§3405 Task Order Contracts: Advisory and Assistance Services

Summary

Agency heads may use task order contracts to buy advisory and assistance services (advisory and assistance services = consulting and support work under 31 U.S.C. 1105(g); task order contract = a master contract that orders specific tasks under 10 U.S.C. 3401). They can do this only under the rules in this law and related rules. A contract made this way normally cannot last more than five years unless another law says a longer time is allowed. Notices about a planned contract must fairly describe the general scope, size, and length so companies can decide whether to ask for the full solicitation. The solicitation and the contract must include the service information the law requires. One solicitation can lead to more than one award if the solicitation says so. If a contract will run more than three years and is expected to be over $10,000,000, the solicitation must allow multiple awards unless the agency writes that only one offeror can meet the quality needed or the work is unique. A task order cannot by itself make the contract bigger, longer, or more valuable — only a contract modification can do that, and competition and notice rules apply unless a specific exception is approved. An agency may extend a contract without competition one time for up to six months if an unforeseeable delay would otherwise interrupt needed services. These rules do not apply when advisory work is only incidental and not a major part of a larger buy.