## 12.000 Scope of part.

This part prescribes policies and procedures unique to the acquisition of commercial items. It implements the Federal Government's preference for the acquisition of commercial items contained in Title VIII of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355) by establishing acquisition policies more closely resembling those of the commercial marketplace and encouraging the acquisition of commercial items and components.

## 12.001 Definition.

"Subcontract," as used in this part, includes, but is not limited to, a transfer of commercial items between divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of a contractor or subcontractor.

### Subpart 12.1- Acquisition of Commercial Items-General

## 12.101 Policy.

Agencies shall-

(a) Conduct market research to determine whether commercial items or nondevelopmental items are available that could meet the agency's requirements;
(b) Acquire commercial items or nondevelopmental items when they are available to meet the needs of the agency; and
(c) Require prime contractors and subcontractors at all tiers to incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable, commercial items or nondevelopmental items as components of items supplied to the agency.

## 12.102 Applicability.

(a) This part shall be used for the acquisition of supplies or services that meet the definition of commercial items at 2.101.
(b) Contracting officers shall use the policies in this part in conjunction with the policies and procedures for solicitation, evaluation and award prescribed in Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures; Part 14, Sealed Bidding; or Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation, as appropriate for the particular acquisition.
(c) Contracts for the acquisition of commercial items are subject to the policies in other parts of this chapter. When a policy in another part of this chapter is inconsistent with a policy in this part, this Part 12 shall take precedence for the acquisition of commercial items.
(d) The definition of commercial item in section 2.101 uses the phrase "purposes other than governmental purposes." These purposes are those that are not unique to a government.
(e) This part shall not apply to the acquisition of commercial items-

(1) At or below the micro-purchase threshold;
(2) Using the Standard Form 44 (see 13.306);
(3) Using the imprest fund (see 13.305);
(4) Using the Governmentwide commercial purchase card; or
(5) Directly from another Federal agency.

(f) Contracting officers shall treat any acquisition by or for the Department of Defense of biotechnology supplies or biotechnology services, for use to facilitate the defense against terrorism or biological attack against the United States, as an acquisition of commercial items. The policies of this Part shall apply to such acquisitions, including the requirement to use firm-fixed price contracts or fixed-price contracts with economic price adjustments. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude a contracting officer from treating an acquisition described in this paragraph as one for a non-commercial item if a determination is made by the contracting officer that the purchase cannot be made at a fair and reasonable price using the policies of this Part. This paragraph applies only when award is made and funds are obligated on or before September 30, 2003.