Invoice Instructions.pdf

Electronic Invoicing Instructions for NIH Contractors/Vendors Updated: April 2, 2020

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To All National Institutes of Health (NIH) Contractors/Vendors:

This notification is effective on Wednesday April 1, 2020.

The current national emergency and the need to protect Federal and Contractor staff has resulted in a change to NIH’s invoice submission process. Effective Wednesday, April 1, 2020, all NIH contractors/vendors invoices should be sent electronically via email to the NIH Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the NIH Contracting Officer (CO) using the below electronic submission instructions.

On March 30, 2020, Governor Hogan issued a stay-at-home order for the state of Maryland where residents should not leave their homes unless it is for an essential purpose. Stay-at-home orders were also issued by the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Therefore, any mailed contractor/vendor invoices will be processed by NIH; however, significant delays are expected due to staff teleworking and complying with the stay-at-home orders. It is important that NIH contractors/vendors follow the below procedures in order to ensure smooth processing of invoices and timely payment.

Contractor/Vendor Electronic Invoice Submission to the Office of Financial Management (OFM):

The Contractor/Vendor shall:

• Send the invoice to the NIH centralized invoice email box: invoicing@nih.gov

• Follow the below format in the email subject line, which is a must (Note: The keywords and separating bars in bold must be present to identify the information.)

Vendor: name of the contractor/vendor|PO: Contract Number/Task Order Number|Invoice:9999999

• Ensure that the body of the email and attached invoice must both include the contractor/vendor’s correspondence email address in the below format (bolded information must be present to identify information):

Correspondence email address: xyz@abc.com

Note: See a screenshot example in the attachment

• Follow the system size limits that apply to the email and each invoice: individual email attachments cannot exceed 5 megabytes each; and the email plus all attachments cannot exceed a total of 30 megabytes.

• Clearly identify a valid and complete contract number on each invoice

• Clearly identify a valid and complete order number on each invoice

• Clearly identify an accurate DUNS number on each invoice

• Not include confidential information such as Social Security Numbers (do not include TIN if it is a

Social Security Number)

• Send one (1) invoice per email mailto:invoicing@nih.gov

Electronic Invoicing Instructions for NIH Contractors/Vendors Updated: April 2, 2020

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The date/time that a valid invoice is submitted electronically to the email box (invoicing@nih.gov) will be the same date/time logged as that the invoice is received by NIH.

Please do not hand-deliver invoices to any NIH office. Please follow the above electronic submission instructions until further notice. In addition, please note that your contract or order will not be modified to reflect the above changes to the invoicing instructions. Failure to follow the above electronic submission instructions may result in invoice processing delays.

For Questions? Inquiries regarding the status of invoices such as receipt of invoices, due date, or payment of invoices should be directed to the OFM Commercial Accounts Branch, Customer Service Office at 301-496-6088. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (eastern prevailing time). The Customer Service Office is closed daily between 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (eastern prevailing time).

Contractor Courtesy Copy Electronic Invoice Submission to the Contracting Officer (CO):

The Contractor shall send the OFM-submitted invoice to the NIH Contracting Officer.

mailto:invoicing@nih.gov

NIH(RC)-2

Revised 7/2013

INVOICE INSTRUCTIONS FOR NIH FIXED-PRICE CONTRACTS, NIH(RC)-2

Format: Submit payment requests on Standard Form 1034, Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal, or the Contractor’s self-generated form provided it contains all of the information prescribed herein. DO NOT include a cover letter with the payment request.

Number of Copies: Submit payment requests in the quantity specified in the Invoice Submission Instructions in Section G of the Contract Schedule.

Frequency: Submit payment requests upon delivery and acceptance of goods or services unless otherwise authorized by the Contracting Officer.

Currency: All NIH contracts are expressed in United States dollars. When the Government pays in a currency other than United States dollars, billings shall be expressed, and payment by the Government shall be made, in that other currency at amounts coincident with actual costs incurred. Currency fluctuations may not be a basis of gain or loss to the Contractor. Notwithstanding the above, the total of all invoices paid under this contract may not exceed the United States dollars authorized.

Preparation and Itemization of the Payment Request: Prepare payment requests as follows:

Note: All information must be legible or the invoice will be considered improper and returned to the Contractor.

(a) Designated Billing Office Name and Address: Enter the designated billing office name and address, as identified in the Invoice Submission Instructions in Section G of the Contract Schedule.

(b) Contractor's Name, Address, Point of Contact, TIN, and DUNS or DUNS+4 Number: Show the Contractor's name and address exactly as they appear in the contract. Any invoice identified as improper will be sent to this address. Also include the name, title, phone number, and e-mail address of the Point of Contact in case of questions. If the remittance name differs from the legal business name, both names must appear on the invoice. Provide the Contractor’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) or DUNS+4 number. The DUNS number must identify the Contractor’s name and address exactly as stated in the contract, and as registered in the System for Acquisition Management (SAM) database.

When an approved assignment of claims has been executed, the Contractor shall provide the same information for the assignee as is required for the Contractor (i.e., name, address, point of contact, TIN, and DUNS number), with the remittance information clearly identified as such.

(c) Invoice/Voucher Number: Identify each payment request by a unique invoice number, which can only be used one time regardless of the number of contracts or orders held by an organization. For example, if a contractor has already submitted invoice number 05 on one of its contracts or orders, it cannot use that same invoice number on any other contract or order.

Payment requests with duplicate invoice numbers will be considered improper and returned to the contractor.

The NIH does not prescribe a particular numbering format but suggests using a job or account number for each contract and order followed by a sequential invoice number (example:

8675309-05). Invoice numbers are limited to 30 characters. There are no restrictions on the use of special characters, such as colons, dashes, forward slashes, or parentheses.

If all or part of an invoice is suspended and the contractor chooses to reclaim those costs on a supplemental invoice, the contractor may use the same unique invoice number followed by an alpha character, such as “R” for revised (example: 8675309-05R).

(d) Date Invoice/Voucher Prepared: Insert the date the payment request is prepared.

(e) Contract Number and Order Number (if applicable): Insert the contract number and order number (as applicable).

(f) Contract Title: Insert the contract title listed on the cover page of the contract and/or Section G of the Contract Schedule.

(g) Current Contract Period of Performance: Insert the contract start date/effective date through the current completion date of the contract.

(h) Total Fixed-Price of Contract/Order: Insert the total fixed-price of the contract/order.

(i) Two-Way/Three-Way Match: Identify whether payment is to be made using a two-way or three-way match. To determine required payment method, refer to the Invoice Submission Instructions in Section G of the Contract Schedule.

(j) Office of Acquisitions: Insert the name of the Office of Acquisitions, as identified in the Invoice Submission Instructions in Section G of the Contract Schedule.

(k) Central Point of Distribution: Identify the Central Point of Distribution, as specified in the Invoice Submission Instructions in Section G of the Contract Schedule.

(l) Billing Period: Insert the beginning and ending dates (month, day, and year) of the period in which costs were incurred and for which reimbursement is claimed.

(m) Description of Supplies or Services: Provide a description of the supplies or services, by line item (if applicable), quantity, unit price (where appropriate), and total amount. The item description, unit of measure, and unit price must match those specified in the contract. For example, if the contract specifies 1 box of hypodermic needles (100/box) with a unit price of $50.00, then the invoice must state 1 box, hypodermic needles (100/box), $50.00, not 100 syringes at $0.50 each. Invoices that do not match the line item pricing in the contract will be considered improper and will be returned to the Contractor.

(n) Amount Billed - Current Period: Insert the amount claimed for the current billing period, including any adjustments, if applicable. If the Contract Schedule contains separately priced line items, identify the contract line item(s) on the payment request.

(o) Amount Billed - Cumulative: Insert the cumulative amounts claimed to date, including any adjustments as applicable. If the Contract Schedule contains separately priced line items, identify the contract line item(s) on the payment request.

(p) Freight or Delivery Charges: Identify all charges for freight or express shipments, other than f.o.b. destination, as a separate line item on the invoice. (If shipped by freight or express, and charges are more than $25, attach prepaid bill.)

(q) Government Property: If the contract authorizes the purchase of any item of Government Property (e.g., equipment), the invoice must list each item for which reimbursement is requested. Include reference to the following (as applicable):

- item number for the specific piece of equipment listed in the Property Schedule, and

- Contracting Officer Authorization (COA) Number, if the equipment is not covered by the

Property Schedule.