32.304-2 Certificate of eligibility
Source: FAR 32.304-2 on acquisition.gov
Contracting officers must thoroughly document and justify certificates of eligibility for loan guarantees, ensuring only essential and qualified contracts receive government backing.
Overview
FAR 32.304-2 outlines the procedures and requirements for preparing and processing a certificate of eligibility, which is necessary for contractors seeking government loan guarantees for contracts deemed of material consequence. The contracting officer is responsible for preparing this certificate when requested by the contract financing office, another agency, or when a loan guarantee application relates to a contract under their cognizance. The regulation details the evaluation process, required determinations, supporting documentation, and the steps for processing the guarantee through the Federal Reserve system. It also addresses considerations for alternate sources, reporting adverse information, and clarifies that the percentage of guarantee requested does not affect eligibility.
Key Rules
- Preparation of Certificate
- The contracting officer must prepare the certificate when requested or when a loan guarantee application is involved.
- Evaluation and Determinations
- The agency must evaluate all relevant data to decide if a loan guarantee is in the Government’s interest, and the certificate must include specific determinations about the contract and contractor.
- Supporting Documentation
- Sufficient data must be attached to support the determinations, including past performance and other relevant factors.
- Alternate Source Considerations
- The contracting officer must consider multiple factors to determine if a practicable alternate source exists.
- Reporting and Documentation
- If a certificate is not justified, reasons must be documented and reported; adverse information must also be reported to the finance office.
- Processing Guarantee
- The guarantee is processed through the Federal Reserve Board and Bank, and the loan is made by the financing institution once approved.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Prepare and document certificates, evaluate eligibility, attach supporting data, report adverse information, and process guarantees as required.
- Contractors: Provide necessary information and data to support eligibility and loan guarantee applications.
- Agencies: Evaluate applications, review guarantee terms, and ensure proper processing through the Federal Reserve system.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that only eligible and essential contracts receive government-backed loan guarantees, protecting government interests and national defense priorities. Contractors must be prepared to provide detailed information and demonstrate their capability and necessity. Delays or incomplete documentation can hinder loan processing, and adverse information may impact eligibility.
(a) The contracting officer shall prepare the certificate of eligibility for a contract that the contracting officer deems to be of material consequence, when-
(1) The contract financing office requests it;
(2) Another interested agency requests it; or
(3) The application for a loan guarantee relates to a contract or subcontract within the cognizance of the contracting officer.
(b) The agency shall evaluate the relevant data, including the certificate of eligibility, the accompanying data, and any other relevant information on the contractor’s financial status and performance, to determine whether authorization of a loan guarantee would be in the Government’s interest.
(c) If the contractor has several major national defense contracts, it is normally not necessary to evaluate the eligibility of relatively minor contracts. The determination of eligibility should be processed, without delay, based on the preponderance of the amount of the contracts.
(d) The certificate of eligibility shall include the following determinations:
(1) The supplies or services to be acquired are essential to the national defense.
(2) The contractor has the facilities and the technical and management ability required for contract performance.
(3) There is no practicable alternate source for the acquisition without prejudice to the national defense. (This statement shall not be included if the contractor is a small business concern.)
(e) The contracting officer shall consider the following factors in determining if a practicable alternate source exists:
(1) Prejudice to the national defense, because reletting of a contract with another source would conflict with a major policy on defense acquisition; e.g., policies relating to the mobilization base.
(2) The urgency of contract performance schedules.
(3) The technical ability and facilities of other potential sources.
(4) The extent to which other sources would need contract financing to perform.
(5) The willingness of other sources to enter into contracts.
(6) The time and expense involved in repurchasing for contracts or parts of contracts. This may include potential claims under a termination for convenience or delays incident to default at a later date.
(7) The comparative prices available from other sources.
(8) The disruption of established subcontracting arrangements.
(9) Other pertinent factors.
(f) The contracting officer shall attach sufficient data to the certificate of eligibility to support the determinations made. Available pertinent information shall be included on-
(1) The contractor’s past performance;
(2) The relationship of the contractor’s operations to performance schedules; and
(3) Other factors listed in paragraph (e) of this section, if relevant to the case under consideration.
(g) If the contracting officer determines that a certificate of eligibility is not justified, the facts and reasons supporting that conclusion shall be documented and furnished to the agency contract finance office.
(h) The guaranteeing agency shall review the proposed guarantee terms and conditions. If they are considered appropriate, the guaranteeing agency shall complete a standard form of authorization as prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board. The agency shall transmit the authorization through the Federal Reserve Board to the Federal Reserve Bank. The Bank is authorized to execute and deliver to the financing institution a standard form of guarantee agreement, with the terms and conditions approved for the particular case. The financing institution will then make the loan.
(i) Substantially the same procedure may be followed for the application of an offeror who is actively negotiating or bidding for a defense contract, except that the guarantee shall not be authorized until the contract has been executed.
(j) The contracting officer shall report to the agency contract finance office any information about the contractor that would have a potentially adverse impact on a pending guarantee application. The contracting officer is not required, however, to initiate any special investigation for this purpose.
(k) With regard to existing contracts, the agency shall not consider the percentage of guarantee requested by the financing institution in determining the contractor’s eligibility.