SUBPART 208.7—ACQUISITION FROM THE BLIND AND OTHER SEVERELY HANDICAPPED

subpart 208.6--ACQUISITION FROM FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Revised December 15, 2003)

208.601- Definitions
208.602 Policy
208.606 Exceptions
208.670 Performance
208.671 Protection

208.601-70 Definitions.

As used in this subpart—

“Competitive procedures” includes the procedures in FAR 6.102, the set-aside procedures in FAR Subpart 19.5, and competition conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13.

“Market research” means obtaining specific information about the price, quality, and time of delivery of products available in the private sector and may include techniques described in FAR 10.002(b)(2).

208.602 Policy.

(a)(i) Before purchasing a product listed in the FPI Schedule, conduct market research to determine whether the FPI product is comparable to products available from the private sector that best meet the Government’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery (10 U.S.C. 2410n). This is a unilateral determination made at the discretion of the contracting officer. The procedures of FAR 8.605 do not apply.

(ii) Prepare a written determination that includes supporting rationale explaining the assessment of price, quality, and time of delivery, based on the results of market research comparing FPI products to those available from the private sector.

(iii) If the FPI product is comparable, follow the policy at FAR 8.602(a).

(iv) If the FPI product is not comparable in one or more of the areas of price, quality, and time of delivery—

(A) Acquire the product using—

(1) Competitive procedures; or

(2) The fair opportunity procedures in FAR 16.505, if placing an order under a multiple award task or delivery order contract;

(B) Include FPI in the solicitation process and consider a timely offer from FPI for award in accordance with the requirements and evaluation factors in the solicitation, including solicitations issued using small business set-aside procedures; and

(1) Establish and communicate to FPI the requirements and evaluation factors that will be used as the basis for selecting a source, so that an offer from FPI can be evaluated on the same basis as the schedule holder; and

(2) Consider a timely offer from FPI.

208.606 Exceptions.

For DoD, FPI clearances also are not required when—

(1) The contracting officer makes a determination that the FPI product is not comparable to products available from the private sector that best meet the Government’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery; and

(2) The procedures at 208.602(a)(iv) are used.

208.670 Performance as a subcontractor.

Do not require a contractor, or subcontractor at any tier, to use FPI as a subcontractor for performance of a contract by any means, including means such as—

(a) A solicitation provision requiring a potential contractor to offer to make use of FPI products or services;

(b) A contract specification requiring the contractor to use specific products or services (or classes of products or services) offered by FPI; or

208.671 Protection of classified and sensitive information.

Do not enter into any contract with FPI that allows an inmate worker access to any—

(a) Classified data;

(b) Geographic data regarding the location of—

(1) Surface and subsurface infrastructure providing communications or water or electrical power distribution;

(2) Pipelines for the distribution of natural gas, bulk petroleum products, or other commodities; or

(3) Other utilities; or

(c) Personal or financial information about any individual private citizen, including information relating to such person’s real property however described, without the prior consent of the individual.