As prescribed in 1842.271, insert the following clause:
TECHNICAL DIRECTION
(SEPTEMBER 1993)
(a) Performance of the work under this contract is subject to the written technical direction of the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR), who shall be specifically appointed by the Contracting Officer in writing in accordance with NASA FAR Supplement 1842.270. "Technical direction" means a directive to the Contractor that approves approaches, solutions, designs, or refinements; fills in details or otherwise completes the general description of work or documentation items; shifts emphasis among work areas or tasks; or furnishes similar instruction to the Contractor. Technical direction includes requiring studies and pursuit of certain lines of inquiry regarding matters within the general tasks and requirements in Section C of this contract.
(b) The COTR does not have the authority to, and shall not, issue any instruction purporting to be technical direction that-
(1) Constitutes an assignment of additional work outside the statement of work;
(2) Constitutes a change as defined in the changes clause;
(3) Constitutes a basis for any increase or decrease in the total estimated contract cost, the fixed fee (if any), or the time required for contract performance;
(4) Changes any of the expressed terms, conditions, or specifications of the contract; or
(5) Interferes with the contractor's rights to perform the terms and conditions of the contract.
(c) All technical direction shall be issued in writing by the COTR.
(d) The Contractor shall proceed promptly with the performance of technical direction duly issued by the COTR in the manner prescribed by this clause and within the COTR's authority. If, in the Contractor's opinion, any instruction or direction by the COTR falls within any of the categories defined in paragraph (b) of this clause, the Contractor shall not proceed but shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing within 5 working days after receiving it and shall request the Contracting Officer to take action as described in this clause. Upon receiving this notification, the Contracting Officer shall either issue an appropriate contract modification within a reasonable time or advise the Contractor in writing within 30 days that the instruction or direction is-
(1) Rescinded in its entirety; or
(2) Within the requirements of the contract and does not constitute a change under the changes clause of the contract, and that the Contractor should proceed promptly with its performance.
(e) A failure of the contractor and contracting officer to agree that the instruction or direction is both within the requirements of the contract and does not constitute a change under the changes clause, or a failure to agree upon the contract action to be taken with respect to the instruction or direction, shall be subject to the Disputes clause of this contract.
(f) Any action(s) taken by the contractor in response to any direction given by any person other than the Contracting Officer or the COTR shall be at the Contractor's risk.
(End of clause)
