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This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for contractor use and rental of Government production and research property.
In performing Government contracts or subcontracts, Government production and research property in the possession of contractors or subcontractors shall be used to the greatest possible extent, provided that a competitive advantage is not conferred on the contractor or its subcontractors (see Subpart 45.2). Prior approval of the contracting officer having cognizance of Government production and research property is required for any use, whether Government or non-Government, to ensure that the Government receives adequate consideration. Government use is defined as use in support of U.S. Government contracts and non-Government use is all other use (including direct commercial sales to domestic and foreign customers). As a general rule, Government use is on a rent-free basis. Non-Government use is on a rental basis. When Government production and research property is no longer required for the performance of Government contracts or subcontracts, it shall not continue to be made available to a contractor for non-Government use.
(a) Contracting officers who believe it to be in the Government’s interest for a prospective contractor or subcontractor to use existing Government production and research property shall authorize such use in the contract. The contracting officer shall confirm the availability of the property before authorizing its use on either a rental or rent-free basis.
(b) Unless the solicitation provides for the successful offeror to use Government production and research property in the offeror’s possession, the solicitation shall require any offeror desiring to use such property to request the written concurrence of the contracting officer cognizant of the property. To preclude a competitive advantage, the contracting officer’s concurrence should include any information required by Subpart 45.2.
(c) The contracting officer shall review the contractor’s request for non-Government use of Government production and research property when the property is no longer required for performing Government contracts but is retained for spares or for mobilization and readiness requirements. (Also see 45.302-1(b)(3).)
(a) The contracting officer shall charge contractors rent for using Government production and research property, except as prescribed in 45.404 and 45.405. Rent shall be computed in accordance with the clause at 52.245-9, Use and Charges. If the agency head determines it to be in the Government’s interest, an alternative method for computing rent may be used.
(b) The contracting officer shall ensure the collection of any rent due the Government from the contractor.
(a) The rental required by 45.403 does not apply to the following Government production and research property:
(1) That which is located in Government-owned, contractor-operated plants operated on a cost-plus-fee basis (but see 45.405).
(2) That which is left in place or installed on contractor-owned property for mobilization or future Government production purposes. However, rent computed in accordance with 45.403(a) shall apply to that portion of property or its capacity used or authorized for use.
(3) Items of equipment that are part of a general program approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and present unusual problems in relation to the time required for their preparation for shipment, installation, and operation because of size, complexity, or performance characteristics.
(4) Any other Government production and research property that may be excepted by FEMA.
(b) The contracting officer cognizant of the Government production and research property may grant written authorization for rent-free use of production and research property in the possession of nonprofit organizations when used for research, development, or educational work and—
(1) The use of the property is directly or indirectly in the national interest;
(2) The property will not be used for the direct benefit of a profit-making organization; and
(3) The Government receives some direct benefit (such as rights to use the results of the work without charge) from its use. As a minimum, the contractor shall furnish a report on the work for which the property was provided.
(c) If the contracting officer has obtained adequate price or other consideration, Government production and research property may also be used rent-free under—
(1) Prime contracts that specifically authorize such use without charge; and
(2) Subcontracts of any tier, if the contracting officer awarding the prime contract has specifically authorized rent-free use by the subcontractor.
(d) After award, a contract may be modified to eliminate rent for using Government production and research property. In this case, the contract shall be equitably adjusted to reflect the elimination of rent and any other amount attributable thereto.
Requests by, or for the benefit of, foreign governments or international organizations to use Government production and research property shall be processed and costs shall be recovered or rental charged in accordance with agency procedures.
The contracting officer cognizant of Government production and research property in the possession of a contractor may authorize a contractor to use the property on an independent research and development (IR&D) program, if—
(a) Such use will not conflict with the primary use of the property or enable the contractor to retain property that could otherwise be released;
(b) The contractor agrees not to include as a charge against any Government contract the rental value of the property used on its IR&D program; and
(c) A rental charge for the portion of the contractor’s IR&D program cost allocated to commercial work, computed in accordance with 45.403, is deducted from any agreed-upon Government share of the contractor’s IR&D costs.
Requirements for authorization and dollar thresholds for non-Government use of specific types of plant equipment shall be set at the agency level. The following general policies and requirements shall be used by agencies in supplementing this section:
(a) The contracting officer’s advance written approval shall be required for any non-Government use of active plant equipment. Before authorizing non-Government use exceeding 25 percent, the contracting officer shall obtain approval of the head (or designee) of the agency that awarded the contract to which the property is accountable.
(b) The approvals under paragraph (a) of this section may be granted only when it is in the Government’s interest—
(1) To keep the equipment in a high state of operational readiness through regular use;
(2) Because substantial savings to the Government would accrue through overhead cost-sharing and receipt of rental; or
(3) To avoid an inequity to a contractor who is required by the Government to retain the equipment in place.
(c) If the contractor’s request for non-Government use in excess of 25 percent is approved, the contracting officer may require the contractor to insure the property against loss or damage. Facilities contracts may be modified to require such insurance.
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