Atch_14_-_USFJ_logistic_support_language_(1).pdf

(1) Contract to be Performed in Japan. The Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and

Japan (SOFA) governs the rights and obligations of the United States armed forces in Japan. Unless a contractor is present in Japan solely to perform under a contract with the United States for the sole benefit of the United States armed forces in Japan and is accorded privileges under SOFA Article XIV, it and its employees shall be subject to all the laws and regulations of Japan. Certain contractor employees and their dependents not accorded privileges under SOFA Article XIV may be accorded privileges under SOFA

Article I(b). Dependents of contractors or of contractor employees who receive SOFA Article XIV status do not receive status under SOFA Article XIV or SOFA Article I(b) based on their status as dependents.

The Contractor shall comply with the instruction of the Contracting Officer concerning the entry of its employees, equipment, and supplies into Japan, and shall comply with all applicable Japanese laws and regulations as well as United States Forces Japan (USFJ) and USFJ component policies and regulations during the performance of this contract.

(2) SOFA Article XIV Status.

(1) Awardee may apply for Article XIV status under the United States – Japan Status of Forces Agreement

(SOFA). Offers shall be prepared based on the assumption that SOFA Article XIV status will be granted by

Government in consultation with the Government of Japan. If the Government determines that Awardee does not qualify for SOFA Article XIV status or that SOFA Article XIV status is otherwise inappropriate, an equitable adjustment shall be made to the cost/price and other appropriate terms of the contract. Persons, including corporations organized under the laws of the United States, and their employees who are ordinarily resident in the United States and whose presence in Japan is solely for the purpose of executing contracts with the United States for the benefit of the United States armed forces may acquire privileged status under SOFA Article XIV. Such contractors and contractor employees are eligible for agency privileges and benefits under the SOFA but otherwise remain subject to the laws and regulations of Japan.

Neither SOFA Article XIV nor SOFA Article I(b) status and privileges extend to dependents of SOFA

Article XIV contractors or contractor employees.

(2) Procedures.

(i) Formal application for SOFA Article XIV status shall be made to HQ USFJ only after the contract has been awarded and the contractor’s place of operation in Japan has been determined.

(ii) A contractor seeking SOFA Article XIV status for itself and its employees shall submit the following to the Contracting Officer as part of its offer:

(A) Proof that the contractor is a person ordinarily resident in the United States or a corporation organized under the laws of the United States and that its presence in Japan is solely for the purpose of executing contracts with the United States for the benefit of the United States armed forces; and

(B) Proof that the contractor’s employees are persons ordinarily resident in the United States and that their presence in Japan is solely for the purpose of performing work under contracts with the United States for the benefit of the United States armed forces.

(iii) The Contracting Officer shall make the initial determination whether the contractor qualifies for SOFA

Article XIV status. Upon a determination of qualification, the Contracting Officer shall forward a request for designation through component channels to Commander, United States Forces, Japan, ATTN: USFJ/J5, Unit 5068, APO AP 96328. The request shall include the items requested in subparagraph (b)(2), a full explanation of the necessity of using a United States contractor, and relevant documentation. See USFJ

Instruction 64-102 for further details.

(iv) HQ USFJ shall make the final determination on the contractor’s SOFA Article XIV status upon consultation with the Government of Japan.

(v) Upon receipt of HQ USFJ approval, the Contracting Officer shall issue Letters of Identification indicating SOFA Article XIV status has been granted to the contractor and contractor employees.

(vi) Once a contractor has been designated under SOFA Article XIV, it is not necessary that it be re-designated if a follow-on contract is awarded to that contractor; provided the new contract does not involve a material change from the work under which the SOFA Article XIV designation was originally granted and there is no significant delay between completion of the existing contract and initiation of performance under the follow-on contract.

(3) SOFA Article XIV privileges and benefits. In accordance with SOFA Article XIV, paragraphs 3 through 8, upon certification by appropriate United States authorities as to their identity, such persons and their employees shall be accorded the following benefits of the SOFA. Note: Privileges and benefits afforded under SOFA Article XIV do not extend to dependents/family members.

(i) Access to and movement between facilities and areas in use by the United States armed forces and between such facilities and areas and the ports or airports of Japan as provided for in SOFA Article V, paragraph 2;

(ii) Entry into Japan and exemption from Japanese laws and regulations on the registration and control of aliens as provided for in SOFA Article IX;

(iii) Exemption from customs duties and other such charges on furniture and household goods for private use imported by person when they first arrive to work in Japan, vehicles and parts imported for private use, and reasonable quantities of clothing and household goods for everyday private use which are mailed into

Japan through United States military post offices as provided for in SOFA Article XI, paragraph 3;

(iv) If authorized by the installation commander or designee, the right to use Navy exchanges, post exchanges, base exchanges, commissaries, messes, social clubs, theaters, newspapers and other non-appropriated fund organizations regulated by United States military authorities as provided for in SOFA

Article XV;

(v) The transmission into or outside of Japan of United States dollar or dollar instruments realized as a result of contract performance as provided for in SOFA Article XIX, paragraph 2;

(vi) The use of postal facilities as provided for in SOFA Article XXI;

(vii) Exemption from the laws and regulations of Japan with respect to terms and conditions of employment except that such exemption shall not apply to the employment of local nationals in Japan;

(viii) Exemption from taxes and similar charges of Japan on depreciable assets except houses, held, used, or transferred for the execution of contracts referenced in subparagraph (a);

(ix) Exemption from taxation in Japan on the holding, use transfer by death, or transfer to person or agencies entitled to tax exemption under the SOFA, of movable property, tangible or intangible, the presence of which in Japan is due solely to the temporary presence of these persons in Japan, provided such exemption shall not apply to property held for the purpose of investment or the conduct of other business in

Japan or to any intangible property registered in Japan. No exemption from taxes payable for the use of roads by private vehicles is provided under SOFA Article XIV;

(x) Exemption from income or corporation taxes of the Government of Japan or any other taxing agency in

Japan on any income derived under a contract made in the United States with the Government of the United

States in connection with the construction, maintenance or operation of any of the facilities or area covered by the SOFA. The provisions of this paragraph do not exempt such persons from payment of income or corporation taxes on income derived from Japanese sources;

(xi) Japan authorities have the right to exercise jurisdiction over SOFA personnel in relation to offenses committed in Japan and punishable by the law of Japan. In those cases in which the Japanese authorities have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction but decide not to do so, the United States shall have the right to exercise such jurisdiction as is conferred on it by the law of the United States.

(2) SOFA Article I(b) Status

(1) SOFA Article I(b) status. Individuals including, but not limited to, technical advisors, consultants, entertainers serving under contracts with the United States for the provision of services in support of U.S.

armed forces in Japan, and whose presence is required in Japan to provide such services, may acquire

SOFA status in Japan as part of the civilian component under Article I(b) of the SOFA. Article I(b) does not create a lawful status in Japan for any entity other than individuals (e.g., the company employing the individual). To qualify for SOFA status under SOFA Article I(b), such individuals must be:

(i) United States nationals,

(ii) not ordinarily resident in Japan,

(iii) present in Japan at the invitation of, and solely for the purpose of executing contracts with, the United

States for the benefit of the United States armed forces, and

(iv) not contractors or employees of a contractor whose presence in Japan is solely for the purpose of executing contracts within the definition of SOFA Article XIV.

(2) SOFA Article I(b) procedures. Contractor personnel must obtain a Letter of Identification from

Contracting Officer to authorize entry into Japan under SOFA Article I(b) and to identify which Article I(b) privileges and benefits will be provided to each employee/dependent. Contractor shall, in writing, identify all contractor personnel and accompanying dependents eligible for SOFA Article I(b) status to the

Contracting Officer.

(3) SOFA Article 1(b) privileges and benefits. Persons granted authority to enter Japan under SOFA

Article I(b) and their dependents (defined as spouse, children under 21, and, if dependent for over half their support upon an individual having SOFA Article I(b) status, parents and children over 21) shall be accorded the following benefits of the SOFA. These privileges are personal to the employee/dependent and to not inure to the employer.

(i) Access to and movement between facilities and areas in use by the United States armed forces and between such facilities and areas and the ports or airports of Japan as provided for in SOFA Article V, paragraph 2;

(ii) Entry into Japan and exemption from Japanese laws and regulations on the registration and control of aliens as provided for in SOFA Article IX;

(iii) Acceptance as valid by Japan, without a driving test or fee, a U.S. Forces, Japan Operator’s Permit for

Civilian Vehicle as provided for in SOFA Article X. Issuance of such permit shall be subject to applicable military regulation;

(iv) Exemption from customs duties and other such charges on materials, supplies, and equipment which are to be incorporated into articles or facilities used by the United States armed forces furniture, household goods for private use imported by person when they first arrive to work in Japan, vehicles and parts imported for private use, and reasonable quantities of clothing and household goods for everyday private use which are mailed into Japan through United States military post offices as provided for in SOFA

Article XI, paragraphs 2 and 3;

(v) Exemption from the laws and regulations of Japan with respect to terms and conditions of employment as provided for in SOFA Article XII, paragraph 7, except that such exemption shall not apply to the employment of local nationals in Japan;

(vi) Exemption from Japanese taxes to the Government of Japan or to any other taxing agency in Japan on income received as a result of their service with the United States armed forces as provided for in SOFA

Article XIII. The provisions of Article XIII do not exempt such persons from payment of Japanese taxes on income derived from Japanese sources;

(vii) If authorized by the installation commander or designee, the right to use Navy exchanges, post exchanges, base exchanges, commissaries, messes, social clubs, theaters, newspapers and other non-appropriated fund organizations regulated by United States military authorities as provided for in SOFA

Article XV;

(viii) The transmission into or outside of Japan of United States dollar or dollar instruments realized as a result of contract performance as provided for in SOFA Article XIX, paragraph 2;

(ix) The use of postal facilities as provided for in SOFA Article XXI;

(x) Exemption from taxation in Japan on the holding, use transfer by death, or transfer to person or agencies entitled to tax exemption under the SOFA, of movable property, tangible or intangible, the presence of which in Japan is due solely to the temporary presence of these persons in Japan, provided such exemption shall not apply to property held for the purpose of investment or the conduct of other business in

Japan or to any intangible property registered in Japan.

(xi) Japan authorities have the right to exercise jurisdiction over SOFA personnel in relation to offenses committed in Japan and punishable by the law of Japan. In those cases in which the Japanese authorities have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction but decide not to do so, the United States shall have the right to exercise such jurisdiction as is conferred on it by the law of the United States.

(3) Logistic Support. Contractor, contractor personnel, and in the case of personnel granted SOFA

Article I(b) status, dependents, shall, subject to availability as determined by the installation commander or designee, be provided logistic support including, but not limited to, the items below.

(1) Base Exchange, including exchange service stations, theaters, and commissary (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and Article XIV personnel only);

(2) Laundry and dry cleaning;

(3) Military banking facilities (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and Article XIV personnel only);

(4) Transient billeting facilities;

(5) Open mess (club) membership, as determined by each respective club (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and Article XIV personnel only);

(6) Casualty assistance (mortuary services) on a reimbursable basis;

(7) Routine medical care on a reimbursable basis for U.S. citizens and emergency medical care on a reimbursable basis for non-U.S. citizens;

(8) Dental care, limited to relief of emergencies on a reimbursable basis;

(9) Department of Defense Dependent Schools on a space-available and tuition-paying basis;

(10) Postal support, as authorized by military postal regulations (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and

Article XIV personnel only);

(11) Local recreation services on a space-available basis;

(12) Issuance of U.S. Forces, Japan Operator’s Permit (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and Article XIV personnel only);

(13) Issuance of vehicle license plates (Article I(b) personnel/dependents and Article XIV personnel only).

CONCILIATION

Except as otherwise provided in this contract any disagreement arising under this contract which is not resolved by the parties to this contract may be submitted to the United States - Japan Joint Committee for conciliation in accordance with paragraph 10, Article XVIII, of the Status of Forces Agreement under

Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and United States of America.

Requests by the Contractor for conciliation shall be made in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) In the event the Contractor desires conciliation after the decision of the Contracting Officer has been served upon him, he will first file his appeal from such findings of fact with the appropriate authority in accordance with the Clause of this contract entitled DISPUTES, and within the time limits described therein before filing request for conciliation with the Joint Committee and then request the appellate authority under the Clause of this contract entitled DISPUTES, to suspend its action on his appeal until such time as the Joint Committee has had an opportunity for effecting conciliation.

(b) The request for conciliation will be submitted by the Contractor through the nearest local Japanese

Defense Facilities Administration Bureau, to the Contract Conciliation Panel of the Joint Committee. Upon the filing of the request with the Joint Committee, the Contractor will immediately notify the Contracting

Officer in writing that the request for conciliation has been filed.

(c) In the event the disagreement submitted to the Joint Committee under subparagraph (b) above has been resolved through conciliation, it will be the responsibility of the Contractor to notify the appellate authority designated in the Clause of this contract entitled DISPUTES, of the settlement of the dispute and to withdraw his appeal.

(d) In the event the Contractor who has submitted a request for conciliation to the Joint Committee under subparagraph (b) above desires, notwithstanding pendency of his request for conciliation, that action by the appropriate authority under the Clause of this contract entitled DISPUTES, be resumed on his appeal, it is his responsibility to so request the said authority in writing. The Joint Committee shall be immediately informed by the Contractor of his action taken hereunder.

(e) No request for conciliation can be submitted to the Joint Committee in the case of a dispute upon which the final decision of the appropriate authority under the Clause of this contract entitled DISPUTES, has been rendered. Pending the hearing of conciliation panel the Contractor shall proceed diligently with the performance of the contract and in accordance with the Contracting Officer's decision. The provisions of this clause shall not prejudice any right which the parties to the contract may have to file a civil suit.