C04 LMIR BPA Call Form 1284LM26Q0076.doc

Land Management Integrated Resources BPA Call

Contractor:

BPA No.

BPA RFQ or

Call No.

This will only be sent out to the current BPA Award Holders as of Issue Date.

NAICS Code Exception if Applicable:

______This is a multi-award call order. Contractor needs to only provide pricing for all items listed under the specific award(s) they are interested in.

Contractor:

UEI:

Email:

Issuing and Billing Office:

PROPS/LMS/S&S/C2

JoAnne Meiers, Contract Specialist joanne.meiers@usda.gov

505-225-8301

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

ESTIMATED QUANTITY

22.

UNIT OF MEASURE

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

06/01/2026-09/15/2026

Contractor: (Name, Signature, and Date)

Date:

Ordered By: JoAnne Meiers, Contract Specialist

1. DESCRIPTION/STATEMENT OF WORK

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure services to maintain one-year-old shrub seedling beds in a weed-free condition between the months of June to September at the Lucky Peak Nursery. These services shall consist of removing the weeds without damaging seedlings, maintaining the seed beds in a condition so that there are no weeds of any size, removing and disposing of all extracted vegetative material to an agreed disposal site. The weeding will require multiple entries per field during the contract period. Additionally, there will be a one time entry for the containerized shade house growing area. This will occur approximately late-August to early September. The FS staff will be maintaining the container growing area through the season and the one-time entry will be a final weeding before seeding packing.

2. SPECIFICATIONS:

All weeds shall be removed from the raised seedbeds (each seedbed is approximately 4’ wide x 400’ long). The removal of unwanted vegetation in the non-production areas of the fields (e.g. pipelines, tractor pathways/aisles, ends of seedbeds) is the responsibility of the government.

The intent of this contract is that there shall be no weeds of any size during the period of time specified in this contract. All portions of weeds including leaves, stems, flowers and roots shall be removed. Stakes, flagging, other identifying markers and irrigation equipment shall not be disturbed by Contractor’s employees during weeding operations. Upon completion of work for the day, Contractor’s employees will remove all weeds, containers, tools and other implements or debris from the work site. Contractor and his/her employees shall not walk upon seedlings or in seedling beds.

COR will reach out to contractor when initial weed threshold has been reached. This will be indicated by seedling and weed size. When 50% of the weeds are larger than 3 inches or greater than 1 inch in crown diameter but not flowering, and 50% of the seedlings are larger than 2 inches, Notice to Proceed will be issued. All initial weeds shall be removed within two weeks of first entry to prevent damage to seedlings. After initial weeding phase is complete, COR and contractor will agree on maintenance weeding schedule for remainder of season.

The approximate number of seedbeds will vary after sowing and will be provided prior to Notice to Proceed.

2026 WEEDING AREAS (APPROX.)

Soil adhering to weeds will be shaken off and replaced in the hole from where it came. Hoes may not be used in 1+0 and 2+0 seedbeds. They may be appropriate for seed increase after COR approval. Other tools used in seedbeds will be subject to approval by the COR. Care shall be taken to avoid loosening, uprooting, bruising, or scraping seedlings. Soil loosened or pulled away around seedlings shall be tamped back into place with fingers. All weeding will be from the edge of the bed, standing or kneeling in pathways. Standing or kneeling in beds will not be permitted. Stepping on seedlings will not be permitted. All weeds shall be transported to Government-furnished dumpsters located throughout the Nursery. The Contractor may use plastic bags, cloth sacks or buckets to transport weeds. However, no container or other items that will not biodegrade at a rate equal to that of the weeds shall be placed in the Government-furnished equipment. Containers shall not be placed in seedbeds or on top of tree seedlings at any time. Weeding must be coordinated with the routine irrigation schedule and other cultural activities carried out on the seedlings.

After irrigation, weeding will be allowed to resume after surface soil moisture has adequately drained. Pipelines must not be moved since this causes line breakage during irrigation. If lines are inadvertently moved, they must be replaced exactly where they came from and joints checked.

For containerized weeding the process is much the same

Weeding process in container seedlings.

1) Pull out all but the growing tree per cell.

2) Leave the remaining plant unharmed.

3) Remove any weed from all cells.

4) Discarded plants should be place in a dumpster provided.

5) Return all benches to their original locations at the end of each day.

Access for container seedlings

Access into the crop is achieved by walking to the shade house. Pallets are stationary and must be worked around.

2.1 Key Personnel and Required Qualifications or Certifications

There will be at least one English-speaking Contractor’s Representative for every 2-13 workers.

2.2 Government/Contractor-Furnished Equipment

The Contractor will provide all supervision, labor, supplies, drinking water and sanitation facilities for the weeding operation, and incidental items that may be required in the performance of the contract. The Contractor will provide weeding tools, hoes and buckets or sacks for weeds. Provisions can be made to store contractor-provided equipment at the Nursery between scheduled weeding services.

The Contractor will provide equipment for transportation of unwanted vegetation to dump station. Such equipment must be approved by the Government’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

The Government will furnish the following property: receptacles/dump stations (dumpsters) into which the Contractor will dispose of the extracted weeds.

Miscellaneous Requirements

Unless approved by COR, all thinning services will be conducted during normal Nursery business hours (Monday – Friday, 0700-1700). The Contractor and his/her employees will not be allowed the use of the Nursery Employee Center nor open access to any other Nursery buildings without approval by the COR. The Contractor and Contractor’s employees’ vehicles shall not be permitted anywhere on the Nursery site other than in the designated parking area.

Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall wear appropriate clothing and footwear (e.g. closed-toes shoes, shirts with sleeves, etc). No firearms or controlled substances are permitted on the site. No warming or cooking fires will be permitted on the Nursery site. The Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall maintain a clean work site. Lunch sacks and other debris will be placed in Contractor furnished garbage receptacles. Only the Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall be permitted in designated work areas. Family members and acquaintances of the Contractor or Contractor’s employees are not permitted to loiter on the Nursery site.

3. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Services are to be performed at the USDA Forest Service, Lucky Peak Nursery, located approximately 17 miles east of Boise, ID on 15169 E Highway 21.

4. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

4.1 FAR 52.246-4 INSPECTION OF SERVICES--FIXED-PRICE (AUG 1996)

a. Definition. “Services”, as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

b. The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

c. The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

d. If the Government performs inspections or tests on the premises of the Contractor or a subcontractor, the Contractor shall furnish, and shall require subcontractors to furnish, at no increase in contract price, all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safe and convenient performance of these duties.

e. If any of the services do not conform with contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reperformance, the Government may—

1) Require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and

2) Reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

f. If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may—

1) By contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service; or

2) Terminate the contract for default.

4.2 CONTRACTOR INSPECTION PROCEDURES

(A) General Instructions

1) The Contractor shall conduct inspections of completed blocks and record the results using procedures described herein. Inspections shall be maintained concurrent with contract work. Completed inspection forms shall be made available to the Government within 24 hours of completion of each day or at the end of the contract service period and will remain part of the permanent contract file.

2) By submission of inspection forms to the Government, the Contractor is considered to be certifying that the unit is satisfactorily completed and that the inspection forms reflect the work accomplished.

3) The Contractor shall submit legible inspection forms. Illegible and incomplete forms shall be returned to the Contractor for correction and re-submission.

4) In the event the Contractor falsifies inspection results, as determined by the Contracting Officer, the Government may declare the Contractor to be in default of the contract. Additionally, the Government may refer such falsifications to the US Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001 (Falsification of Government Documents) or 18 U.S.C. 287 (Fraud).

4.3 GOVERNMENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES – COMPLIANCE INSPECTION:

During the course of the contract period, the government will monitor the Contractor’s performance. It is the expectations of all parties the performance standard as stated in the Performance Work Statement / Quality Assurance Plan will be adhered to. Failure to adhere to the performance standard will require immediate re-work of the affected containers.

The government will determine and record the Contractor’s accomplishment within 3 working days at the completion of the thinning contract service. The minimum number of randomly selected containers to be counted will be 1 container per 64. The maximum will be 4 containers per 64. If the inspection results in multiple seedling per cell, the COR will inform the contractor and that portion (to be determined by the government) will need to be re-thinned within three days. Another random sample will be taken and recorded.

Performance Work Statement/Quality Assurance (Q/A) Plan

3. Clean-Up

5. COMMENCEMENT PROSECUTION, AND COMPLETION OF WORK

The Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 7 calendar days after the date the Contractor receives the notice to proceed, (b) prosecute the work diligently, and (c) complete the entire work ready for use not later than September 15, 2026.

6. POST AWARD CONFERENCE

A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled within 10 days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at Lucky Peak Nursery.

7. EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Evaluation will be on a lowest priced technically acceptable basis.

Contractor must send a technical capability statement briefly explaining:

How they intend to complete this contract as far as time frame, personnel, and deliverables as well as explaining experience in nursery work and weeding. Include relevant past performance information.

The Government will consider the relevance of past performance information obtained in relation to the scope of this procurement with respect to both similar efforts, and the length, scope, number, complexity, and diversity of contracts completed by the firm. Past performance, either positive or negative, which is considered by the Government to be more closely related to the scope of this effort will be given additional weight in the evaluation process.

Government evaluators may avail themselves of various federal, state, and local past performance databases. The Government may research offeror performance on any federal, state, local, and commercial contract performance of the offeror that is known to the Government, but not included on the submitted performance information. Additionally, the personal experience and evaluator knowledge of offeror performance may be utilized.

Quotes will be evaluated in two steps:

· Step 1: Quotes will be reviewed initially under a Pass/Fail evaluation to determine if the Technical Capability meets requirements of the call order. Quotes must be signed. Those that do not meet the requirements will be marked unresponsive. Acceptable quotes will then be evaluated under Step 2.

· Step 2: Lowest Price with an acceptable quote will receive the award.

8. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE:

Contact information will be provided upon award.

9. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

The following attachments are made a part of this solicitation and any resultant contract.

FAR Class Deviations and Additional Clauses (at end of this document)

Notice for Filing Agency Protests (at end of this document)

FAR Class Deviations and Additional Clauses This Call Order incorporates two FAR class deviations to ensure compliance with Executive Orders 14148, 14173, 14168, and 14208, issued since January 20, 2025. It also removes references to AGAR clauses and provisions that have been rescinded. These updates reflect recent policy changes and remove outdated requirements, as detailed below.

The following FAR provisions and clauses are hereby removed in their entirety from the LMIR BPA:

· 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities

· 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity

· 52.222-55 Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026/1 1/This provision was removed to comply with the Executive Order 14236 titled "Additional Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions," dated March 14, 2025.

The following FAR clauses now include deviations to align with recent Executive Orders:

· 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025)

· 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025)

· 52.223-1 Biobased Product Certification (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025)

· 52.223-2 Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025)

Ther following references to AGAR Clauses and provisions are hereby removed to comply with AGAR Rule 2024-22463 (89 FR 81014):

· AGAR 452.211-74 Period of Performance (FEB 1988)/2

· AGAR 452.215-73 Post Award Conference (NOV 1996) /2

· AGAR 452.219-70 Size Standard and NAICS Code Information (SEP 2001) /2

· AGAR 452.236-72 Use of Premises (NOV 1996) /2

· AGAR 452.236-77 Emergency Response (NOV 1996)

· AGAR 452.236-78 Fire Suppression and Liability (MAY 2014)

· AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (FEB 1988) /2 2/AGAR clauses and provisions that were included in full text have been retained, with only the AGAR reference removed.

The following AGAR clauses is hereby included:

· AGAR 452.236-70 Emergency Response, Fire Suppression and Liability (NOV 2024)

All call orders will incorporate these changes by reference at award.

Disclaimer: System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations. Examples include 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance, and paragraph (d) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Contracting officers will not consider these representations when making award decisions or enforce requirements. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM.

In advancement of Section 2 of Executive Order 14208, the removal of requirements related to Executive Order 14057 eliminates all non-statutory sustainability requirements or preferences in purchases of food service wares, including paper straws. In addition to removing requirements related to Executive Order 14057, the attachment also reflects recent updates to Code of Federal Regulation citations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred® Program, a statutory purchasing preference program.

These class deviations will remain in effect until rescinded or incorporated into the FAR.

Additional FAR and AGAR Clauses and Provisions:

52.222-90 Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors (Apr 2026) AGAR 452.203-72 Unenforceable Supplier Terms

(a) Definitions.

Supplier terms mean provisions customarily drafted by vendors of supplies or services and intended to create a binding legal obligation on the end user. The term applies:

1. Regardless of the format or style of the document. For example, supplier terms may appear in standard terms of sale or lease, Terms of Service (TOS), End User License Agreement (EULA), or another similar legal instrument or agreement, and may be presented as part of a proposal or quotation responding to a solicitation for a contract or order or otherwise become effective after the contract date.

Regardless of the media or delivery mechanism used. For example, supplier terms may be presented as one or more paper documents or may appear on a computer or other electronic device screen during a purchase, software installation, other product delivery, registration for a service, or another transaction.

(b) Applicability. When any supply or service acquired under this contract is subject to supplier terms, the supplier terms are deemed part of the contract only to the extent they are consistent with this clause. Supplier terms that conflict with any part of this clause, the contract, or Federal law are void and will not be considered incorporated into a contract, even if they are physically present in a contract documentation or systems. In the event of any inconsistency between supplier terms and this contract, this clause and the terms of the Government contract shall govern and supersede any supplier terms in all cases.

(c) Authorization Required. Notwithstanding any other provision, no supplier terms shall be binding on the Government unless the term is expressly authorized on the USDA Supplier Terms Authorization Form signed by the Contracting Officer, and the completed Authorization Form has been incorporated into the contract.

(d) Unenforceable Terms. Any supplier terms that impose obligations or restrictions inconsistent with applicable Federal law are unenforceable against the Government and deemed stricken from the agreement. This includes, but is not limited to, any clause that:

(1) Requires the Government to pay future fees, penalties, interest, legal costs, early‑termination fees, cancellation fees, minimum purchase commitments, true‑up payments, seat‑count minimums, usage minimums, continued‑use charges, or any other financial obligation not expressly authorized by the contract.

(2) Requires the Government to indemnify the contractor or any other entity.

(3) Restricts the Government’s ability to obtain similar supplies or services from another source.

(4) Imposes any penalty, financial or otherwise, based on the Government’s decision not to exercise an option.

(5) Subjects the United States Government to the laws of any U.S. state, territory, district, municipality, or foreign nation, except where Federal law expressly permits such application.

(6) Requires dispute resolution in a forum or venue other than one prescribed by applicable Federal law.

(7) Establishes a period of limitations for bringing an action that differs from that provided by applicable Federal law.

(8) Grants the contractor rights to use, mine, access, aggregate, analyze, or otherwise exploit Government data, usage data, or metadata.

(9) Deems the Government to have accepted initial or revised terms based on silence, continued performance, or failure to object.

(10) Grants the supplier the right to audit Government facilities, systems, records, or use of the product or service, except as expressly authorized by the contract and applicable Federal law.

(11) Requires the Government to accept supplier security requirements, network access requirements, monitoring, penetration testing, or other technical or security measures.

(12) Permits the supplier to suspend, degrade, or terminate access to products or services based on alleged non‑payment, alleged breach, automated security triggers.

(13) Limits the Government’s right to use, install, access, test, evaluate, or transfer the licensed product or service in any manner consistent with the contract and Federal law.

(14) Requires the Government to store, process, maintain, or transmit data in a particular geographic location, or permits the supplier to transfer Government data outside the United States, except as expressly authorized by applicable Federal law.

(15) Authorizes the supplier to use the Government’s name, seal, trademark, logo, or any reference to the Government as an end user or customer for marketing, publicity, promotional activities, press releases, or similar purposes.

(16) Incorporates by reference, or requires the Government to accept, terms or conditions imposed by any third party, subcontractor, or upstream service provider, unless such terms are expressly incorporated into the contract by bilateral modification.

(17) Limits, conditions, or negates the contractor’s performance obligations, service levels, or remedies through a supplier‑provided service level agreement (SLA).

(18) Uses Government data, usage data, metadata, prompts, content, or interactions to train, fine‑tune, improve, or derive any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automated decision‑making model.

(19) Subjects the Government to automated decision‑making, automated risk scoring, automated content moderation, or any algorithmic process that may affect access, performance, or rights under the contract.

(20) Utilizes artificial intelligence or algorithmic tools that produce decisions, recommendations, or outputs affecting contract performance without providing transparency, explainability, auditability, and bias‑mitigation consistent with applicable Federal law and policy.

(21) Profiles, tracks, or analyzes Government user behavior, preferences, communications, or interactions for personalization, marketing, or algorithmic optimization purposes.

(e) Non-binding Actions. Neither the Government nor any Government authorized end user is deemed to have consented to any term, condition, or clause by virtue of its inclusion in the supplier agreement or through the use of clickwrap, browsewrap, “I agree” mechanisms, or similar means. Execution of such mechanisms does not bind the Government or its authorized end users to any unenforceable terms.

(f) End user. The supplier agreement shall bind the ordering activity as the end user to the extent it does not conflict with the terms of this clause, but it shall not bind or impose personal liability on any Government employee or any person acting on behalf of the Government in their personal capacity.

(g) Law and disputes. The supplier agreement is governed by Federal law.

(h) Statutory exception. This clause does not apply to indemnification or any other payment by the Government that is expressly authorized by statute and specifically authorized under applicable agency regulations and procedures.

(i) Continued performance. The supplier or licensor shall not unilaterally revoke, terminate, or suspend any rights granted to the Government except as allowed by the contract. If the supplier or licensor believes the ordering activity to be in breach of the supplier agreement, it shall pursue its rights under the Contract Disputes Act or other applicable Federal statute while proceeding diligently with performance, pending final resolution of any dispute in accordance with the Disputes Clause at FAR 52.212‑4(d) or FAR 52.233‑1, as applicable.

(j) Arbitration. Binding arbitration shall not be used unless specifically authorized by agency guidance.

(k) Equitable or injunctive relief. Equitable or injunctive relief, including the award of attorney fees, costs, or interest, may be awarded against the United States Government only when explicitly provided by statute (e.g., the Prompt Payment Act or the Equal Access to Justice Act).

(l) Revisions to supplier agreements. Any revisions to the supplier agreement must be incorporated into the contract using a bilateral modification. Unilateral revisions are not binding on the Government.

(m) No automatic renewals. If any license or service tied to periodic payment is provided under the supplier agreement (e.g., annual software maintenance or annual lease term), such license or service shall not renew automatically upon expiration of its current term without prior express written consent from an authorized Government representative.

(n) Indemnification. Any clause of the supplier agreement requiring the supplier or licensor to defend or indemnify the end user is amended to provide that the U.S. Department of Justice has the sole right to represent the United States in any such action, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 516.

(o) Taxes or surcharges. Any taxes or surcharges which the supplier or licensor seeks to pass along to the Government as end user will be governed by the terms of the associated Government contract or order and must be submitted to the Contracting Officer for a determination of applicability prior to invoicing unless specifically agreed otherwise.

(p) Non‑assignment. The supplier agreement may not be assigned, nor may any rights or obligations thereunder be delegated, without the Government’s prior approval, except as expressly permitted by FAR 52.212-4(b) or FAR 52.232-23, as applicable.

(q) Confidential information. If the supplier agreement includes a confidentiality clause, such clause is amended to state that neither the agreement nor the contract price list, as applicable, shall be deemed “confidential information.” Issues regarding release of “unit pricing” will be resolved consistent with the Freedom of Information Act. Notwithstanding anything in the supplier agreement to the contrary, the Government may retain any confidential information as required by law, regulation, or its internal document retention procedures for legal, regulatory, or compliance purposes; provided, however, that all such retained confidential information will continue to be subject to the confidentiality obligations of the supplier agreement.

(r) Conflict with Federal law. If any other language, provision, or clause of the supplier agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with Federal law or the terms and conditions of this contract, such language, provisions, or clauses will be considered null and void and will not be binding on the United States Government.

NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program

The USDA is committed to issuing solicitations and awarding contracts in a fair and prompt manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to address protest issues within the agency, providing an alternative to costly and time-consuming litigation. Operating independently, OPAP offers relief comparable to that granted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to resolve concerns through USDA’s internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process before pursuing external forums such as the GAO. Concerns may be addressed informally or through a formal agency protest filed with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman.

Informal Forum with the Ombudsman

1. Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer.

2. Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization of the informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest with the agency or other forums.

3. Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable).

Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman

1. Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions.

2. Independent Review: If the protester’s concerns remain unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government.

3. Resolution Timeline: The agency’s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing.

4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest.

5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104.

6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer.

Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.

Page last modified on October 15, 2025 FAR Overhaul | FAR Companion Guide

Oct 30, 2025

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has released an update to the FAR Companion as part of the ongoing Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Initiative, in accordance with Executive Order 14275 and OMB Memorandum M-25-26.

The following RFO update was posted on October 30, 2025:

· FAR Companion, Version 2.0, includes the initial release of FAR Companion (FC) parts 2, 3, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30, 32, 37, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52, and 53.

· Version 2.0 also includes updates to previously released content: update to FC 8.104 pertaining to “required use” contracts and providing more information and resources on Category Management, including beta version content of the Category Management Buying Guide; update to FC 8.401 pertaining to evaluation factors; updates to FC 8.401(b) and FC 12.301 removing references to debriefings; new annotation under FC 8.401(b) related to sole source justification content for FSS orders; new annotation under FC 12.001 related to contracting methods for commercial construction; update to FC 11.204 to clarify brand name or equal as distinct from brand name justifications under FAR 6.104; updates to thresholds referenced due to the October 1, 2025 inflation adjustment rule; various citation corrections throughout; and changed “Reserved” to “No additional guidance” when the FAR Companion does not provide any practice recommendations for that associated FAR part.

· FAR Companion, Version 2 is posted on www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul.

To view the FAR Companion, Version 2.0. inclusive of all parts and updates, visit: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/page_file_uploads/far-companion.pdf To view all available rewritten FAR Parts and agency deviations, visit: https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide.

Stay informed. View the latest FAR Overhaul news and announcements at: https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul.

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