7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR

The Contractor shall comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations (Federal, State, City, or otherwise) covering work of this character. If the end product of a task order is software, then FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data – General, may apply.

8. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT

Subject to security regulations, the ordering office shall permit Contractor access to all facilities necessary to perform the requisite IT Services.

9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

All IT Services performed by the Contractor under the terms of this contract shall be as an independent Contractor, and not as an agent or employee of the Government.

10. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

(a) Definitions

“Contractor” means the person, firm, unincorporated association, joint venture, partnership, or corporation that is a party to this contract.

“Contractor and its affiliates” and “Contractor or its affiliates” refers to the Contractor, its chief executives, directors, officers, subsidiaries, affiliates, subcontractors at any tier, and consultants and any joint venture involving the Contractor, any entity into or with which the Contractor subsequently merges or affiliates, or any other successor or assignee of the Contractor.

An “Organizational conflict of interest” exists when the nature of the work to be performed under a proposed Government contract, without some restriction on activities by the Contractor and its affiliates, may either (i) result in an unfair competitive advantage to the Contractor or its affiliates or (ii) impair the Contractor’s or its affiliates’ objectivity in performing contract work.

(b) To avoid an organizational or financial conflict of interest and to avoid prejudicing the best interests of the Government, ordering offices may place restrictions on the Contractors, its affiliates, chief executives, directors, subsidiaries and subcontractors at any tier when placing orders against schedule contracts. Such restrictions shall be consistent with FAR 9.505 and shall be designed to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate organizational conflicts of interest that might otherwise exist in situations related to individual orders placed against the schedule contract. Examples of situations, which may require restrictions, are provided at FAR 9.508.

11. INVOICES

The Contractor, upon completion of the work ordered, shall submit invoices for IT services. Progress payments may be authorized by the ordering office on individual orders if appropriate. Progress payments shall be based upon completion of defined milestones or interim products. Invoices shall be submitted monthly for recurring services performed during the preceding month.