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“CONTRACTOR SUPPORT ON THE BATTLEFIELD” -- AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

“CONTRACTOR SUPPORT ON THE BATTLEFIELD” -- AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE. PRESENTATION TO DEFENSE ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE COUNCIL BY ALAN CHVOTKIN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND COUNSEL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2003. WHAT IS THE “BATTLEFIELD”?.

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“CONTRACTOR SUPPORT ON THE BATTLEFIELD” -- AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

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  1. “CONTRACTOR SUPPORT ON THE BATTLEFIELD” -- AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE PRESENTATION TO DEFENSE ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE COUNCIL BY ALAN CHVOTKIN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND COUNSEL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COUNCIL MARCH 18, 2003 DAEC 18 March 2003

  2. WHAT IS THE “BATTLEFIELD”? Various terms used randomly (battlefield, theater of operations, area of operation, military operation, zone of conflict, zone of special danger, joint operations) ACTIONS: • Develop consistent terms for the various actions and geographic area(s) • Permit designation at the lowest command level consistent with operational responsibility Note: Risk issues and insurance costs vary according to the location DAEC 18 March 2003

  3. COMBATANT STATUS • When is a contractor in “combatant” status? (Taliban precedent) • Does carrying a firearm or wearing a distinctive uniform change the situation? ACTIONS • What DoD guidance exists on definitions? • When/how is contractor advised of combatant status? • Who is authorized to approve a contractor employee carrying firearms (other than specific contractual performance requirements such as security functions)? DAEC 18 March 2003

  4. STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENTS (SOFAs) SOFAs are not readily available to government employees and rarely available to contractors ACTIONS: • Extract key contractor-related details from existing SOFAs and make available to industry or affected contractors • Develop “standard” contractor coverage language for modifications to existing SOFAs and for new agreements • Consider DD 489 (Geneva identity cards) for contractors Note: HQUSAEUR/7A (Dep CoS Personnel and Info Mgmt) is DoD Executive Agent for SOFA DAEC 18 March 2003

  5. CONTRACT CLAUSES/ MODIFICATIONS • Differences exist among various contractual events: • Existing contract for covered CoB work • Existing contract with new or added CoB work • New contract for new CoB work ACTIONS • Issue guidance to CO’s on modifications, pricing adjustments, T&C changes, and fiscal law issues relating to contingent liability/Anti-Deficiency Act applicability relating to changed or new CoB work. • DoD take lead for OFAC licenses/waivers for entry of people and necessary equipment into sanctioned countries DAEC 18 March 2003

  6. DEFENSE BASE ACT AND OTHER INSURANCE COVERAGE • The Defense Base Act coverage is mandatory when contract-ing for services to be performed overseas by U.S. contractors • Required contract clauses not always used in DoD contracts • No existing DoD-wide (or service-wide) DBA insurance program • In CoB work, don’t make assumption of risk an award discriminator ACTIONS • Issue policy letter to insert the DBA clause in all approp-riate contracts without the need for new consideration • Quickly develop a service-wide (or DoD-wide) DBA program similar to State Department and USAID • Address additional insurance and liability coverage requirements DAEC 18 March 2003

  7. JUDICIAL APPLICATION Coverage of the Geneva Convention and the UCMJ for contractors is unclear or unknown. UCMJ applies to civilians only “in time of (declared) war”; Congress has acted! ACTIONS • Develop and make available standard guidance and instructions Note: Is there guidance on the scope of coverage of the “Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act” [P.L.106-523] that expands criminal jurisdiction of the Department of Justice, including for contractors, deployed OCONUS? DAEC 18 March 2003

  8. MEDICAL/EVACUATIONS • Availability of medical facilities and transport for medical emergency and/or evacuation • Voluntary or mandatory evacuation situations based on threat conditions • Implications for long-term medical/insurance obligations (Gulf War Syndrome) Actions: • Clarify DoD policies on availability of medical facilities and circumstance and authorities for directing evacuations • Develop uniform treatment for homogenous local areas DAEC 18 March 2003

  9. EDUCATION • Substantial information exchange between DoD and industry is needed immediately– even if only on the contractual issues ACTION • DAEC (or other DoD organizational sponsor) promptly conduct joint DoD-industry symposium on contractor support issues DAEC 18 March 2003

  10. OTHER ISSUES • Contractual issues (including cost and liability for unusually hazardous risk requirements (e.g., destroying WMD) • Treatment for excusable delay and changed circumstances • Access to special clothing, equipment, and vaccines • Others? DAEC 18 March 2003

  11. QUESTIONS? ALAN CHVOTKIN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND COUNSEL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COUNCIL (703) 875-8059 CHVOTKIN@PSCOUNCIL.ORG DAEC 18 March 2003

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