As prescribed in 970.2803-2, insert the following clause:
INSURANCE-LITIGATION AND CLAIMS (AUG 2009)
(a) The Contractor may, with the prior written authorization of the Contracting Officer, and shall, upon the request of the Government, initiate litigation against third parties, including proceedings before administrative agencies, in connection with this contract. The Contractor shall proceed with such litigation in good faith and as directed from time to time by the Contracting Officer.
(b) The Contractor shall give the Contracting Officer immediate notice in writing of any legal proceeding, including any proceeding before an administrative agency, filed against the Contractor arising out of the performance of this contract. Except as otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer, in writing, the Contractor shall furnish immediately to the Contracting Officer copies of all pertinent papers received by the Contractor with respect to such action. The Contractor, with the prior written authorization of the Contracting Officer, shall proceed with such litigation in good faith and as directed from time to time by the Contracting Officer.
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this clause, the Contractor shall procure and maintain such bonds and insurance as required by law or approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.
(2) The Contractor may, with the approval of the Contracting Officer, maintain a self-insurance program; provided that, with respect to workers' compensation, the Contractor is qualified pursuant to statutory authority.
(3) All bonds and insurance required by this clause shall be in a form and amount and for those periods as the Contracting Officer may require or approve and with sureties and insurers approved by the Contracting Officer.
(d) The Contractor agrees to submit for the contracting officer's approval, to the extent and in the manner required by the Contracting Officer, any other bonds and insurance that are maintained by the Contractor in connection with the performance of this contract and for which the Contractor seeks reimbursement. If an insurance cost (whether a premium for commercial insurance or related to self-insurance) includes a portion covering costs made unallowable elsewhere in the contract, and the share of the cost for coverage for the unallowable cost is determinable, the portion of the cost that is otherwise an allowable cost under this contract is reimbursable to the extent determined by the Contracting Officer.
(e) Except as provided in subparagraphs (g) and (h) of this clause, or specifically disallowed elsewhere in this contract, the Contractor shall be reimbursed-
(1) For that portion of the reasonable cost of bonds and insurance allocable to this contract required in accordance with contract terms or approved under this clause; and
(2) For liabilities (and reasonable expenses incidental to such liabilities, including litigation costs) to third persons not compensated by insurance or otherwise without regard to and as an exception to the clause of this contract entitled "Obligation of Funds."
[67 FR 14871, Mar. 28, 2002]
(f) The Government's liability under paragraph (e) of this clause is subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Nothing in this contract shall be construed as implying that the Congress will, at a later date, appropriate funds sufficient to meet deficiencies.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this contract, the Contractor shall not be reimbursed for liabilities (and expenses incidental to such liabilities, including litigation costs, counsel fees, judgment and settlements)-
(1) Which are otherwise unallowable by law or the provisions of this contract; or
(2) For which the Contractor has failed to insure or to maintain insurance as required by law, this contract, or by the written direction of the Contracting Officer.
(h) In addition to the cost reimbursement limitations contained in 48 CFR Part 31, as supplemented by 48 CFR 970.31, and notwithstanding any other provision of this contract, the Contractor's liabilities to third persons, including employees but excluding costs incidental to worker's compensation actions, (and any expenses incidental to such liabilities, including litigation costs, counsel fees, judgments and settlements) shall not be reimbursed if such liabilities were caused by Contractor managerial personnel's-
[67 FR 14871, Mar. 28, 2002]
(1) Willful misconduct;
(2) Lack of good faith; or
(3) Failure to exercise prudent business judgment, which means failure to act in the same manner as a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business; or, in the case of a non-profit educational institution, failure to act in the manner that a prudent person would under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision to incur the cost is made.
(i) The burden of proof shall be upon the Contractor to establish that costs covered by paragraph (h) of this clause are allowable and reasonable if, after an initial review of the facts, the Contracting Officer challenges a specific cost or informs the Contractor that there is reason to believe that the cost results from willful misconduct, lack of good faith, or failure to exercise prudent business judgment by contractor managerial personnel.
(j)(1) All litigation costs, including counsel fees, judgments and settlements shall be differentiated and accounted for by the Contractor so as to be separately identifiable. If the Contracting Officer provisionally disallows such costs, then the Contractor may not use funds advanced by DOE under the contract to finance the litigation.
(2) Punitive damages are not allowable unless the act or failure to act which gave rise to the liability resulted from compliance with specific terms and conditions of the contract or written instructions from the Contracting Officer.
(3) The portion of the cost of insurance obtained by the Contractor that is allocable to coverage of liabilities referred to in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause is not allowable.
(4) The term "contractor's managerial personnel" is defined in clause paragraph (j) of 48 CFR 970.5245-1.
[67 FR 14871, Mar. 28, 2002]
(k) The Contractor may at its own expense and not as an allowable cost procure for its own protection insurance to compensate the Contractor for any unallowable or non-reimbursable costs incurred in connection with contract performance.
(l) If any suit or action is filed or any claim is made against the Contractor, the cost and expense of which may be reimbursable to the Contractor under this contract, and the risk of which is then uninsured or is insured for less than the amount claimed, the Contractor shall-
(1) Immediately notify the Contracting Officer and promptly furnish copies of all pertinent papers received;
(2) Authorize Department representatives to collaborate with: in-house or DOE-approved outside counsel in settling or defending the claim; or counsel for the insurance carrier in settling or defending the claim if the amount of the liability claimed exceeds the amount of coverage, unless precluded by the terms of the insurance contract; and
(3) Authorize Department representatives to settle the claim or to defend or represent the Contractor in and/or to take charge of any litigation, if required by the Department, if the liability is not insured or covered by bond. In any action against more than one Department Contractor, the Department may require the Contractor to be represented by common counsel. Counsel for the Contractor may, at the Contractor's own expense, be associated with the Department representatives in any such claim or litigation.
(End of Clause)
[74 FR 36358, Jul. 22, 2009]
