Federal Acquisition Regulation.—The Federal Acquisition Regulation issued in accordance with sections 1121(b) and 1303(a)(1) of this title shall provide guidance to agencies on the appropriate use of task and delivery order contracts in accordance with this chapter and chapter 245 of title 10.

(b) Content of Regulations.—The regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) at a minimum shall provide specific guidance on—

(1) the appropriate use of Government-wide and other multiagency contracts entered into in accordance with this chapter and chapter 245 of title 10; and

(2) steps that agencies should take in entering into and administering multiple award task and delivery order contracts to ensure compliance with the requirement in—

(A) section 11312 of title 40 for capital planning and investment control in purchases of information technology products and services;

(B) section 4106(c) of this title and section 3406(c) of title 10 to ensure that all contractors are afforded a fair opportunity to be considered for the award of task and delivery orders; and

(C) section 4106(e) of this title and section 3406(e) of title 10 for a statement of work in each task or delivery order issued that clearly specifies all tasks to be performed or property to be delivered under the order.

(c) Federal Supply Schedules Program.—The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy shall consult with the Administrator of General Services to assess the effectiveness of the multiple awards schedule program of the General Services Administration referred to in section 152(3) of this title that is administered as the Federal Supply Schedules program. The assessment shall include examination of—

(1) the administration of the program by the Administrator of General Services; and

(2) the ordering and program practices followed by Federal customer agencies in using schedules established under the program.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3780; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1702(h)(14), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2158.)

In this section, the text of section 804(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Pub. L. 106–65, 41:253h note) is omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (a), the words "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act" and "be revised to" are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (b)(1), the words "this chapter and sections 2304a to 2304d of title 10" are substituted for "the provisions of law referred to in that subsection" for clarity.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 117–81, §1702(h)(14)(A), (B)(i), substituted "chapter 245" for "sections 2304a to 2304d".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 117–81, §1702(h)(14)(B)(ii), substituted "section 3406(c)" for "section 2304c(b)".

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 117–81, §1702(h)(14)(B)(iii), substituted "section 3406(e)" for "section 2304c(c)".

§4105. Advisory and assistance services

(a) Definition.—In this section, the term "advisory and assistance services" has the same meaning given that term in section 1105(g) of title 31.

(b) Authority To Award.—

(1) In general.—Subject to the requirements of this section, section 4106 of this title, and other applicable law, the head of an executive agency may enter into a task order contract for procurement of advisory and assistance services.

(2) Only under this section.—The head of an executive agency may enter into a task order contract for advisory and assistance services only under this section.

(c) Contract Period.—The period of a task order contract entered into under this section, including all periods of extensions of the contract under options, modifications, or otherwise, may not exceed 5 years unless a longer period is specifically authorized in a law that is applicable to the contract.

(d) Content of Notice.—The notice required by section 1708 of this title and section 8(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e)) shall reasonably and fairly describe the general scope, magnitude, and duration of the proposed task order contract in a manner that would reasonably enable a potential offeror to decide whether to request the solicitation and consider submitting an offer.

(e) Required Content of Solicitation and Contract.—

(1) Solicitation.—The solicitation shall include the information (regarding services) described in section 4103(b) of this title.

(2) Contract.—A task order contract entered into under this section shall contain the same information that is required by paragraph (1) to be included in the solicitation of offers for that contract.

(f) Multiple Awards.—

(1) Authority to make multiple awards.—On the basis of one solicitation, the head of an executive agency may award separate task order contracts under this section for the same or similar services to 2 or more sources if the solicitation states that the head of the executive agency has the option to do so.

(2) Content of solicitation.—In the case of a task order contract for advisory and assistance services to be entered into under this section, if the contract period is to exceed 3 years and the contract amount is estimated to exceed $10,000,000 (including all options), the solicitation shall—

(A) provide for a multiple award authorized under paragraph (1); and

(B) include a statement that the head of the executive agency may also elect to award only one task order contract if the head of the executive agency determines in writing that only one of the offerors is capable of providing the services required at the level of quality required.

(3) Nonapplication.—Paragraph (2) does not apply in the case of a solicitation for which the head of the executive agency concerned determines in writing that, because the services required under the contract are unique or highly specialized, it is not practicable to award more than one contract.

(g) Contract Modifications.—

(1) Increase in scope, period, or maximum value of contract only by modification of contract.—A task order may not increase the scope, period, or maximum value of the task order contract under which the order is issued. The scope, period, or maximum value of the contract may be increased only by modification of the contract.

(2) Use of competitive procedures.—Unless use of procedures other than competitive procedures is authorized by an exception in section 3304(a) of this title and approved in accordance with section 3304(e) of this title, competitive procedures shall be used for making such a modification.

(3) Notice.—Notice regarding the modification shall be provided in accordance with section 1708 of this title and section 8(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e)).

(h) Contract Extensions.—

(1) When contract may be extended.—Notwithstanding the limitation on the contract period set forth in subsection (c) or in a solicitation or contract pursuant to subsection (f), a contract entered into by the head of an executive agency under this section may be extended on a sole-source basis for a period not exceeding 6 months if the head of the executive agency determines that—

(A) the award of a follow-on contract has been delayed by circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time the initial contract was entered into; and

(B) the extension is necessary to ensure continuity of the receipt of services pending the award of, and commencement of performance under, the follow-on contract.

(2) Limit of one extension.—A task order contract may be extended under paragraph (1) only once and only in accordance with the limitations and requirements of this subsection.

(i) Inapplicability to Certain Contracts.—This section does not apply to a contract for the acquisition of property or services that includes acquisition of advisory and assistance services if the head of the executive agency entering into the contract determines that, under the contract, advisory and assistance services are necessarily incident to, and not a significant component of, the contract.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3780.)

In subsection (b)(1), the words "(as defined in section 253k of this title)" are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (c)(2)(C), the words "Committee on Oversight and Government Reform" are substituted for "Committee on Government Reform" on authority of Rule X(1)(m) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Congress, January 5, 2007).

Senate Revision Amendment

Senate amendment to the bill effectively struck out subsec. (c)(2) and redesignated subsec. (c)(1) as (c). See S. Amdt. 4726 (111th Cong.), 156 Cong. Rec. 18683 (2010).

§4106. Orders

(a) Application.—This section applies to task and delivery order contracts entered into under sections 4103 and 4105 of this title.

(b) Actions Not Required for Issuance of Orders.—The following actions are not required for issuance of a task or delivery order under a task or delivery order contract:

(1) A separate notice for the order under section 1708 of this title or section 8(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(e)).

(2) Except as provided in subsection (c), a competition (or a waiver of competition approved in accordance with section 3304(e) of this title) that is separate from that used for entering into the contract.

(c) Multiple Award Contracts.—When multiple contracts are awarded under section 4103(d)(1)(B) or 4105(f) of this title, all contractors awarded the contracts shall be provided a fair opportunity to be considered, pursuant to procedures set forth in the contracts, for each task or delivery order in excess of the micro-purchase threshold under section 1902 of this title that is to be issued under any of the contracts, unless—

(1) the executive agency's need for the services or property ordered is of such unusual urgency that providing the opportunity to all of those contractors would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling that need;

(2) only one of those contractors is capable of providing the services or property required at the level of quality required because the services or property ordered are unique or highly specialized;

(3) the task or delivery order should be issued on a sole-source basis in the interest of economy and efficiency because it is a logical follow-on to a task or delivery order already issued on a competitive basis; or

(4) it is necessary to place the order with a particular contractor to satisfy a minimum guarantee.

(d) Enhanced Competition for Orders in Excess of $5,000,000.—In the case of a task or delivery order in excess of $5,000,000, the requirement to provide all contractors a fair opportunity to be considered under subsection (c) is not met unless all such contractors are provided, at a minimum—

(1) a notice of the task or delivery order that includes a clear statement of the executive agency's requirements;

(2) a reasonable period of time to provide a proposal in response to the notice;

(3) disclosure of the significant factors and subfactors, including cost or price, that the executive agency expects to consider in evaluating such proposals, and their relative importance;

(4) in the case of an award that is to be made on a best value basis, a written statement documenting—

(A) the basis for the award; and

(B) the relative importance of quality and price or cost factors; and

(5) an opportunity for a post-award debriefing consistent with the requirements of section 3704 of this title.

(e) Statement of Work.—A task or delivery order shall include a statement of work that clearly specifies all tasks to be performed or property to be delivered under the order.

(f) Protests.—

(1) Protest not authorized.—A protest is not authorized in connection with the issuance or proposed issuance of a task or delivery order except for—

(A) a protest on the ground that the order increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the contract under which the order is issued; or

(B) a protest of an order valued in excess of $10,000,000.

(2) Jurisdiction over protests.—Notwithstanding section 3556 of title 31, the Comptroller General shall have exclusive jurisdiction of a protest authorized under paragraph (1)(B).

(g) Task and Delivery Order Ombudsman.—

(1) Appointment or designation and responsibilities.—The head of each executive agency who awards multiple task or delivery order contracts under section 4103(d)(1)(B) or 4105(f) of this title shall appoint or designate a task and delivery order ombudsman who shall be responsible for reviewing complaints from the contractors on those contracts and ensuring that all of the contractors are afforded a fair opportunity to be considered for task or delivery orders when required under subsection (c).

(2) Who is eligible.—The task and delivery order ombudsman shall be a senior agency official who is independent of the contracting officer for the contracts and may be the executive agency's advocate for competition.

(Pub. L. 111–350, §3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3782; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(f)(5)(B), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4376; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, §813, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1491; Pub. L. 114–260, §2, Dec. 14, 2016, 130 Stat. 1361; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §835(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2285; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, §826, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1491.)

Amendment Not Shown in Text

This section was derived from section 253j of former Title 41, Public Contracts, which was amended by Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, §843(b)(2)(C), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 239, to add subsec. (e), from which subsec. (f) of this section was derived, prior to being repealed and reenacted as this section by Pub. L. 111–350, §§3, 7(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3677, 3855. The directory language of section 843(b)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 110–181 was amended by Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(f)(5)(B), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4376. For applicability of that amendment to this section, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 111–350, set out as a Transitional and Savings Provisions note preceding section 101 of this title. Section 843(b)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 110–181 was amended by striking "paragraph (1)" and inserting "subparagraph (A)".

In subsection (g)(2), the words "advocate for competition" are substituted for "competition advocate" for consistency with section 1705 of the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted "the micro-purchase threshold under section 1902 of this title" for "$2,500" in introductory provisions.

2016—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 114–260 and Pub. L. 114–328 amended subsec. (f) identically by striking out par. (3). Text read as follows: "Paragraph (1)(B) and paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not be in effect after September 30, 2016."

2011—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 112–81 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "This subsection shall be in effect for three years, beginning on the date that is 120 days after January 28, 2008."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Postaward Explanations for Unsuccessful Offerors for Certain Contracts

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, §874, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1527, provided that: "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised to require that with respect to an offer for a task order or delivery order in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section 134 of title 41, United States Code) and less than or equal to $5,500,000 issued under an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract, the contracting officer for such contract shall, upon written request from an unsuccessful offeror, provide a brief explanation as to why such offeror was unsuccessful that includes a summary of the rationale for the award and an evaluation of the significant weak or deficient factors in the offeror's offer."