### 47.000 Scope of part.

(a) This part prescribes policies and procedures for—

(1) Applying transportation and traffic management considerations in the acquisition of supplies; and

(2) Acquiring transportation or transportation-related services by contract methods other than bills of lading, transportation requests, transportation warrants, and similar transportation forms. Even though the FAR does not regulate the acquisition of transportation or transportation-related services when the bill of lading is the contract, this contract method is widely used and, therefore, relevant guidance on the use of the bill of lading, particularly the Government bill of lading (GBL), is provided in this part.

(b) The definitions in this part have been condensed from statutory definitions. In case of inconsistency between the language of this part and the statutory requirements, the statute shall prevail.

### 47.001 Definitions.

As used in this part—

“Carrier” or “commercial carrier” means a common carrier or a contract carrier.

“Common carrier” means a person holding itself out to the general public to provide transportation for compensation.

“Contract carrier” means a person providing transportation for compensation under continuing agreements with one person or a limited number of persons.

### 47.002 Applicability.

(a) All Government personnel concerned with the activities listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section shall follow the regulations in Part 47 as applicable:

(1) Acquisition of supplies.

(2) Acquisition of transportation and transportation- related services.

(3) Transportation assistance and traffic management.

(4) The making and administration of contracts under which payments are made from Government funds for—

(i) The transportation of supplies;

(ii) Transportation-related services; or

(iii) Transportation of contractor personnel and their personal belongings.

(b) Subpart 42.14, Traffic and Transportation Management, shall be used for administering transportation contracts, transportation-related contracts, and those portions of supply and other contracts that involve transportation.

## Subpart 47.1—General

### 47.101 Policies.

(a) The contracting officer shall obtain traffic management advice and assistance (see 47.105) in the consideration of transportation factors required for—

(1) Solicitations and awards;

(2) Contract administration, modification, and termination; and

(3) Transportation of property by the Government to and from contractors’ plants.

(b)(1) The preferred method of transporting supplies for the Government is by commercial carriers. However, Government-owned, leased, or chartered vehicles, aircraft, and vessels may be used if—

(i) They are available and not fully utilized;

(ii) Their use will result in substantial economies; and

(iii) Their use is in accordance with all applicable statutes, agency policies and regulations.

(2) If the three circumstances listed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section apply, Government vehicles may be used for purposes such as—

(i) Local transportation of supplies between Government installations;

(ii) Pickup and delivery services that commercial carriers do not perform in connection with line-haul transportation;

(iii) Transportation of supplies to meet emergencies; and

(iv) Accomplishment of program objectives that cannot be attained by using commercial carriers.

(c) Agencies shall not accord preferential treatment to any mode of transportation or to any particular carrier either in awarding or administering contracts for the acquisition of supplies or in awarding contracts for the acquisition of transportation. (See Subparts 47.2 and 47.3 for situations in which the contracting officer is permitted to use specific modes of transportation.)

(d) Agencies shall place with small business concerns purchases and contracts for transportation and transportation-related services as prescribed in Part 19.

(e) Agencies shall comply with the Fly America Act, the Cargo Preference Act, and related statutes as prescribed in Subparts 47.4, Air Transportation by U.S.-Flag Carriers, and 47.5, Ocean Transportation by U.S.-Flag Vessels.

### 47.102 Transportation insurance.

(a) The Government generally—

(1) Retains the risk of loss of and/or damage to its property that is not the legal liability of commercial carriers and

(2) Does not buy insurance coverage for its property in the possession of commercial carriers (40 U.S.C. 726). (See Part 28, Bonds and Insurance.)

(b) Under special circumstances the Government may, if such action is considered necessary and in the Government’s interest, (1) buy insurance coverage for Government property or (2) require the carrier to (i) assume full responsibility for loss of or damage to the Government property in its possession and (ii) buy insurance to cover the carrier’s assumed responsibility. The cost of this insurance to the carrier shall be part of the transportation cost. (The Secretary of the Treasury prescribes regulations regarding shipments of valuables in 31 CFR 261 and 262.)

(c)(1) If special circumstances dictate the need for the Government to buy insurance coverage, the contracting officer shall ascertain that—

(i) There is no statutory prohibition; and

(ii) Funds for insurance are available.

(2) The contracting officer shall document the need and authorization for insurance coverage in the contract file.

### 47.103 Transportation Documentation and Audit Regulation (TDA).

(a) The United States Government bill of lading (GBL) generally shall be used for the transportation of property of the United States for which the Government pays the transportation charges directly to commercial carriers.

(b)(1) Regulations and procedures governing the GBL, documentation, payment, and audit of transportation services acquired by the United States Government are prescribed in 41 CFR 101-41, Transportation Documentation and Audit. Included in this regulation, among others, is the limited authority for the use of commercial forms and procedures to acquire freight or express transportation for small shipments of a recurring nature when transportation costs do not exceed $100.

(2) For DoD shipments, corresponding guidance is in Chapter 32 of the Defense Traffic Management Regulation (DTMR).

(c) Subsection 42.1403-2 prescribes regulations and procedures for the occasional use of contractor-prepaid commercial bills of lading for the transportation of supplies weighing not more than 1,000 pounds that are acquired by the Government on f.o.b. origin terms.

### 47.104 Government rate tenders under section 10721 of the Interstate Commerce Act.

### 47.104-1 Government freight.

(a) Common carriers subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission may under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10721 offer to transport persons or property for the account of the United States without charge or at reduced rates.

(b) Section 10721 rates are published in Government rate tenders and apply to shipments moving for the account of the Government; i.e., on—

(1) Government bills of lading;

(2) Commercial bills of lading endorsed to show that such bills of lading are to be exchanged for, or converted to, Government bills of lading at destination after delivery to the consignees; or

(3) Commercial bills of lading endorsed to show that total transportation charges are assignable to, and will be reimbursed by, the Government (see the clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations).

(c) Government agencies may negotiate with carriers for additional or revised section 10721 rates in appropriate situations. Only qualified transportation officers shall carry out these negotiations. (See 47.105 for transportation assistance.) The following are examples of situations in which negotiations for additional or revised section 10721 rates may be appropriate:

(1) Volume movements are expected.

(2) Shipments will be made on a recurring basis between designated places, and substantial savings in transportation costs appear possible even though a volume movement is not involved.

(3) Transit arrangements are feasible and advantageous to the Government.

### 47.104-2 Fixed-price contracts.

(a) F.o.b. destination. Section 10721 quotations do not apply to shipments under fixed-price f.o.b. destination contracts (delivered price).

(b) F.o.b. origin. Under fixed-price f.o.b. origin contracts, shipments normally shall be made on GBL’s. However, if it is advantageous to the Government, the contracting officer may occasionally require the contractor to prepay the freight charges to a specific destination. In such cases, the contractor shall use a commercial bill of lading and be reimbursed for the direct and actual transportation cost as a separate item in the invoice. The clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations, will ensure that the Government in this type of arrangement obtains the benefit of section 10721 rates.

### 47.104-3 Cost-reimbursement contracts.

(a) The Interstate Commerce Commission has ruled that section 10721 rates may be applied to shipments other than those made by the Government if the total benefit accrues to the Government; i.e., the Government must pay the charges or directly and completely reimburse the party that initially bears the freight charges. Therefore, section 10721 rates may be used for shipments moving on commercial bills of lading in cost-reimbursement contracts under which the transportation costs are direct and allowable costs under the cost principles of Part 31.

(b) Section 10721 rates may be applied to the movement of household goods and personal effects of contractor employees who are relocated for the convenience and at the direction of the Government and whose total transportation costs are reimbursed by the Government.

(c) The clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations, will ensure that the Government receives the benefit of lower section 10721 rates in cost-reimbursement contracts as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Contracting officers shall—

(1) Include in contracts a statement requiring the contractor to use carriers that offer acceptable service at reduced rates if available; and

(2) Ensure that contractors receive the name and location of the transportation officer designated to furnish support and guidance when using Government rate tenders under 47.104-5(b).

(e) Transportation officers shall—

(1) Advise and assist contracting officers and contractors; and

(2) Make available to contractors the names of carriers that provide service under section 10721 quotations, cite applicable rate tenders, and advise contractors of the statement that must be shown on the carrier’s commercial bill of lading (see the clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations).

### 47.104-4 Contract clauses.

(a) The contracting officer, in order to ensure the application of section 10721 rates, shall insert the clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations, in solicitations and contracts when the contracts will be—

(1) Cost-reimbursement contracts, including those that may involve the movement of household goods (see 47.104-3(b)); or

(2) Fixed-price f.o.b. origin contracts (other than contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold) (see 47.104-2(b) and 47.104-3).

(b) The contracting officer may insert the clause at 52.247-1, Commercial Bill of Lading Notations, in solicitations and contracts made at or below the simplified acquisition threshold when it is contemplated that the delivery terms will be f.o.b. origin.

(c) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.247-67, Submission of Commercial Transportation Bills to the General Services Administration for Audit, in solicitations and contracts when a cost-reimbursement contract is contemplated and the contract or a first-tier cost-reimbursement subcontract thereunder will authorize reimbursement of transportation as a direct charge to the contract or subcontract.

### 47.104-5 Citation of Government rate tenders.

When section 10721 rates apply, transportation officers or contractors, as appropriate, shall identify the applicable Government rate tender by endorsement on bills of lading, including—

(a) GBL’s or commercial bills of lading to be converted to GBL’s (see 41 CFR 101-41.303, Conversion of commercial bills of lading to GBL’s); and

(b) Properly endorsed commercial bills of lading when transportation charges are reimbursable (see 47.104-2(b) and 47.104-3).

### 47.105 Transportation assistance.

(a) Civilian Government activities that do not have transportation officers, or otherwise need assistance on transportation matters, shall obtain assistance from—

(1) The GSA Regional Federal Supply Service Bureau that provides support to the activity or

(2) The transportation element of the contract administration office designated in the contract.

(b) Military installations shall obtain transportation assistance from the transportation office of the contracting activity, unless another military activity has been designated as responsible for furnishing assistance, guidance, or data. Military transportation offices shall request needed additional aid from the appropriate area headquarters of the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC).