authority and responsibility for the architectural, engineering, and other technical or administrative aspects of design and construction. Statutory cost limitations, as used in this part, means the cost limits that may be included in the agency's statutory authorization or annual appropriations act (by law). Subpart 536.2-Special Aspects of Contracting for Construction 536.201 Evaluation of contractor per formance. (a) The construction activity shall prepare a performance report for each construction contract of $25,000 or more, and each construction contract where any element of performance was unsatisfactory or outstanding. (b) Each regional construction activity shall establish an evaluation report file with procedures for maintaining alphabetically the evaluation reports, for cross referencing all names under which a contractor does business with GSA, and for ensuring that fully qualified personnel possessing the knowledge of the contractor's performance prepare and review the evaluation reports. [58 FR 52445, Oct. 8, 1993] 536.202 Specifications. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. 6962, the Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated rules in 40 CFR Parts 248 and 249, regarding the use of certain waste by-products as generally acceptable substitutes for energy-intensive raw materials. The rules provide that when certain construction material containing energy intensive raw material is required that the technical specification allows as an alternate, construction material containing certain waste byproducts. However, specifications should not be revised to allow the use of the alternate material if it is found that performance requirements for the construction material would not be met or that the use of the alternate material would be unsatisfactory for technical reasons. 536.203 Government estimate of construction cost. (a) A copy of the independent Government estimate must be sealed in an envelope and submitted to the contracting officer before the date and time for bid opening or the date for receipt of proposals. (See paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.) (b) If the procurement is by sealed bidding, the sealed copy of the Government estimate must be stored with the bids received until bid opening. Before releasing an amendment to a solicitation that may affect the price, a revised sealed Government estimate must be stored with the bids until bid opening. After the bids are read and recorded, the sealed Government estimate will be opened and retained with abstract of offers (See Optional Forms 1419 and 1419A). However, the Government's estimate must not be disclosed until after award. Immediately after award the Government estimate must be recorded on the abstract of offers as the Independent Government Estimate. (c) If the procurement is by negotiation, the sealed copy of the Government estimate must be stored with the proposals until the closing time for receipt of proposals. Cost figures in the Government estimate may be disclosed during negotiation, but only to the extent considered necessary for arriving at a fair and reasonable price, provided that the overall amount of the Government estimate is not disclosed before award. Before the release of a modification to the solicitation which may affect price, a revised Government estimate must be prepared, sealed, and stored, with the proposals until closing time for proposals. After award, the Government independent estimated price may be revealed, upon request, to those firms or individuals who submitted proposals. (d) The Government estimate must be used to evaluate offers, as a guide in conducting contract negotiations or negotiations of contract modifications, and as a tool for determining the reasonableness of prices. [58 FR 52445, Oct. 8, 1993] A a (a) The base bid must include all features that are essential to a sound and adequate building design. However, if it appears that funds available for project may be insufficient to include all desired features in the base bid, the contracting officer may issue a solicitation for a base bid and include one or more alternates in the order of priority. Alternates may be used only when they are clearly justified and should involve substantial amounts of work in relation to the base bid. Their use must be limited and should involve only "add" alternates. (b) The language used in soliciting alternates must be approved in writing by counsel. (c) Before opening bids that include alternates, the contracting officer shall determine and record in the contract file the amount of funds available for the project. The amount recorded must be announced at the beginning of the bid opening and must be the controlling factor in determining the low bidder. This amount may be increased later when determining the alternate items to be awarded to the low bidder, provided that the award amount of the base bid plus the combination of alternate items do not exceed the amount offered by any other responsible bidder whose bid conforms to the solicitation for the base bid and the same combination of alternate items. [58 FR 52445, Oct. 8, 1993] 536.303-71 Bids that include options. (a) Subject to the limitations in paragraph (c) of this section, the contracting officer may include options in contracts when it is in the Government's interest. (b) The appropriate use of options may include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) When additional work is anticipated but funds are not expected to be available at the time of award, and it would not be practicable to award a separate contract or to permit an additional contractor to work on the same site. (2) When fixed building equipment, e.g. elevators, escalators, etc., will be installed under the construction contract and it is advantageous to have the installer of the equipment maintain and service the equipment during the warranty period. (c) The contracting officer shall not employ options if: (1) The prospective option represents known firm requirements for which funds are available unless competition for the option quantity is impracticable once the initial contract is awarded; or (2) The contractor will incur undue risks; e.g., the price or availability of necessary materials or labor is not reasonably foreseeable. (d) Solicitations containing option provisions must state the period within which the options may be exercised. (e) The solicitations must state whether the basis of award is inclusive or exclusive of the options. Before a solicitation that includes evaluated options is issued, the contracting officer shall make a determination that there is reasonable certainty that funds will be made available to permit exercise of the option. (f) The language of all solicitation provisions for options must be approved, in writing, by counsel. [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 58 FR 52445, Oct. 8, 1993] 536.303-72 Bids that include alternates and options. (a) Solicitations may include alternates and options when the conditions in 536.303-70, Bids that include alternates, and 536.303-71, Bids that include options, are satisfied. In such solicitations, the low bidder for purposes of award is the responsible bidder offering the lowest aggregate price for the base bid plus those alternates in the order of priority listed in the solicitation that provide the most features of work within the funds available at bid opening, plus all options designated to be evaluated. (b) In the case of options associated with alternates, the basis of award may require the evaluation of such options if the related alternate is selected. (c) Before opening bids that include alternates and options, the contracting officer shall determine and record in the contract file the amount of funds available for the project (i.e., for the base bid and alternate work). The amount recorded must be announced at the beginning of the bid opening. This amount may be increased later when determining the alternate items to be awarded to the low bidder, provided that the award amount of the base bid and evaluated options plus such a combination of alternate items does not exceed the amount offered by any other responsible bidder whose bid conforms to the solicitation for the base bid, the evaluated options, and the same combination of alternate items. [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 58 FR 52445, Oct. 8, 1993] 536.370 Exercise of options. (a) When exercising an option, the contracting officer shall notify the contractor, in writing, within the time period specified in the contract. (b) The contracting officer may exercise options only after determining that: (1) Funds are available; (2) The requirement covered by the option fulfills an existing Government need; and (3) The exercise of the option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the Government's need, price and other factors considered. (c) Before exercising an option, the contracting officer shall determine that such action is in accordance with the terms of the option and the requirements of this section. The written determination must be included in the contract file. (d) The contract modification or other written document which notifies the contractor of the exercise of the option must cite the option clause as authority. In addition, when exercising an unpriced and/or unevaluated option cite the statutory authority permitting the use of other than full and open competition (see FAR 6.302 and 517.207). Subpart 536.5-Contract Clauses 536.570 Supplemental provisions and clauses. 536.570-1 Definitions. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236-70, Definitions, in solicitations and contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is contemplated. 536.570-2 Authorities and limitations. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236–71, Authorities and Limitations, in solicitations and contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is contemplated and the contract amount is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 60 FR 42804, Aug. 17, 1995] 536.570-3 Specialist. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236-72, Specialist, in construction contracts when the technical sections of the contract require unusual experience or specialized facilities for adequate contract perform ance. 536.570-4 Basis of award-construction contract. The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provisions at 552.236-73, Basis of Award-Construction Contract, in solicitations for fixed price construction contracts except when: (a) The solicitation requires the submission of a lump sum bid only; (b) The solicitation is for an indefinite quantity contract; or (c) The contract amount is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. If the solicitation requests the submission of a base bid and unit prices, the contracting officer shall use the basic provision. If the solicitation requests the submission of a base bid and options the contracting officer shall use the provision with its Alternate I. If the solicitation requests the submission of a base bid and alternates, the contracting officer shall use the provision with its Alternate II. If the solicitation requests the submission of a base bid, alternates, and options, the contracting officer shall use the provision with its Alternate III. [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 60 FR 42804, Aug. 17, 1995] 536.570-5 Working hours. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236–74, Working Hours, in solicitations and contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is contemplated and the contract amount is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 60 FR 42804, Aug. 17, 1995] 536.570-6 Use of premises. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236-75, Use of Premises, in solicitations and contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is contemplated. 536.570-7 Measurements. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236–76, Measurements, in solicitations and contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is contemplated. 536.570-8 Specifications and drawings. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236–77, Specifications and Drawings, in contracts when construction, dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements is templated and the contract is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. con [54 FR 26548, June 23, 1989, as amended at 60 FR 42804, Aug. 17, 1995] 536.570-9 Shop drawings, coordination drawings, and schedules. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 552.236-78, Shop Drawings, |