The offeror (quoter) hereby certifies that:

(a) He is [] is not [] a former regular or special EPA employee whose EPA employment terminated within one year prior to submission of this offer (quote).

(b) He does [] does not [] employ or propose to employ a current/former regular or special EPA employee whose EPA employment terminated within one year prior to submission of this offer (quote) and who has been or will be involved, directly or indirectly, in developing or negotiating this offer (quote) for the offeror (quoter), or in the management, administration or performance of any contract resulting from this offer (quote).

(c) He does [] does not [] employ or propose to employ as a consultant or subcontractor under any contract resulting from this offer (quote) a current/former regular or special EPA employee whose EPA employment terminated within one year prior to submission of this offer (quote).

(d) A former regular or special EPA employee whose EPA employment terminated within one year prior to submission of this offer (quote) or such former employee's spouse or minor child does [] does not [] own or substantially own or control the offeror's (quoter's) firm.

(e) See EPAAR part 1503 for definitions of the terms “regular” and “special employee.”

(a) For EPA contracts valued at $1,000,000 or more including all contract options, the contractor shall prominently display EPA Office of Inspector General Hotline posters in contractor facilities where the work is performed under the contract.

(b) Office of Inspector General hotline posters may be obtained from the EPA Office of Inspector General, ATTN: OIG Hotline (2443), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460, or by calling (202) 260-5113.

(c) The Contractor need not comply with paragraph (a) of this clause if it has established a mechanism, such as a hotline, by which employees may report suspected instances of improper conduct, and provided instructions that encourage employees to make such reports.

Unless otherwise specified in this contract, the Contractor shall not engage in, nor subcontract for, any printing (as that term is defined in title I of the Government Printing and Binding Regulations in effect on the effective date of this contract) in connection with the performance of work under this contract. Provided, however, that performance of a requirement under this contract involving the duplication of less than 5,000 units of only one page, or less than 25,000 units in the aggregate of multiple pages, such pages not exceeding a maximum image size of 103/4 by 141/4 inches, will not be deemed to be printing.

(a) The prospective Contractor certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it is not aware of any information bearing on the existence of any potential organizational conflict of interest. If the prospective Contractor cannot so certify, it shall provide a disclosure statement in its proposal which describes all relevant information concerning any past, present, or planned interests bearing on whether it (including its chief executives and directors, or any proposed consultant or subcontractor) may have a potential organizational conflict of interest.

(b) Prospective Contractors should refer to FAR subpart 9.5 and EPAAR part 1509 for policies and procedures for avoiding, neutralizing, or mitigating organizational conflicts of interest.

(c) If the Contracting Officer determines that a potential conflict exists, the prospective Contractor shall not receive an award unless the conflict can be avoided or otherwise resolved through the inclusion of a special contract clause or other appropriate means. The terms of any special clause are subject to negotiation.

(a) The Contractor warrants that, to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, there are no relevant facts or circumstances which could give rise to an organizational conflict of interest, as defined in FAR subpart 9.5, or that the Contractor has disclosed all such relevant information.

(b) Prior to commencement of any work, the Contractor agrees to notify the Contracting Officer immediately that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no actual or potential conflict of interest exists or to identify to the Contracting Officer any actual or potential conflict of interest the firm may have. In emergency situations, however, work may begin but notification shall be made within five (5) working days.

(c) The Contractor agrees that if an actual or potential organizational conflict of interest is identified during performance, the Contractor will immediately make a full disclosure in writing to the Contracting Officer. This disclosure shall include a description of actions which the Contractor has taken or proposes to take, after consultation with the Contracting Officer, to avoid, mitigate, or neutralize the actual or potential conflict of interest. The Contractor shall continue performance until notified by the Contracting Officer of any contrary action to be taken.

(d) Remedies—The EPA may terminate this contract for convenience, in whole or in part, if it deems such termination necessary to avoid an organizational conflict of interest. If the Contractor was aware of a potential organizational conflict of interest prior to award or discovered an actual or potential conflict after award and did not disclose it or misprepresented relevant information to the Contracting officer, the Government may terminate the contract for default, debar the Contractor from Government contracting, or pursue such other remedies as may be permitted by law or this contract.

(e) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (e), unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer.

The offeror [] is [] is not aware of any information bearing on the existence of any potential organizational conflict of interest. If the offeror is aware of information bearing on whether a potential conflict may exist, the offeror shall provide a disclosure statement describing this information. (See section L of the solicitation for further information.)

(a) In addition to the requirements of the contract clause entitled “Organizational Conflicts of Interest,” the following provisions with regard to employee personnel performing under this contract shall apply until the earlier of the following two dates: the termination date of the affected employee(s) or the expiration date of the contract.

(b) The Contractor agrees to notify immediately the EPA Project Officer and the Contracting Officer of (1) any actual or potential personal conflict of interest with regard to any of its employees working on or having access to information regarding this contract, or (2) any such conflicts concerning subcontractor employees or consultants working on or having access to information regarding this contract, when such conflicts have been reported to the Contractor. A personal conflict of interest is defined as a relationship of an employee, subcontractor employee, or consultant with an entity that may impair the objectivity of the employee, subcontractor employee, or consultant in performing the contract work.

(c) The Contractor agrees to notify each Project Officer and Contracting Officer prior to incurring costs for that employee's work when an employee may have a personal conflict of interest. In the event that the personal conflict of interest does not become known until after performance on the contract begins, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer of the personal conflict of interest. The Contractor shall continue performance of this contract until notified by the Contracting Officer of the appropriate action to be taken.

(d) The Contractor agrees to insert in any subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (d), unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) The Contractor will be ineligible to enter into a contract for remedial action projects for which the Contractor has developed the statement of work or the solicitation package.

(c) The following applies when ARCS work is performed under this contract and when both ARCS work and Field Investigative Team (FIT) work are performed on the same site under this contract: Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the work assignment and for a period of five (5) years after the completion of the work assignment, agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(d) The following applies to FIT work at sites under this contract where only FIT work is performed, except for those sites where EPA has made a determination of “no further remedial action planned” (NFRAP): Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the work assignment and for a period of three (3) years after the completion of the work assignment, agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) Any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(e) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(f) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(g) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(h) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (h) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(i) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(j) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime Contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(c) Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the delivery order or tasking document and for a period of five (5) years after the completion of the delivery order or tasking document, agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(d) During the life of this contract, including any options, the Contractor agrees that unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer:

(1) It will not provide any Technical Assistance Team (TAT) type activities (e.g., TAT contracts) to EPA within the Contractor's Time Critical Rapid Response (TCRR) assigned geographical area(s), either as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or consultant.

(2) It will not provide any Technical Assistance Team (TAT) type activities (e.g., TAT contracts) to EPA as a prime contractor, subcontractor or consultant at a site where it has performed or plans to perform TCRR work.

(3) It will be ineligible for award of TAT type activities contracts for sites within its respective TCRR assigned geographical area(s) which result from a CERCLA administrative order, a CERCLA or RCRA consent decree or a court order.

(e) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(f) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(g) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(h) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (h) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(i) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(j) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime Contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(c) Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the technical direction document and for a period of five (5) years after the completion of the technical direction document, agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) Any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(d) During the life of this contract, including any options, the Contractor agrees that unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer:

(1) It will not provide to EPA cleanup services (e.g., Time Critical Rapid Response (TCRR) contracts) within the Contractor's Technical Assistance Team (TAT) assigned geographical area(s), either as a prime Contractor, subcontractor, or consultant.

(2) Unless an individual design for the site has been prepared by a third party, it will not provide to EPA as a prime contractor, subcontractor or consultant any remedial construction services at a site where it has performed or plans to perform TAT work. This clause will not preclude TAT contractors from performing construction management services under other EPA contracts.

(3) It will be ineligible for award of TCRR type activities contracts for sites within its respective TAT assigned geographical area(s) which result from a CERCLA administrative order, a CERCLA or RCRA consent decree or a court order.

(e) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(f) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(g) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(h) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (h) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(i) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(j) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime Contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(c) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(d) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(e) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (e) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(f) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(g) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) During the performance period of this contract, the Contractor will be ineligible to enter into any contract for remedial planning and/or implementation projects for sites within the assigned geographical area(s) covered by this contract without the prior written approval of the EPA Contracting Officer.

(c) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime Contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(d) Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the work assignment and for a period of seven (7) years after the completion of the work assignment, agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) Any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to a site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(e) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(f) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(g) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(h) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (h) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(i) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(j) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime Contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(c) The Contractor, during the life of this contract, will be ineligible to enter into a contract with EPA to perform response action work (e.g., Alternative Remedial Contracting Strategy (ARCS), Time Critical Rapid Response (TCRR), Technical Assistance Team (TAT), and Technical Enforcement Support (TES) contracts), unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer.

(d) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(e) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(f) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (f) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(g) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(h) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

(a) The parties to this contract agree that the Contractor will be restricted in its future contracting in the manner described below. Except as specifically provided in this clause, the Contractor shall be free to compete for contracts on an equal basis with other companies.

(b) If the Contractor, under the terms of this contract, or through the performance of work pursuant to this contract, is required to develop specifications or statements of work and such specifications or statements of work are incorporated into an EPA solicitation, the Contractor shall be ineligible to perform the work described in that solicitation as a prime contractor or subcontractor under an ensuing EPA contract.

(c) Unless prior written approval is obtained from the cognizant EPA Contracting Officer, the Contractor, during the life of the contract and for a period of five (5) years after the expiration of the contract agrees not to enter into a contract with or to represent any party, other than EPA, with respect to: (1) any work relating to CERCLA activities which pertain to the site where the Contractor previously performed work for EPA under this contract; or (2) any work that may jeopardize CERCLA enforcement actions which pertain to the site where the Contractor previously performed work for the EPA under this contract.

(d) During the life of this contract, including any options, the Contractor agrees that unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer:

(1) It will not provide any Technical Assistance Team (TAT) type activities (e.g., TAT contracts) to EPA on the site either as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or consultant.

(2) It will be ineligible for award of contracts pertaining to this site which result from a CERCLA administrative order, a CERCLA or RCRA consent decree or a court order.

(e) The Contractor and any subcontractors, during the life of this contract, shall be ineligible to enter into an EPA contract or a subcontract under an EPA contract, which supports EPA's performance of Superfund Headquarters policy work including support for the analysis and development of regulations, policies, or guidance that govern, affect, or relate to the conduct of response action activities, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. Examples of such contracts include, but are not limited to, Superfund Management and Analytical support contracts, and Superfund Technical and Analytical support contracts.

(f) The Contractor agrees in advance that if any bids/proposals are submitted for any work that would require written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into a contract subject to the restrictions of this clause, then the bids/proposals are submitted at the Contractor's own risk. Therefore, no claim shall be made against the Government to recover bid/proposal costs as a direct cost whether the request for authorization to enter into the contract is denied or approved.

(g) To the extent that the work under this contract requires access to proprietary or confidential business or financial data of other companies, and as long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure.

(h) Contractors who are performing nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including construction work, may request a waiver from or modification to this clause by submitting a written request to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer shall make the determination regarding whether to waive or modify the clause on a case-by-case basis.

(i) The Contractor agrees to insert in each subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services, including treatability studies, well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph (i) unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor may request in writing that the Contracting Officer exempt from this clause a particular subcontract or consultant agreement for nondiscretionary technical or engineering services not specifically listed above, including laboratory analysis. The Contracting Officer will review and evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis before approving or disapproving the request.

(j) If the Contractor seeks an expedited decision regarding its initial future contracting request, the Contractor may submit its request to both the Contracting Officer and the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization.

(k) A review process available to the Contractor when an adverse determination is received shall consist of a request for reconsideration to the Contracting Officer or a request for review submitted to the next administrative level within the Contracting Officer's organization. An adverse determination resulting from a request for reconsideration by the Contracting Officer will not preclude the Contractor from requesting a review by the next administrative level. Either a request for review or a request for reconsideration must be submitted to the appropriate level within 30 calendar days after receipt of the initial adverse determination.

The Contractor shall submit an annual conflict of interest certification to the Contracting Officer. In this certification, the Contractor shall certify annually that, to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, all actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest have been reported to EPA. In addition, in this annual certification, the Contractor shall certify that it has informed its personnel who perform work under EPA contracts or relating to EPA contracts of their obligation to report personal and organizational conflicts of interest to the Contractor. Such certification must be signed by a senior executive of the company and submitted in accordance with instructions provided by the Contracting Officer. The initial certification shall cover the one-year period from the date of contract award, and all subsequent certifications shall cover successive annual periods thereafter, until expiration or termination of the contract. The certification must be received by the Contracting Officer no later than 45 days after the close of the certification period covered.

The contracting officer shall complete a Contractor Performance Report (Report) within ninety (90) business days after the end of each 12 months of contract performance (interim Report) or after the last 12 months (or less) of contract performance (final Report) in accordance with EPAAR 1509.170-5. The contractor shall be evaluated based on the following ratings and performance categories:

Ratings: 0 = unsatisfactory, 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = excellent, 5 = outstanding.

Performance Categories:

Quality: Compliance with contract requirements; accuracy of reports; effectiveness of personnel; and technical excellence.

Cost Control: Record of forecasting and controlling target costs; current, accurate and complete billings; relationship of negotiated costs to actuals; cost efficiencies.

Timeliness of Performance: Met interim milestones; reliability; responsive to technical direction; completed on time, including wrap-up and contract administration; met delivery schedules; no liquidated damages assessed.

Business Relations: Effective management, including subcontracts; reasonable/cooperative behavior; responsive to contract requirements; notification of problems; flexibility; pro-active versus reactive; effective small/small disadvantage business subcontracting program.

(a) The contracting officer shall initiate the process for completing interim Reports within five (5) business days after the end of each 12 months of contract performance by requesting the project officer to evaluate contractor performance for the interim Report. In addition, the contracting officer shall initiate the process for completing final Reports within five (5) business days after the last 12 months (or less) of contract performance by requesting the project officer to evaluate contractor performance for the final Report. The final Report shall cover the last 12 months (or less) of contract performance. Within thirty (30) business days after the project officer receives a request from the contracting officer to complete an evaluation, the project officer shall:

(1) Complete a description of the contract requirements;

(2) Evaluate contractor performance and assign a rating for quality, cost control, and timeliness of performance categories (including a narrative for each rating);

(3) Provide any information regarding subcontracts, key personnel, and customer satisfaction;

(4) Assign a recommended rating for the business relations performance category (including a narrative for the rating); and

(5) Provide additional information appropriate for the evaluation or future evaluations.

(b) The contracting officer shall:

(1) Ensure the accuracy of the project officer's evaluation by verifying that the information in the contract file corresponds with the designated project officer's ratings;

(2) Assign a rating for the business relations performance category (including a narrative for the rating);

(3) Concur with or revise the project officer's ratings after consultation with the project officer;

(4) Provide any additional information concerning the quality, cost control, and timeliness of performance categories if deemed appropriate for the evaluation or future evaluations (if any), and provide any information regarding subcontracts, key personnel, and customer satisfaction; and

(5) Forward the Report to the contractor within ten (10) business days after the contracting officer receives the project officer's evaluation.

(c) The contractor shall be granted thirty (30) business days from the date of the contractor's receipt of the Report to review and provide a response to the contracting officer regarding the contents of the Report. The contractor shall:

(1) Review the Report;

(2) Provide a response (if any) to the contracting officer on company letter head or electronically;

(3) Complete contractor representation information; and

(4) Forward the Report to the contracting officer within the designated thirty (30) business days.

(d) The contractor's response to the Report may include written comments, rebuttals (disagreements), or additional information. If the contractor does not respond to the Report within the designated thirty (30) business days, the specified ratings in the Report are deemed appropriate for the evaluation period. In this instance, the contracting officer shall complete the Agency review and sign the Report within three (3) business days after expiration of the specified 30 business days.

(e) If the contractor submits comments, rebuttals (disagreements), or additional information to the contracting officer which contests the ratings, the contracting officer, in consultation with the project officer, shall initially try to resolve the disagreement(s) with the contractor.

(f) If the disagreement(s) is (are) not resolved between the contractor and the contracting officer, the contracting officer shall provide a written recommendation to one level above the contracting officer for resolution as promptly as possible, but no later than five (5) business days after the contracting officer is made aware that the disagreement(s) has (have) not been resolved with the contractor. The individual who is one level above the contracting officer shall:

(1) Review the contracting officer's written recommendation; and

(2) Provide a written determination to the contracting officer for summary ratings (ultimate conclusion for ratings pertaining to the performance period being evaluated) within five (5) business days after the individual one level above the contracting officer receives the contracting officer's written recommendation.

(g) If the disagreement is resolved, the contracting officer shall complete the Agency review and sign the Report within three (3) business days after consultation.

(h) The contracting officer shall complete the Agency review and sign the Report within three (3) business days after the contracting officer receives a written determination for summary ratings from one level above the contracting officer.

(i) An interim or final Report is considered completed after the contracting officer signs the Report. The contracting officer must provide a copy of completed Reports (interim and final) to the contractor within two (2) business days after completion.

The Contractor shall prepare and deliver reports, including plans, evaluations, studies, analyses and manuals in accordance with Attachment XXXXXXXXXX. Each report shall cite the contract number, identify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the sponsoring agency, and identify the name of the contractor preparing the report.

The OMB clearance number for progress reports delivered under this contract is 2030-0005 with an expiration date of January 31, 2000.

The Contractor shall prepare and deliver the below listed reports, including plans, evaluations, studies, analyses and manuals to the designated addressees. Each report shall cite the contract number, identify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the sponsoring agency, and identify the name of the contractor preparing the report.

The OMB clearance number for progress reports delivered under this contract is 2030-0005 with an expiration date of January 31, 2000. Required reports are:

(a) The Contractor shall furnish ___ copies of the combined monthly technical and financial progress report stating the progress made, including the percentage of the project completed, and a description of the work accomplished to support the cost. If the work is ordered using work assignments or delivery orders, include the estimated percentage of task completed during the reporting period for each work assignment or delivery order.

(b) Specific discussions shall include difficulties encountered and remedial action taken during the reporting period, and anticipated activity with a schedule of deliverables for the subsequent reporting period.

(c) The Contractor shall provide a list of outstanding actions awaiting Contracting Officer authorization, noted with the corresponding work assignment, such as subcontractor/consultant consents, overtime approvals, and work plan approvals.

(d) The report shall specify financial status at the contract level as follows:

(1) For the current reporting period, display the amount claimed.

(2) For the cumulative period and the cumulative contract life display: the amount obligated, amount originally invoiced, amount paid, amount suspended, amount disallowed, and remaining approved amount. The remaining approved amount is defined as the total obligated amount, less the total amount originally invoiced, plus total amount disallowed.

(3) Labor hours.

(i) A list of employees, their labor categories, and the numbers of hours worked for the reporting period.

(ii) For the current reporting period, display the expended direct labor hours and costs broken out by EPA contract labor hour category for the prime contractor and each subcontractor and consultant.

(iii) For the cumulative contract period and the cumulative contract life display: the negotiated, expended and remaining direct labor hours and costs broken out by EPA contract labor hour category for the prime contractor, and each subcontractor and consultant.

(iv) Display the estimated direct labor hours and costs to be expended during the next reporting period.

(4) Display the current dollar ceilings in the contract, net amount invoiced, and remaining amounts for the following categories: Direct labor hours, total estimated cost, award fee pool (if applicable), subcontracts by individual subcontractor, travel, program management, and Other Direct Costs (ODCs).

(5) Unbilled allowable costs. Display the total costs incurred but unbilled for the current reporting period and cumulative for the contract.

(6) Average cost of direct labor. Compare the actual average cost per hour to date with the average cost per hour of the approved work plans for the current contract period.

(e) The report shall specify financial status at the work assignment or delivery order level as follows:

(1) For the current period, display the amount claimed.

(2) For the cumulative period display: amount shown on workplan, or latest work assignment/delivery order amendment amount (whichever is later); amount currently claimed; amount paid; amount suspended; amount disallowed; and remaining approved amount. The remaining approved amount is defined as: the workplan amount or latest work assignment or delivery order amount (whichever is later), less total amounts originally invoiced, plus total amount disallowed.

(3) Labor hours.

(i) A list of employees, their labor categories, and the number of hours worked for the reporting period.

(ii) For the current reporting period, display the expended direct labor hours and costs broken out by EPA contract labor hour category for the prime contractor and each subcontractor and consultant.

(iii) For the current reporting period, cumulative contract period, and the cumulative contract life display: the negotiated, expended and remaining direct labor hours and costs broken out by EPA contract labor hour category for the prime contractor and each subcontractor and consultant.

(iv) Display the estimated direct labor hours and costs to be expended during the next reporting period.

(v) Display the estimates of remaining direct labor hours and costs required to complete the work assignment or delivery order.

(4) Unbilled allowable costs. Display the total costs incurred but unbilled for the current reporting period and cumulative for the work assignment.

(5) Average cost of direct labor. Display the actual average cost per hour with the cost per hour estimated in the workplan.

(6) A list of deliverables for each work assignment or delivery order during the reporting period.

(f) This submission does not change the notification requirements of the “Limitation of Cost” or “Limitation of Funds” clauses requiring separate written notice to the Contracting Officer.

(g) The reports shall be submitted to the following addresses on or before the ___ of each month following the first complete reporting period of the contract. See EPAAR 1552.232-70, Submission of Invoices, paragraph (e), for details on the timing of submittals. Distribute reports as follows:

(a) The Contractor shall perform all work and provide all required reports within the level of effort specified below. The Government hereby orders——direct labor hours for the base period, which represents the Government's best estimate of the level of effort to fulfill these requirements.

(b) Direct labor includes personnel such as engineers, scientists, draftsmen, technicians, statisticians, and programmers and not support personnel such as company management, typists, and key punch operators even though such support personnel are normally treated as direct labor by the Contractor. The level of effort specified in paragraph (a) includes Contractor, subcontractor, and consultant labor hours.

(c) If the Contractor provides less than 90 percent of the level of effort specified for the base period or any optional period ordered, an equitable downward adjustment of the fixed fee, if any, for that period will be made. The Government may require the Contractor to provide additional effort up to 110 percent of the level of effort for any period until the estimated cost for that period has been reached. However, this additional effort shall not result in any increase in the fixed fee, if any. If this is a cost-plus-incentive-fee (CPIF) contract, the term “fee” in this paragraph means “base fee and incentive fee.” If this is a cost-plus-award-fee (CPAF) contract, the term “fee” in this paragraph means “base fee and award fee.”

(d) If the level of effort specified to be ordered during a given base or option period is not ordered during that period, that level of effort may not be acumulated and ordered during a subsequent period.

(e) These terms and conditions do not supersede the requirements of either the “Limitation of Cost” or “Limitation of Funds” clauses.

(a) The contractor shall perform work under this contract as specified in written work assignments issued by the Contracting Officer.

(b) Each work assignment will include (1) a numerical designation, (2) the estimate of required labor hours, (3) the period of performance and schedule of deliverables, and (4) the description of the work.

(c) The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of each work assignment by returning to the Contracting Officer a signed copy of the work assignment within __ calendar days after its receipt. The Contractor shall begin work immediately upon receipt of a work assignment. Within __ calendar days after receipt of a work assignment, the Contractor shall submit __ copies of a work plan to the Project Officer and __ copies to the Contracting Officer. The work plan shall include a detailed technical and staffing plan and a detailed cost estimate. Within __ calendar days after receipt of the work plan, the Contracting Officer will provide written approval or disapproval of it to the Contractor. If the Contractor has not received approval on a work plan within __ calendar days after its submission, the Contractor shall stop work on that work assignment. Also, if the Contracting Officer disapproves a work plan, the Contractor shall stop work until the problem causing the disapproval is resolved. In either case, the Contractor shall resume work only when the Contracting Officer finally approves the work plan.

(d) This clause does not change the requirements of the “Level of Effort” clause, nor the notification requirements of either the “Limitation of Cost” or “Limitation of Funds” clauses.

(e) Work assignments shall not allow for any change to the terms or conditions of the contract. Where any language in the work assignment may suggest a change to the terms or conditions, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer.

(f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of interest certification. Where work assignments or similar tasking documents are issued under this contract for work on or directly related to a site, the Contractor is only required to provide a conflict of interest certification for the first work assignment issued for that site. For all subsequent work on that site under this contract, the Contractor has a continuing obligation to search and report any actual or potential conflicts of interest, but no additional conflict of interest certifications are required.

Before submitting the conflict of interest certification, the contractor shall search its records accumulated, at a minimum, over the past three years immediately prior to the receipt of the work assignment or similar tasking document. In the COI certification, the Contractor must certify to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, that all actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest have been reported to the Contracting Officer or that to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, no actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest exist. In addition, the Contractor must certify that its personnel who perform work under this work assignment or relating to this work assignment have been informed of their obligation to report personal and organizational conflicts of interest to the Contractor. The certification shall also include a statement that the Contractor recognizes its continuing obligation to identify and report any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising during performance of this work assignment or other work related to this site.

(f) Within 20 days of receipt of the work assignment or similar tasking document, the Contractor shall provide a conflict of interest certification. Where work assignments or similar tasking documents are issued under this contract for work on or directly related to a site, the Contractor is only required to provide a conflict of interest certification for the first work assignment issued for that site. For all subsequent work on that site under this contract, the Contractor has a continuing obligation to search and report any actual or potential conflicts of interest, but no additional conflict of interest certifications are required.

Before submitting the conflict of interest certification, the contractor shall initially search through all of its available records to identify any actual or potential conflicts of interest. During the first three years of this contract, the contractor shall search through all records created since the beginning of the contract plus the records of the contractor prior to the award of the contract until a minimum of three years of records are accumulated. Once three years of records have accumulated, prior to certifying, the contractor shall search its records accumulated, at a minimum, over the past three years immediately prior to the receipt of the work assignment or similar tasking document. In the certification, the Contractor must certify to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, that all actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest have been reported to the Contracting Officer or that to the best of the Contractor's knowledge and belief, no actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest exist. In addition, the Contractor must certify that its personnel who perform work under this work assignment or relating to this work assignment have been informed of their obligation to report personal and organizational conflicts of interest to the Contractor. The certification shall also include a statement that the Contractor recognizes its continuing obligation to identify and report any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising during performance of this work assignment or other work related to this site.

The Contractor shall maintain accurate working files (by task or work assignment) on all work documentation including calculations, assumptions, interpretations of regulations, sources of information, and other raw data required in the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall provide the information contained in its working files upon request of the Contracting Officer.

The Contractor shall furnish to the Project Officer one (1) copy of any draft legal analysis. The Government will provide a response to the Contractor within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt. The Contractor shall not finalize the analysis until the Government has given approval.

(a) “Draft Report”—The Contractor shall submit to the Project Officer __ copies of the draft final report on or before __ (date) __ The Contractor shall furnish to the Contracting Officer a copy of the letter transmitting the draft. The draft shall be typed double-spaced or space-and-a-half and shall include all pertinent material required in the final report. The Government will review for approval or disapproval the draft and provide a response to the Contractor within __ calendar days after receipt. If the Government does not provide a response within the allotted review time, the Contractor immediately shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing.

(b) “Final Report”—The Contractor shall deliver a final report on or before the last day of the period of performance specified in the contract. Distribution is as follows:

All reports containing recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency shall include the following information on the cover of each report: (a) Name and business address of the contractor; (b) contract number; (c) contract dollar amount; (d) whether the contract was subject to full and open competition or a sole source acquisition; (e) name of the EPA Project Officer and the EPA Project Officer's office identification and location; and (f) date of report.

(a) Definition. Information Resources Management (IRM) is defined as any planning, budgeting, organizing, directing, training, promoting, controlling, and managing activities associated with the burden, collection, creation, use and dissemination of information. IRM includes both information itself, and the management of information and related resources such as personnel, equipment, funds, and technology. Examples of these services include but are not limited to the following:

(1) The acquisition, creation, or modification of a computer program or automated data base for delivery to EPA or use by EPA or contractors operating EPA programs.

(2) The analysis of requirements for, study of the feasibility of, evaluation of alternatives for, or design and development of a computer program or automated data base for use by EPA or contractors operating EPA programs.

(3) Services that provide EPA personnel access to or use of computer or word processing equipment, software, or related services.

(4) Services that provide EPA personnel access to or use of: Data communications; electronic messaging services or capabilities; electronic bulletin boards, or other forms of electronic information dissemination; electronic record-keeping; or any other automated information services.

(5) Services that are subject to the Brooks Act of 1965, as amended (Pub. L. 89-306).

(b) General. The Contractor shall perform any IRM related work under this contract in accordance with the IRM policies, standards and procedures set forth in this clause and noted below. Upon receipt of a work request (i.e. delivery order or work assignment), the Contractor shall check this listing of directives (see paragraph (d) for electronic access). The applicable directives for performance of the work request are those in effect on the date of issuance of the work request.

(1) IRM Policies, Standards and Procedures. The 2100 Series (2100-2199) of the Agency's Directive System contains the majority of the Agency's IRM policies, standards and procedures.

(2) Groundwater Program IRM Requirement. A contractor performing any work related to collecting Groundwater data; or developing or enhancing data bases containing Groundwater quality data shall comply with EPA Order 7500.1A—Minimum Set of Data Elements for Groundwater.

(3) EPA Computing and Telecommunications Services. The Enterprise Technology Services Division (ETSD) Operational Directives Manual contains procedural information about the operation of the Agency's computing and telecommunications services. Contractors performing work for the Agency's National Computer Center or those who are developing systems which will be operating on the Agency's national platforms must comply with procedures established in the Manual. (This document is only available through electronic access.)

(c) Printed Documents. Documents listed in (b)(1) and (b)(2) may be obtained from: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Administration Facilities Management and Services Division Distribution Section Mail Code: 3204 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 20460 Phone: (202) 260-5797

(d) Electronic access. (1) Internet. A complete listing, including full text, of documents included in the 2100 Series of the Agency's Directive System, as well as the two other EPA documents noted in this clause, is maintained on the EPA Public Access Server on the Internet. Gopher Access: gopher.epa.gov is the address to access the EPA Gopher. Select ‘menu keyword search’ from the menu and search on the term ‘IRM Policy’. Look for IRM Policy, Standards and Guidance. World Wide Web Access: http://www.epa.gov is the address for the EPA's www homepage. From the homepage, search on the term ‘IRM Policy’ and look for IRM Policy, Standards and Guidance.

(2) Dial-Up Modem. All documents, including the listing, are available for browsing and electronic download through a dial-up modem. Dial (919) 558-0335 for access to the menu that contains the listing for EPA policies. Set the communication parameters to 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8,N,1) Full Duplex, and the emulator to VT-100. The information is the same whether accessed through dial-up or the Internet. For technical assistance, call 1-800-334-2405.

(a) It is the general policy of the Environmental Protection Agency that Contractor or vendor prescribed leases or maintenance agreements for equipment will NOT be executed.

(b) Performance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the vendor's commercial lease, or customer service maintenance agreement, unless specified in the Schedule, may render the vendor's performance unacceptable, thereby permitting the Government to apply such contractual remedies as may be permitted by law, regulation, or the terms of this order.

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation as stated in the “Contract Award” provision. The other factors that will be considered are:

(a) The Government will perform source selection in accordance with FAR Part 15 and the EPA Source Evaluation and Selection Procedures in EPAAR Part 1515 (48 CFR Part 1515). The significant features of this procedure are:

(1) The Government will perform either cost analysis or price analysis of the offeror's cost/business proposal in accordance with FAR Parts 15 and 31, as appropriate. In addition, the Government will also evaluate proposals to determine contract cost or price realism.

Cost or price realism relates to an offeror's demonstrating that the proposed cost or price provides an adequate reflection of the offeror's understanding of the requirements of this solicitation, i.e., that the cost or price is not unrealistically low or unreasonably high.

(2) The Government will evaluate technical proposals as specified in 1552.215-71, Evaluation Factors for Award.

(b) In addition to evaluation of the previously discussed elements, the Government will consider in any award decision the responsibility factors set forth in FAR Part 9.

(a) The Government will make award to the responsible offeror(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the Government cost or other factors considered. For this solicitation, all evaluation factors other than cost or price when combined are significantly more important than cost or price.

(b) Evaluation factors and significant subfactors to determine quality of product or service:

(a) The Government will make award to the responsible offeror(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the Government cost or other factors considered. For this solicitation, all evaluation factors other than cost or price when combined are significantly less important than cost or price.

(b) Evaluation factors and significant subfactors to determine quality of product or service:

(a) The Government will make award to the offeror with the lowest-evaluated cost or price, whose proposal meets or exceeds the acceptability standards for non-cost factors. In the event that there are two or more technically acceptable, equal price (cost) offers, the Government will consider socioeconomic, environmental and other similar factors, as listed below in descending order of importance:

(a) Other than cost proposal instructions.

(1) Submit proposal for than cost factors as a separate part of the total proposal package. Omit all cost or pricing details from this proposal.

(2) Special proposal instructions:

Alternate I, Aug 1999. If the Government's requirement is a fully dedicated staff person for a twelve month period(s) for each specified position and performance is on a Government facility, add the following paragraph (b)(2)(x) to the basic provision:

(x) The level of effort for each position is to be proposed in work years. A work year is considered to consist of 2080 hours inclusive of direct and indirect time (40 hours per week × 52 weeks per year=2080 hours). The proposal must identify proposed work years and clearly identify how many hours in each work year are direct (i.e., productive working hours) and how many are indirect (i.e., paid absences). If the company policy includes a different base work week, the total available hours would be different. For example, if the company's policy calls for a 37.5 hour work week, offeror would deduct paid absences from 1950 hour (37.5 hours/week × 52 weeks/year=1950 hours). Offeror should clearly identify the paid absences as to how many hours are for holiday and how many hours are for vacation and sick leave. The amount of indirect time (paid absences) identified in the proposal must be consistent with company policy and must allow for the ten Federal government holidays.

Alternate II, Aug 1999. If the Government's requirement is a fully dedicated staff person for a twelve month period(s) for each specified position and performance is not on a Government facility; add the following paragraph (b)(2)(x) to the basic provision:

(x) The level of effort for each position is to be proposed in work years. A work year is considered to consist of 2080 hours inclusive of direct and indirect time (40 hours per week × 52 weeks per year=2080 hours). The proposal must identify proposed work years and clearly identify how many hours in each work year are direct (i.e., productive working hours) and how many are indirect (i.e., paid absences). If the company policy includes a different base work week, the total available hours would be different. For example, if the company's policy calls for a 37.5 hour work week, offeror would deduct paid absences from 1950 hour (37.5 hours/week × 52 weeks/year=1950 hours). Offeror should clearly identify the paid absences as to how many hours are for holiday and how many hours are for vacation and sick leave.

Alternate III, Aug 1999. If the requirement is for the acquisition of supplies or equipment, substitute the following paragraphs (a)(iv)—(viii) and add (a)(ix) and (b).

(iv) Provide information as to how the proposed supplies or equipment meet the salient characteristics required by the contract line item;

(v) Provide published brochures, catalogs, or other technical literature by contract line item;

(vi) Meet any interface or compatibility requirements by contract line item;

(vii) Describe warranty services and how delivered by contract line item;

(viii) Assumptions, deviations and exceptions (as necessary); and

(ix) Additional information.

(b) Supplies—Provide unit pricing by contract line items for:

(i) each line item;

(ii) delivery;

(iii) installation;

(iv) sets of operating manuals;

(v) training;

(vi) warranty;

(vii) maintenance; and

(viii) volume discounts.

(b) Address (If financial records are maintained at some other location, show the address of the place where the records are kept):

(a) The estimated cost of this contract is based upon the Contractor's proposal which specified that exempt personnel identified to work at the Contractor's facilities will provide uncompensated labor hours to the contract totaling XXXX percent of compensated labor. (Note: the commitment for uncompensated time, and the formula elements in paragraph (b) below, apply only to exempt personnel working at the Contractor's facilities and does not include non-exempt personnel or exempt personnel working at other facilities.) Uncompensated labor hours are defined as hours of exempt personnel in excess of regular hours for a XXXX pay period which are actually worked and recorded in accordance with the company policy, entitled, XXXXXXXX.

(b) Recognizing that the probable cost to the Government for the labor provided under this contract is calculated assuming a proposed level of uncompensated labor hours, it is hereby agreed that in the event the proposed level of uncompensated labor hours are not provided, an adjustment, calculated in accordance with the following formula will be made to the contract amount.

Formula:

Adjustment equals estimated value of uncompensated time hours not provided.

Target uncompensated time percent minus XXX percent.

Shortage of uncompensated time percent minus actual cost percent.

Estimated value of uncompensated time hours not provided equals shortage of uncompensated time percent times total exempt applicable direct labor costs (including applicable indirect costs).

(c) Within three weeks after the end of the contract, the Contractor shall submit a statement concerning the amount of uncompensated time hours delivered during the contract. In the event there is a shortage of uncompensated time hours provided, a calculation, utilizing the above formula will be made and this calculation will be the basis for an adjustment in the contract amount.

(d) In the event adjustments are made to the contract, the adjusted amounts shall not be allowable as a direct or indirect cost to this or any other Government contract.

Offerors or quoters are requested to provide information regarding the following items in sufficient detail to allow a full and complete business evaluation. If the question indicated is not applicable or the answer is none, it should be annotated. If the offeror has previously submitted the information, it should certify the validity of that data currently on file at EPA or update all outdated information on file.

(a) Contractor's Name: ____.

(b) Address (If financial records are maintained at some other location, show the address of the place where the records are kept):

(c) Telephone Number: ____.

(d) Individual(s) to contact re this proposal:

(a) The Government shall pay the contractor a base fee, if any, and such additional fee as may be earned, as provided in the award fee plan incorporated into the Schedule.

(b) Award fee determinations made by the Government under this contract are unilaterally determined by the Fee Determination Official (FDO). The amount of the award fee to be paid is determined by the Government's judgmental evaluation of the contractor's performance in terms of the criteria stated in the contract. This determination and the methodology for determining the award fee are unilateral decisions made solely at the discretion of the Government.

(c) The Government may unilaterally change the award fee plan at any time, via contract modification, at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the beginning of the applicable evaluation period. Changes issued in a unilateral modification are not subject to equitable adjustments, consideration, or any other renegotiation of the contract.

The Contractor is entitled to reimbursement for allowable, allocable costs incurred during the period of ______ to the award date of this contract in an amount not to exceed

(a) The Government will order any supplies and services to be furnished under this contract by issuing delivery orders on Optional Form 347, or any agency prescribed form, from ___ through ___. In addition to the Contracting Officer, the following individuals are authorized ordering officers.

The following fixed rates shall apply for payment purposes for the duration of the contact.

The rate, or rates, set forth above cover all expenses, including report preparation, salaries, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit.

The Contractor shall voucher for only the time of the personnel whose services are applied directly to the work called for in individual Delivery Orders and accepted by the EPA Project Officer. The Government shall pay the Contractor for the life of a delivery order at rates in effect when the delivery order was issued, even if performance under the delivery order crosses into another period. The Contractor shall maintain time and labor distribution records for all employees who work under the contract. These records must document time worked and work performed by each individual on all Delivery Orders.

(a) The term fee in this clause refers to either the fixed fee under a cost-plus-fixed-fee type contract, or the base fee under a cost-plus-award-fee type contract.

(b) The Government will make provisional fee payments on the basis of percentage of work completed. Percentage of work completed is the ratio of direct labor hours performed to the direct labor hours set forth in clause 1552.211-73, Level of Effort—Cost-Reimbursement Term Contract.

For the purpose of this solicitation, offerors shall propose a combination of base fee and award fee. Base fee shall not exceed 3% of the estimated cost, excluding fee, and the award fee shall not be less than XX% of the total estimated cost, excluding fee. The combined percentages of base and award fee shall not exceed XX% of the total estimated cost, excluding fee.

(a) The total estimated cost of performing the work under this contract is $____. The Contractor's share of this cost shall not exceed $____. The Government's share of this cost shall not exceed $____.

(b) For performance of the work under the contract, the Contractor shall be reimbursed for not more than ___ percent of the cost of performance determined to be allowable under the Allowable Cost and Payment clause. The remaining balance of allowable cost shall constitute the Contractor's share.

(c) Fee shall not be paid to the prime contractor under this cost-sharing contract.

(d) The Contractor shall maintain records of all costs incurred and claimed for reimbursement as well as any other costs claimed as part of its cost share. Those records shall be subject to audit by the Government.

(e) Costs contributed by the Contractor shall not be charged to the Government under any other contract, grant or agreement (including allocation to other contracts as part of an independent research and development program) nor be included as contributions under any other Federal contract.

For award purposes, in addition to an offeror's response to the basic requirement, the Government will evaluate its response to all options, both technical and cost. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the options. For this solicitation the options are as specified in section H.

The Government has the option to extend the term of this contract for ___ additional period(s). If more than 60 days remain in the contract period of performance, the Government, without prior written notification, may exercise this option by issuing a contract modification. To exercise this option within the last 60 days of the period of performance, the Government must provide to the Contractor written notification prior to that last 60-day period. This preliminary notification does not commit the Government to exercising the option. The Government's estimated level of effort is ___ direct labor hours for the first option period and ___ for the second. Use of an option will result in the following contract modifications:

(a) The “Period of Performance” clause will be amended to cover a base period from __ to —__ and option periods from __ to __ and __ to __.

(b) Paragraph (a) of the “Level of Effort” clause will be amended to reflect a new and separate level of effort of __ for the first option period and a new and separate level of effort of __ for the second option period.

(c) The “Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee” clause will be amended to reflect increased estimated costs and fixed fee for each option period as follows:

(d) If the contract contains “not to exceed amounts” for elements of other direct costs (ODC), those amounts will be increased as follows:

(a) The Government has the option to extend the term of this contract for ___ additional periods. If more than 60 days remain in the contract period of performance, the Government, without prior written notification, may exercise this option by issuing a contract modification. To exercise this option within the last 60 days of the period of performance, the Government must provide to the Contractor written notification prior to that last 60-day period. This preliminary notification does not commit the Government to exercising the option. The Government's estimated level of effort is ___ direct labor hours for the first option period and ___ for the second. Use of an option will result in the following contract modifications:

(b) The “Period of Performance” clause will be amended to cover a base period from __ to __ and option periods from __ to __ and __ to __.

(c) Paragraph (a) of the “Level of Effort” clause will be amended to reflect a new and separate level of effort of __ for the first option period and a new and separate level of effort of __ for the second option period.

(d) The “Estimated Cost Base Fee and Award Fee” clause will be amended to reflect increased estimated costs and base fee and award fee pool for each option period as follows:

(e) If this contract contains “not to exceed amounts” for elements of other direct costs (ODC), those amounts will be increased as follows:

(a) By issuing a contract modification, the Government may increase the estimated level of effort by ___ direct labor hours during the base period, ___ during the first option period, and ___ during the second option period. The Government may issue a maximum of ___ orders to increase the level of effort in blocks of ___ hours during any given period. The estimated cost and fixed fee of each block of hours is as follows:

(b) When these options are exercised, paragraph (a) of the “Level of Effort” clause and the “Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee” clause will be modified accordingly.

(c) If this contract contains “not to exceed amounts” for elements of other direct costs (ODCs), those amounts will be increased as follows:

(a) By issuing a contract modification, the Government may increase the estimated level of effort by ___ direct labor hours during the base period, ___ during the first option period, and ___ during the second option period. The Government may issue a maximum of ___ orders to increase the level of effort in blocks of ___ hours during any given period. The estimated cost, base fee, and award fee pool of each block of hours is as follows:

(b) When these options are exercised, paragraph (a) of the “Level of Effort” clause and the “Estimated Cost, Base Fee, and Award Fee” clause will be modified accordingly.

(c) If this contract contains “not to exceed amounts” for elements of other direct costs (ODCs), those amounts will be increased as follows:

(a) The Government has the option to extend the effective period of this contract for ___ additional period(s). If more than sixty (60) days remain in the contract effective period, the Government, without prior written notification, may exercise this option by issuing a contract modification. To unilaterally exercise this option within the last 60 days of the effective period, the Government must issue written notification of its intent to exercise the option prior to that last 60-day period. This preliminary notification does not commit the Government to exercising the option.

(b) If the option(s) are exercised, the “Ceiling Price” clause will be modified to reflect a new and separate ceiling price of $__ for the first option period and a new and seperate ceiling price of $__ for the second option period.

(c) The “Effective Period of the Contract” clause will be modified to cover a base period from ___ to ___ and option periods from ___ to ___ and ___ to ___.

(a) The Government has the option to extend the effective period of this contract for ___ additional period(s). If more than sixty (60) days remain in the contract effective period, the Government, without prior written notification, may exercise this option by issuing a contract modification. To unilaterally exercise this option within the last 60 days of the effective period, the Government must issue written notification of its intent to exercise the option prior to that last 60-day period. This preliminary notification does not commit the Government to exercising the option.

(b) If the options are exercised, the “Minimum and Maximum Contract Amount” clause will be modified to reflect new and separate minimums of ___ for the first option period and ___ for the second option period, and new and separate maximums of ___ for the first option period and ___ for the second option period.

(c) The “Effective Period of the Contract” clause will be modified to cover a base period from ___ to ___ and option periods from ___ to ___ and ___ to ___.

(a) The Contractor shall protect the rights and welfare of human subjects in accordance with the procedures specified in its current Institutional Assurance on file with the Agency. The Contractor shall certify at least annually that an appropriate institutional committee has reviewed and approved the procedures which involve human subjects in accordance with the appliable Institutional Assurance accepted by the Agency.

(b) The Contractor shall bear full responsibility for the proper and safe performance of all work and services involving the use of human subjects under this contract.

(a) Section 6041 of title 26 of the U.S. Code requires EPA to file Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099 with respect to individuals who receive payments from EPA under purchase orders or contracts. Section 6109 of title 26 of the U.S. Code authorizes collection by EPA of the social security numbers of such individuals for the purpose of filing IRS Form 1099. Social security numbers obtained for this purpose will be used by EPA for the sole purpose of filing IRS Form 1099 in compliance with section 6041 of title 26 of the U.S. Code.

(b) If the offeror or quoter is an individual, consultant, or sole proprietor and has no Employer Identification Number, insert the offeror's or quoter's social security number on the following line.

(a) The Contractor recognizes that Contractor employees in performing this contract may have access to data, either provided by the Government or first generated during contract performance, of a sensitive nature which should not be released to the public without Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval. Therefore, the Contractor agrees to obtain confidentiality agreements from all of its employees working on requirements under this contract.

(b) Such agreements shall contain provisions which stipulate that each employee agrees that the employee will not disclose, either in whole or in part, to any entity external to EPA, the Department of Justice, or the Contractor, any information or data (as defined in FAR Section 27.401) provided by the Government or first generated by the Contractor under this contract, any site-specific cost information, or any enforcement strategy without first obtaining the written permission of the EPA Contracting Officer. If a contractor, through an employee or otherwise, is subpoenaed to testify or produce documents, which could result in such disclosure, the Contractor must provide immediate advance notification to the EPA so that the EPA can authorize such disclosure or have the opportunity to take action to prevent such disclosure. Such agreements shall be effective for the life of the contract and for a period of five (5) years after completion of the contract.

(c) The EPA may terminate this contract for convenience, in whole or in part, if it deems such termination necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information to outside entities. If such a disclosure occurs without the written permission of the EPA Contracting Officer, the Government may terminate the contract, for default or convenience, or pursue other remedies as may be permitted by law or this contract.

(d) The Contractor further agrees to insert in any subcontract or consultant agreement placed hereunder, except for subcontracts or consultant agreements for well drilling, fence erecting, plumbing, utility hookups, security guard services, or electrical services, provisions which shall conform substantially to the language of this clause, including this paragraph, unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer.

In accordance with FAR 29.303 and FAR 31.205-41, the Contractor or any subcontractor under this contract shall not be reimbursed for payment of any State and local taxes for which an exemption is available. The Contractor is responsible for determining the availability of State and local tax exemptions and obtaining such exemptions, if available. The Contractor shall include this clause, suitably modified to identify the parties, in all subcontracts at any tier. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer if problems arise in obtaining a State and local tax exemption. The contractor may seek a waiver by the Contracting Officer from this requirement if the administrative burden of seeking an exemption appears to outweigh the potential savings to the Government.

The Government shall pay the Contractor as follows upon the submission of invoices or vouchers approved by the Contracting Officer:

(a) Hourly rate. (1) The amounts shall be computed by multiplying the appropriate hourly rates prescribed in the Schedule by the number of direct labor hours performed. The rates shall include wages, indirect costs, general and administrative expenses, and profit. Fractional parts of an hour shall be payable on a prorated basis. Vouchers may be submitted once each month (or at more frequent intervals, if approved by the Contracting Officer) to the paying office. The Contractor shall substantiate vouchers by evidence of actual payment and by individual daily job, timecards, or other substantiation approved by the Contracting Officer. Promptly after receipt of each substantiated voucher, the Government shall, except as otherwise provided in this contract and subject to the terms of paragraph (e) of this contract, pay the voucher as approved by the Contracting Officer.

(2) Unless otherwise prescribed in the Schedule, the Contracting Officer shall withhold 5 percent of the amounts due under this paragraph (a), but the total amount withheld shall not exceed $50,000. The amounts withheld shall be retained until the execution and delivery of a release by the Contractor as provided in paragraph (f) of this contract.

(3) Unless the Schedule prescribes otherwise, the hourly rates in the Schedule shall not be varied by virtue of the Contractor having performed work on an overtime basis. If no overtime rates are provided in the Schedule and overtime work is approved in advance by the Contracting Officer, overtime rates shall be negotiated. Failure to agree upon these overtime rates shall be treated as a dispute under the “Disputes” clause of this contract. If the Schedule provides rates for overtime the premium portion of those rates will be reimbursable only to the extent the overtime is approved by the Contracting Officer.

(b) Materials, other direct costs, and subcontracts. (1) The allowability of direct materials and other direct costs shall be determined by the Contracting Officer in accordance with subpart 31.2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in effect on the date of this contract. Reasonable and allocable material handling costs or indirect costs may be included in the charge for material or other direct costs to the extent they are clearly excluded from the hourly rate. Material handling and/or indirect cost rates are specified in the “Indirect Costs” clause. Material handling costs are comprised of indirect costs, including, when appropriate, general and administrative expense allocated to direct materials in accordance with the Contractor's usual accounting practices consistent with subpart 31.2 of the FAR. The Contractor shall be reimbursed for items and services purchased directly for the contract only when cash, checks, or other forms of actual payment have been made for such purchased items or services. Direct materials or other direct costs, as used in this clause, are those items which enter directly into the end product, or which are used or consumed directly in connection with the furnishing of the end product.

(2) Subcontracted effort may be included in the fixed hourly rates discussed in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause and will be reimbursed as discussed in that paragraph. Otherwise, the cost of subcontracts that are authorized under the subcontracts clause of this contract shall be reimbursable costs under this clause provided that the costs are consistent with paragraph (3) of this clause. Reimbursable costs in connection with subcontracts shall be limited to the amounts paid to the subcontractor in the same manner as for items and services purchased directly for the contract under paragraph (1) of this clause; however, this requirement shall not apply to a Contractor that is a small business concern. Reimbursable costs shall not include any costs arising from the letting, administration, or supervision of performance of the subcontract, if the costs are included in the hourly rates payable under paragraph (a)(1) of this clause.

(3) To the extent able, the Contractor shall (i) obtain materials at the most advantageous prices available with due regard to securing prompt delivery of satisfactory materials; and (ii) take all cash and trade discounts, rebates, allowances, credits, salvage, commissions, and other benefits. When unable to take advantage of the benefits, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer and give the reasons. Credit shall be given to the Government for cash and trade discounts, rebates, allowances, credits, salvage, the value of any appreciable scrap, commissions, and other amounts that have accrued to the benefit of the Contractor, or would have accrued except for the fault or neglect of the Contractor. The benefits lost without fault or neglect on the part of the Contractor, or lost through fault of the Government, shall not be deducted from gross costs.

(4) If the nature of the work to be performed requires the Contractor to furnish material which is regularly sold to the general public in the normal course of business by the Contractor, the price to be paid for such material, notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this contract, shall be on the basis of an established catalog or list price, in effect when the material is furnished, less all applicable discounts to the Government; provided, that in no event shall such price be in excess of the Contractor's sales price to its most favored customer for the same item in like quantity, or the current market price, whichever is lower.

(c) Contracting Officer notification. For contract administration purposes, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing when the total value of all delivery orders issued exceeds 85 percent of the maximum price specified in the schedule.

(d) Maximum amount. The Government shall not be obligated to pay the Contractor any amount in excess of the maximum amount in the Schedule, and the Contractor shall not be obligated to continue performance if to do so would exceed the maximum amount set forth in the Schedule, unless or until the Contracting Officer shall have notified the Contractor in writing that the maximum amount has been increased and shall have specified in the notice a revised maximum that shall constitute the maximum amount for performance under this contract. When and to the extent that the maximum amount set forth in the Schedule has been increased, any hours expended, and material or other direct costs incurred by the Contractor in excess of the maximum amount before the increase, shall be allowable to the same extent as if the hours expended and material costs had been incurred after the increase in the maximum amount.

(e) Audit. At any time before final payment under this contract, the Contracting Officer may request audit of the invoices or vouchers and substantiating material. Each payment previously made shall be subject to reduction to the extent of amounts, on preceding invoices or vouchers, that are found by the Contracting Officer not to have been properly payable and shall also be subject to reduction for overpayments or to increase for underpayments. Upon receipt and approval of the voucher or invoice designated by the Contractor as the “completion voucher” or “completion invoice” and substantiating material, and upon compliance by the Contractor with all terms of this contract (including, without limitation, terms relating to patents and the terms of paragraphs (f) and (g) of this clause), the Government shall promptly pay any balance due the Contractor. The completion invoice or voucher, and substantiating material, shall be submitted by the Contractor as promptly as practicable following completion of the work under this contract, but in no event, later than one year (or such longer period as the Contracting Officer may approve in writing) from the date of completion.

(f) Assignment. The Contractor, and each assignee under an assignment entered into under this contract and in effect at the time of final payment under this contract, shall execute and deliver, at the time of and as a condition precedent to final payment under this contract, a release discharging the Government, its officers, agents, and employees of and from all liabilities, obligations, and claims arising out of or under this contract, subject only to the following exceptions:

(1) Specified claims in stated amounts, or in estimated amounts if the amounts are not susceptible of exact statement by the Contractor.

(2) Claims, together with reasonable incidental expenses, based upon the liabilities of the Contractor to third parties arising out of performing this contract, that are not known to the Contractor on the date of the execution of the release, and of which the Contractor gives notice in writing to the Contracting Officer not more than 6 years after the date of the release or the date of any notice to the Contractor that the Government is prepared to make final payment, whichever is earlier.

(3) Claims for reimbursement of costs (other than expenses of the Contractor by reason of its indemnification of the Government against patent liability), including reasonable incidental expenses, incurred by the Contractor under the terms of this contract relating to patents.

(g) Refunds. The Contractor agrees that any refunds, rebates, or credits (including any related interest) accruing to or received by the Contractor or any assignee, that arise under the materials portion of this contract and for which the Contractor has received reimbursement, shall be paid by the Contractor to the Government. The Contractor and each assignee, under an assignment entered into under this contract and in effect at the time of final payment under this contract, shall execute and deliver, at the time of and as a condition precedent to final payment under this contract, an assignment to the Government of such refunds, rebates, or credits (including any interest) in form and substance satisfactory to the Contracting Officer.

Agency protests must be filed with the Contracting Officer in accordance with the requirements of FAR 33.103 (d) and (e). Within 10 calendar days after receipt of an adverse Contracting Officer decision, the protester may submit a written request for an independent review by the Head of the Contracting Activity. This independent review is available only as an appeal of a Contracting Officer decision on a protest. Accordingly, as provided in 4 CFR 21.2(a)(3), any protest to the GAO must be filed within 10 days of knowledge of the initial adverse Agency action.

(a) Whenever collecting information under this contract, the Contractor agrees to comply with the following requirements:

(1) If the Contractor collects information from public sources, such as books, reports, journals, periodicals, public records, or other sources that are available to the public without restriction, the Contractor shall submit a list of these sources to the appropriate program office at the time the information is initially submitted to EPA. The Contractor shall identify the information according to source.

(2) If the Contractor collects information from a State or local Government or from a Federal agency, the Contractor shall submit a list of these sources to the appropriate program office at the time the information is initially submitted to EPA. The Contractor shall identify the information according to source.

(3) If the Contractor collects information directly from a business or from a source that represents a business or businesses, such as a trade association:

(i) Before asking for the information, the Contractor shall identify itself, explain that it is performing contractual work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, identify the information that it is seeking to collect, explain what will be done with the information, and give the following notice:

(A) You may, if you desire, assert a business confidentiality claim covering part or all of the information. If you do assert a claim, the information will be disclosed by EPA only to the extent, and by means of the procedures, set forth in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B.

(B) If no such claim is made at the time this information is received by the Contractor, it may be made available to the public by the Environmental Protection Agency without further notice to you.

(C) The contractor shall, in accordance with FAR part 9, execute a written agreement regarding the limitations of the use of this information and forward a copy of the agreement to the Contracting Officer.

(ii) Upon receiving the information, the Contractor shall make a written notation that the notice set out above was given to the source, by whom, in what form, and on what date.

(iii) At the time the Contractor initially submits the information to the appropriate program office, the Contractor shall submit a list of these sources, identify the information according to source, and indicate whether the source made any confidentiality claim and the nature and extent of the claim.

(b) The Contractor shall keep all information collected from nonpublic sources confidential in accordance with the clause in this contract entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” as if it had been furnished to the Contractor by EPA.

(c) The Contractor agrees to obtain the written consent of the Contracting Officer, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, prior to entering into any subcontract that will require the subcontractor to collect information. The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (c), and the clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the subcontractor collect information.

(a) The Contracting Officer, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose confidential business information to the Contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor agrees to use the confidential information only under the following conditions:

(1) The Contractor and Contractor's Employees shall: (i) use the confidential information only for the purposes of carrying out the work required by the contract; (ii) not disclose the information to anyone other than EPA employees without the prior written approval of the Assistant General Counsel for Contracts and Information Law; and (iii) return to the Contracting Officer all copies of the information, and any abstracts or excerpts therefrom, upon request by the Contracting Officer, whenever the information is no longer required by the Contractor for the performance of the work required by the contract, or upon completion of the contract.

(2) The Contractor shall obtain a written agreement to honor the above limitations from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access.

(3) The Contractor agrees that these contract conditions concerning the use and disclosure of confidential information are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected business having a proprietary interest in the information.

(4) The Contractor shall not use any confidential information supplied by EPA or obtained during performance hereunder to compete with any business to which the confidential information relates.

(b) The Contractor agrees to obtain the written consent of the Contracting Officer, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, prior to entering into any subcontract that will involve the disclosure of confidential business information by the Contractor to the subcontractor. The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (b), in all subcontracts awarded, pursuant to this contract, that require the furnishing of confidential business information to the subcontractor.

In order to perform duties under the contract, the Contractor will need to be authorized for access to Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) confidential business information (CBI). The Contractor and all of its employees handling CBI while working under the contract will be required to follow the procedures contained in the security manual entitled “FIFRA Information Security Manual.” These procedures include applying for FIFRA CBI access authorization for each individual working under the contract who will have access to FIFRA CBI, execution of confidentiality agreements, and designation by the Contractor of an individual to serve as a Document Control Officer. The Contractor will be required to abide by those clauses contained in EPAAR 1552.235-70, 1552.235- 71, and 1552.235-77 that are appropriate to the activities set forth in the contract.

Until EPA has approved the Contractor's security plan, the Contractor may not be authorized for FIFRA CBI access away from EPA facilities.

In order to perform duties under the contract, the Contractor will need to be authorized for access to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) confidential business information (CBI). The Contractor and all of its employees handling CBI while working under the contract will be required to follow the procedures contained in the security manual entitled “TSCA Confidential Business Information Security Manual.” These procedures include applying for TSCA CBI access authorization for each individual working under the contract who will have access to TSCA CBI, execution of confidentiality agreements, and designation by the Contractor of an individual to serve as a Document Control Officer. The Contractor will be required to abide by those clauses contained in EPAAR 1552.235-70, 1552.235-71, and 1552.235-78 that are appropriate to the activities set forth in the contract.

Until EPA has inspected and approved the Contractor's facilities, the Contractor may not be authorized for TSCA CBI access away from EPA facilities.

(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose confidential business information (CBI) to the Contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor agrees to use the CBI only under the following conditions:

(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall (i) use the CBI only for the purposes of carrying out the work required by the contract; (ii) not disclose the information to anyone other than properly cleared EPA employees without the prior written approval of the Assistant General Counsel for Information Law or his/her designee; and (iii) return the CBI to the PO or his/her designee, whenever the information is no longer required by the Contractor for performance of the work required by the contract, or upon completion of the contract.

(2) The Contractor shall obtain a written agreement to honor the above limitations from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access.

(3) The Contractor agrees that these contract conditions concerning the use and disclosure of CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected businesses having a proprietary interest in the information.

(4) The Contractor shall not use any CBI supplied by EPA or obtained during performance hereunder to compete with any business to which the CBI relates.

(b) The Contractor agrees to obtain the written consent of the CO, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, prior to entering into any subcontract that will involve the disclosure of CBI by the Contractor to the subcontractor. The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (b), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.

The Contractor shall handle Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) confidential business information (CBI) in accordance with the contract clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” and “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality,” the provisions set forth below, and the Contractor's approved detailed security plan.

(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose FIFRA CBI to the contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall protect all FIFRA CBI to which it has access (including CBI used in its computer operations) in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the FIFRA Information Security Manual. The manual may be obtained from the Project Officer (PO) or the Chief, Information Services Branch (ISB), Program Management and Support Division, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) (H7502C), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

(2) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the Contractor's security plan(s) approved by EPA.

(3) Prior to receipt of FIFRA CBI by the Contractor, the Contractor shall ensure that all employees who will be cleared for access to FIFRA CBI have been briefed on the handling, control, and security requirements set forth in the FIFRA Information Security Manual.

(4) The Contractor Document Control Officer (DCO) shall obtain a signed copy of the FIFRA “Contractor Employee Confidentiality Agreement” from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access.

(b) The Contractor agrees that these requirements concerning protection of FIFRA CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected business having a proprietary interest in the information.

(c) The Contractor understands that CBI obtained by EPA under FIFRA may not be disclosed except as authorized by the Act, and that any unauthorized disclosure by the Contractor or the Contractor's employees may subject the Contractor and the Contractor's employees to the criminal penalties specified in FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136h(f)). For purposes of this contract, the only disclosures that EPA authorizes the Contractor to make are those set forth in the clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”

(d) The Contractor agrees to include the provisions of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.

(e) At the request of EPA or at the end of the contract, the Contractor shall return to the EPA PO or his/her designee all documents, logs, and magnetic media which contain FIFRA CBI. In addition, each Contractor employee who has received FIFRA CBI clearance will sign a “Confidentiality Agreement for Contractor Employees Upon Relinquishing FIFRA CBI Access Authority.” The Contractor DCO will also forward those agreements to the EPA PO or his/her designee, with a copy to the CO, at the end of the contract.

(f) If, subsequent to the date of this contract, the Government changes the security requirements, the CO shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract, in accordance with the “Changes” clause when:

(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and

(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.

The Contractor shall handle Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) confidential business information (CBI) in accordance with the contract clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information” and “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality.”

(a) The Project Officer (PO) or his/her designee, after a written determination by the appropriate program office, may disclose TSCA CBI to the contractor necessary to carry out the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall protect all TSCA CBI to which it has access (including CBI used in its computer operations) in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) The Contractor and Contractor's employees shall follow the security procedures set forth in the TSCA CBI Security Manual. The manual may be obtained from the Director, Information Management Division (IMD), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Prior to receipt of TSCA CBI by the Contractor, the Contractor shall ensure that all employees who will be cleared for access to TSCA CBI have been briefed on the handling, control, and security requirements set forth in the TSCA CBI Security Manual.

(2) The Contractor shall permit access to and inspection of the Contractor's facilities in use under this contract by representatives of EPA's Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management, and the TSCA Security Staff in the OPPT, or by the EPA Project Officer.

(3) The Contractor Document Control Officer (DCO) shall obtain a signed copy of EPA Form 7740-6, “TSCA CBI Access Request, Agreement, and Approval,” from each of the Contractor's employees who will have access to the information before the employee is allowed access. In addition, the Contractor shall obtain from each employee who will be cleared for TSCA CBI access all information required by EPA or the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for EPA to conduct a Minimum Background Investigation.

(b) The Contractor agrees that these requirements concerning protection of TSCA CBI are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both EPA and any affected business having a proprietary interest in the information.

(c) The Contractor understands that CBI obtained by EPA under TSCA may not be disclosed except as authorized by the Act, and that any unauthorized disclosure by the Contractor or the Contractor's employees may subject the Contractor and the Contractor's employees to the criminal penalties specified in TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2613(d)). For purposes of this contract, the only disclosures that EPA authorizes the Contractor to make are those set forth in the clause entitled “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”

(d) The Contractor agrees to include the provisions of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in all subcontracts awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of CBI to the subcontractor.

(e) At the request of EPA or at the end of the contract, the Contractor shall return to the EPA PO or his/her designee, all documents, logs, and magnetic media which contain TSCA CBI. In addition, each Contractor employee who has received TSCA CBI clearance will sign EPA Form 7740-18, “Confidentiality Agreement for Contractor Employees Upon Relinquishing TSCA CBI Access Authority.” The Contractor DCO will also forward those agreements to the EPA OPPT/IMD, with a copy to the CO, at the end of the contract.

(f) If, subsequent to the date of this contract, the Government changes the security requirements, the CO shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract, in accordance with the “Changes” clause, when:

(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and,

(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.

(a) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may find it necessary to release information submitted by the Contractor either in response to this solicitation or pursuant to the provisions of this contract, to individuals not employed by EPA. Business information that is ordinarily entitled to confidential treatment under existing Agency regulations (40 CFR Part 2) may be included in the information released to these individuals. Accordingly, by submission of this proposal or signature on this contract or other contracts, the Contractor hereby consents to a limited release of its confidential business information (CBI).

(b) Possible circumstances where the Agency may release the Contractor's CBI include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) To other Agency contractors tasked with assisting the Agency in the recovery of Federal funds expended pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607, as amended, (CERCLA or Superfund);

(2) To the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and contractors employed by DOJ for use in advising the Agency and representing the Agency in procedures for the recovery of Superfund expenditures;

(3) To parties liable, or potentially liable, for costs under CERCLA Sec. 107 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607), et al, and their insurers (Potentially Responsible Parties) for purposes of facilitating settlement or litigation of claims against such parties;

(4) To other Agency contractors who, for purposes of performing the work required under the respective contracts, require access to information the Agency obtained under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.1251 et seq.); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.); the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.); or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.);

(5) To other Agency contractors tasked with assisting the Agency in handling and processing information and documents in the administration of Agency contracts, such as providing both preaward and post award audit support and specialized technical support to the Agency's technical evaluation panels;

(6) To employees of grantees working at EPA under the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program;

(7) To Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, or Chairman of a Committee or Subcommittee;

(8) To entities such as the General Accounting Office, boards of contract appeals, and the Courts in the resolution of solicitation or contract protests and disputes;

(9) To Agency contractor employees engaged in information systems analysis, development, operation, and maintenance, including performing data processing and management functions for the Agency; and

(10) Pursuant to a court order or court-supervised agreement.

(c) The Agency recognizes an obligation to protect the contractor from competitive harm that may result from the release of such information to a competitor. (See also the clauses in this document entitled “Screening Business Information for Claims of Confidentiality” and “Treatment of Confidential Business Information.”) Except where otherwise provided by law, the Agency will permit the release of CBI under subparagraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (9) only pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.

(d) With respect to contractors, 1552.235-71 will be used as the confidentiality agreement. With respect to Potentially Responsible Parties, such confidentiality agreements may permit further disclosure to other entities where necessary to further settlement or litigation of claims under CERCLA. Such entities include, but are not limited to accounting firms and technical experts able to analyze the information, provided that they also agree to be bound by an appropriate confidentiality agreement.

(e) This clause does not authorize the Agency to release the Contractor's CBI to the public pursuant to a request filed under the Freedom of Information Act.

(f) The Contractor agrees to include this clause, including this paragraph (f), in all subcontracts at all levels awarded pursuant to this contract that require the furnishing of confidential business information by the subcontractor.

When required by the specifications or the Contracting Officer, samples, certificates, and test data shall be submitted after award of the contract, prepaid, in time for proper action by the Contracting Officer or his/her designated representative. Certificates and test data shall be submitted in triplicate to show compliance of materials and construction specified in the contract performance requirements. Samples shall be submitted in duplicate by the Contractor, except as otherwise specified, to show compliance with the contract requirements. Materials or equipment for which samples, certifications or test data are required shall not be used in the work until approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

(a) Material generated under this contract intended for release to the public is subject to the Agency's publication review process in accordance with the EPA Order on this subject and the following.

(b) Except as indicated in paragraph (c) of this contract, the Contractor shall not independently publish or print material generated under this contract until after completion of the EPA review process. The Project Officer will notify the Contractor of review completion within __ calendar days after the Contractor's transmittal to the Project Officer of material generated under this contract. If the Contractor does not receive Project Officer notification within this period, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing.

(c) The Contractor may publish, in a scientific journal, material resulting directly or indirectly from work performed under this contract, subject to the following:

(1) The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer and the Project Officer, at least 30 days prior to publication, a copy of any paper, article, or other dissemination of information intended for publication.

(2) The Contractor shall include the following statement in a journal article which has not been subjected to EPA review: “Although the research described in this article has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency contract (number) to (Name of Contractor), it has not been subject to the Agency's review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.”

(3) Following publication of the journal article, the Contractor shall submit five copies of the journal article to the Project Officer, and one copy to the Contracting Officer.

(d) If the Government has completed the review process and agreed that the contract material may be attributed to EPA, the Contractor shall include the following statement in the document:

This material has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract (number) to (name). It has been subject to the Agency's review, and it has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

(e) If the Government has completed the review process, but decides not to publish the material, the Contractor may independently publish and distribute the material for its own use and its own expense, and shall include the following statement in any independent publication:

Although the information described in this article has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract (number) to (name), it does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.

(a) The Project Officer will provide technical direction on contract performance. Technical direction includes:

(1) Direction to the Contractor which assists him in accomplishing the Statement of Work.

(2) Comments on and approval of reports or other deliverables.

(b) Technical direction must be within the contract Statement of Work. The Project Officer does not have the authority to issue technical direction which (1) institutes additional work outside the scope of the contract; (2) constitutes a change as defined in the “Changes” clause; (3) causes an increase or decrease in the estimated cost of the contract; (4) alters the period of performance; or (5) changes any of the other express terms or conditions of the contract.

(c) Technical direction will be issued in writing by the Project Officer or confirmed by him in writing within five (5) calendar days after verbal issuance.

(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel:

(a) The Contractor shall obtain the consent of the Contracting Officer prior to using any consultant on this contract. The Contractor shall determine whether any consultant that is used has in effect an agreement with another Federal agency for similar or like services and, if so, shall notify the Contracting Officer.

(b) The Contractor may use the following consultants for the period of time at the rate shown.

(a) The Contractor agrees to notify and obtain the verbal approval of the on-scene coordinator (or Project Officer) prior to releasing any information to the news media regarding the removal or remedial activities being conducted under this contract.

(b) It is also agreed that the Contractor shall acknowledge EPA support whenever the work funded in whole or in part by this contract is publicized in any news media.

If it is established at award or subsequently becomes a contractual requirement to collect identical information from ten (10) or more public respondents, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. applies. In that event, the Contractor shall not take any action to solicit information from any of the public respondents until notified in writing by the Contracting officer that the required Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final clearance was received.

(a) The Government and the Contractor understand and agree that the services to be delivered under this contract by the contractor to the Government are non-personal services and the parties recognize and agree that no employer-employee relationship exists or will exist under the contract between the Government and the Contractor's personnel. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government to afford both parties a full understanding of their respective obligations.

(b) Contractor personnel under this contract shall not:

(1) Be placed in a position where they are under the supervision, direction, or evaluation of a Government employee.

(2) Be placed in a position of command, supervision, administration or control over Government personnel, or over personnel of other Contractors under other EPA contracts, or become a part of the Government organization.

(3) Be used in administration or supervision of Government procurement activities.

(c) Employee relationship. (1) The services to be performed under this contract do not require the Contractor or his/her personnel to exercise personal judgment and discretion on behalf of the Government. Rather the Contractor's personnel will act and exercise personal judgment and discretion on behalf of the Contractor.

(2) Rules, regulations, directives, and requirements that are issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its responsibility for good order, administration, and security are applicable to all personnel who enter the Government installation or who travel on Government transportation. This is not to be construed or interpreted to establish any degree of Government control that is inconsistent with a non-personal services contract.

(d) Inapplicability of employee benefits. This contract does not create an employer-employee relationship. Accordingly, entitlements and benefits applicable to such relationships do not apply.

(1) Payments by the Government under this contract are not subject to Federal income tax withholdings.

(2) Payments by the Government under this contract are not subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

(3) The Contractor is not entitled to unemployment compensation benefits under the Social Security Act, as amended, by virtue of performance of this contract.

(4) The Contractor is not entitled to workman's compensation benefits by virtue of this contract.

(5) The entire consideration and benefits to the Contractor for performance of this contract is contained in the provisions for payment under this contract.

(e) Notice. It is the Contractor's, as well as, the Government's responsibility to monitor contract activities and notify the Contracting Officer if the Contractor believes that the intent of this clause has been or may be violated.

(1) The Contractor should notify the Contracting Officer in writing promptly, within XXXX (to be negotiated and inserted into the basic contract at contract award) calendar days from the date of any incident that the Contractor considers to constitute a violation of this clause. The notice should include the date, nature and circumstance of the conduct, the name, function and activity of each Government employee or Contractor official or employee involved or knowledgeable about such conduct, identify any documents or substance of any oral communication involved in the conduct, and the estimate in time by which the Government must respond to this notice to minimize cost, delay or disruption of performance.

(2) The Contracting Officer will promptly, within XXXX (to be negotiated and inserted into the basic contract at contract award) calendar days after receipt of notice, respond to the notice in writing. In responding, the Contracting Officer will either:

(i) Confirm that the conduct is in violation and when necessary direct the mode of further performance,

(ii) Countermand any communication regarded as a violation,

(iii) Deny that the conduct constitutes a violation and when necessary direct the mode of further performance; or

(iv) In the event the notice is inadequate to make a decision, advise the Contractor what additional information is required, and establish the date by which it should be furnished by the Contractor and the date thereafter by which the Government will respond.

(a) The Contractor shall provide computer products that meet EPA Energy Star requirements for energy efficiency. By acceptance of this contract, the Contractor certifies that all microcomputers, including personal computers, monitors, and printers to be provided under this contract meet EPA Energy Star requirements for energy efficiency.

(b) The Contractor shall ship all products with the standby feature activated or enabled.

(c) The Contractor shall provide models that have equivalent functionality to similar non-power managed models. This functionality should include as a minimum:

(1) The ability to run commercial off-the-shelf software both before and after recovery from a low power state, including retention of files opened (with no loss of data) before the power management feature was activated.

(2) If equipment will be used on a local area network (LAN), the contractor shall provide equipment that is fully compatible with network environments, e.g., personal computers resting in a low-power state should not be disconnected from the network.

(d) The contractor shall provide monitors that are capable of being powered down when connected to the accompanying personal computer.

(a) In accordance with paragraph (d) of the “Allowable Cost and Payment” clause, the final indirect cost rates applicable to this contract shall be established between the Contractor and the appropriate Government representative (EPA, other Government agency, or auditor), as provided by FAR 42.703-1(a). EPA's procedures require a Contracting Officer determination of indirect cost rates for its contracts. In those cases where EPA is the cognizant agency (see FAR 42.705-1), the final rate proposal shall be submitted to the cognizant audit activity and to the following designated Contracting Officer: Environmental Protection Agency, Chief, Cost Policy and Rate Negotiation Branch (3804F), Cost Advisory and Financial Analysis Division, Washington, DC 20460.

(b) Until final annual indirect cost rates are established for any period, the Government shall reimburse the contractor at billing rates established by the appropriate Government representative in accordance with FAR 42.704, subject to adjustment when the final rates are established. The established billing rates are currently as follows:

These billing rates may be prospectively or retroactively revised by mutual agreement, at the request of either the Government or the Contractor, to prevent substantial overpayment or underpayment.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause, ceilings are hereby established on indirect costs reimbursable under this contract. The Government shall not be obligated to pay the Contractor any additional amount on account of indirect costs in excess of the ceiling rates listed below:

In addition to the requirements of the “Government Property” clause, the Contractor shall certify in writing that any Government-furnished property or Contractor-acquired property is returned to the Government free from contamination by any hazardous or toxic substances.

(a) The Government shall deliver to the Contractor the Government-furnished data described in the contract. If the data, suitable for its intended use, is not delivered to the Contractor, the Contracting Officer shall equitably adjust affected provisions of this contract in accordance with the “Changes” clause when:

(1) The Contractor submits a timely written request for an equitable adjustment; and

(2) The facts warrant an equitable adjustment.

(b) Title to Government-furnished data shall remain in the Government.

(c) The Contractor shall use the Government-furnished data only in connection with this contract.

(d) The following data will be furnished to the Contractor on or about the time indicated:

The Contractor shall not fabricate nor acquire under this contract, either directly or indirectly through a subcontract, any item of nonexpendable property without written approval from the Contracting Officer.

Each offeror, as a separate and identifiable part of its technical proposal, shall submit a Quality Assurance (QA) program plan setting forth the offeror's capability for quality assurance. The plan shall address the following:

(a) A statement of policy concerning the organization's commitment to implement a Quality Control/Quality Assurance program to assure generation of measurement data of adequate quality to meet the requirements of the Statement of Work.

(b) An organizational chart showing the position of a QA function or person within the organization. It is highly desirable that the QA function or person be independent of the functional groups which generate measurement data.

(c) A delineation of the authority and responsibilities of the QA function or person and the related data quality responsibilities of other functional groups of the organization.

(d) The type and degree of experience in developing and applying Quality Control/Quality Assurance procedures to the proposed sampling and measurement methods needed for performance of the Statement of Work.

(e) The background and experience of the proposed personnel relevant to accomplish the QA specifications in the Statement of Work.

(f) The offeror's general approach for accomplishing the QA specifications in the Statement of Work.

The offeror, as a separate and identifiable part of its technical proposal, shall submit a Quality Assurance (QA) project plan which shall describe specific procedures and responsibilities needed to accomplish the QA specifications in the Statement of Work. The project plan shall consist of the following form and content:

(a) Title page, with provision for approval signatures.

(b) Table of contents.

(c) Project description.

(d) Project organization(s) and responsibilities.

(e) Quality Assurance objectives for measurement data, in terms of precision, accuracy, completeness, representativeness and comparability.

(f) Sampling procedures.

(g) Sample custody.

(h) Calibration procedures, references, and frequency.

(i) Analytical procedures.

(j) Data reduction, validation, and reporting.

(k) Internal quality control checks and frequency.

(l) Quality assurance performance audits, system audits, and frequency.

(m) Quality Assurance reports to management.

(n) Preventive maintenance procedures and schedules.

(o) Specific procedures to be used in routinely assessing data precision and accuracy, representativeness, comparability, and completeness of the specific measurement parameters involved.

(p) Correction action.

(a) The Contractor shall submit to the Project Officer __ copies of a Draft Project Plan for Quality Assurance within __ days after the effective date of the contract.

(b) The Government will review and return the Draft Project Plan indicating approval or disapproval, and comments, if necessary, within ___ calendar days. In the event the government delays review and return of the Draft Project Plan beyond the period specified, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing. The Contractor shall deliver the Final Project Plan within ___ days after the effective date of the contract.

(c) The Contracting Officer will incorporate the approved Quality Assurance Project Plan into the contract.