I have some extenuating circumstances that have caused my contract to expire beyond the option period and the allowable 6 month extension.  For political reasons a replacement contract is not a viable option... Please help.

By Vern Edwards on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 11:17 am:

Help? Help how?

If it's a service contract and you can't live without the services while you conduct a competitive acquisition, then you'll either have to extend the existing contract without competiton or you'll have to go without.

Read FAR Part 6 and then do what you have to do.

By Anonymous on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 12:54 pm:

Anon,

Generally, if you put out a synopsis for a bridge, no one will object as long as (1) the term and the amount of the bridge are not unreasonable and (2) you clearly intend to go ahead with competitive follow-on.

Can you get these services using GSA schedule?

By John Ford on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 03:48 pm:

Anon 10:49, when you say a replacement contract is not an option, do you mean a replacement contract or a replacement contractor? It looks to me like you have no choice but to enter into a replacement contract.

By anon1 on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 10:31 am:

Sorry John, but I have to agree with what Vern said. There's always a way

By John Ford on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 10:56 am:

Anon1, a way to do what? As I read what Vern has said, when he refers to FAR Part 6 and extend your contract, he is talking about a new sole source procurement, but using your existing contract as the vehicle instead of writing an entirely new document. I may be misstating his position again, but if your contract has expired, there is simply nothing to extend. Your present contract is over based on what you said previously. Stating this another way, what in your contract allows you to extend it further? If nothing, then any extension must be the result of a sole source procurement. Technically, this results in a new contract although you may mod your existing contract as a matter of administrative convenience.

By Vern Edwards on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 11:24 am:

Whether the contract is still in effect or has expired, whether you mod the existing contract or write a new one, you're facing a new procurement, since it would be beyond the scope of the original contract to extend the performance period in order to acquire services in a new period of time (as opposed to giving the contractor more time to complete the original work).

Either way, if you are going to acquire services in a new period you must do so in accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act, unless exempt, and if you are not going to seek full and open competition then you must justify it and obtain approval in accordance with FAR Part 6.