§4105 Advisory and assistance services

Summary

Agency heads may enter into task-order contracts to buy advisory and assistance services, but they must follow these rules and other laws (including section 4106). Advisory and assistance services — same meaning as in 31 U.S.C. 1105(g). Contracts (including options and extensions) generally may not run more than 5 years unless another law allows a longer period. Public notice must describe the general scope, size, and length of the planned contract so firms can decide whether to ask for the solicitation. Solicitations and the resulting contracts must include the service information called for in section 4103(b). One solicitation can lead to separate contracts for the same or similar services to two or more companies if the solicitation says so. If a contract will last more than 3 years and is estimated to exceed $10,000,000 (including options), the solicitation must allow multiple awards and must say the agency may award only one contract if it writes that only one offeror can meet the required quality. A task order cannot itself increase the contract’s scope, time, or maximum value; increases must be made by modifying the contract and generally must be done competitively unless an exception applies. The agency may extend a contract once, on a sole-source basis, for up to 6 months if an unforeseeable delay in awarding a follow-on contract would otherwise interrupt needed services. These rules do not apply when advisory and assistance services are only incidental and not a significant part of a larger contract.