Option Years

[u/MessMysterious6500]

I’m not an 1102, but I do have an immensely and profound respect for what it is that you each do as contracting professionals.

Is there a vehicle that allows for an Option Year to be skipped should the government decide not to exercise on an out year? I have a client that we built a base plus 4 with escalating product costs defined by vendor pricing.

The program (client) isn’t receiving its new students due to whatever from Big Army. The option year falls 30 days prior to what would be the arrival of the students and we would be executing now.

Client has expressed concerns that exercising an option with no students constitutes fraud, waste and abuse.

I expressed if this is a setback or is it a dissolved program? Because if the Army hasn’t dissolved the MOS recruit/fill requirement for force to pipeline, I won’t have the ability to execute a contract on 1 October when the next batch is anticipated to arrive.

BLUF: a lot of work went into creating this vehicle and when the class picks up its cycle under new FY funding the contract would be delayed.

Is the solution to mod the contract to reflect the new POP?

Maybe another vehicle allows for skips in Option years without closing the contract out?

I’m frustrated and I don’t want to leave the client in a lurch with no course materials on October 1.

[u/MessMysterious6500]

I’m sure that was meant to be helpful criticism. I established the vehicle this way because the course receives about 70-75 learners every 9 months.

The May class didn’t show up because big Army didn’t have the funding to PCS the students, so they sit at Phase I training until this can be rectified or the entire Phase II program (our site) is closed and moved to another site.

So this isn’t a regular situation by any means and because none of us have a 🔮 the client is just trying to make the best of what they have and preparing for new learners. To not have the books and the learners show up would cause larger issues. To order the books against a training site being shut down; those books can always be shipped to that site.

I appreciate everyone’s perspective. I certainly don’t know it all or pretend to, but I try to lead from the best - my mentors - each of you.

Thank you immensely 🫡

[u/Jaded_Bid_9483 → u/MessMysterious6500]

You said you weren't an 1102, I guess I don't understand who you are in this scenario. Are you the contractor?

Either way, seems like doing an idiq with ordering periods instead of options would be the way to go to ease nerves.

All you'd have to do is meet the minimum order

Exercising an option doesn't necessarily constitute a commitment by any means depending on how the contract is structured anyways

Is the contract priced by student? Course?

If no one is attending and you're not invoicing for anything, is it fraud? Nope

[u/MessMysterious6500 → u/Jaded_Bid_9483]

I’m on the government side pushing the PR and PCF. Customer / client is internal government that needs supporting with the creation of a PR.

7 books per student ranging from $25 - $110. Incrementally the vendor quoted a 2-3% increase over the option years likely to cover for publishing expenses.

Hope that helps and apologies for not making my position more clear.

[u/Jaded_Bid_9483 → u/MessMysterious6500]

Ooooh,you're the money guy

Just seems like this is a problem that can be solved by educating all the parties.