(a) Scope. This subpart provides for authorization of advance and interim payments on commercial item orders not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Advance payments are payments that are made prior to performance. Interim payments are payments that are made during the order period according to a payment schedule.

(b) Procedures for micropurchases. Contracting officers may authorize advance and interim payments on orders for commercial items only at or below the micropurchase threshold.

(c) Procedures for purchases exceeding micropurchase threshold. Contracting officers must secure approval at one level above the contracting officer, on a case-by-case basis, for advance and interim payments on orders for commercial items exceeding the micropurchase threshold and not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The contracting officer shall submit a recommendation for approval of financing terms, along with the supporting rationale for the action, to one level above the contracting officer. Remote simplified acquisition contracting officers (SACO) without one level above contracting officers at their locations shall forward recommendations through their OAM Advisors to secure one level above approval.

(d) Supporting rationale. Regardless of dollar value, the contracting officer shall document the file with supporting rationale demonstrating that the purchase meets the conditions of FAR 32.202-1(b)(1), (3) and (4).

(e) Administration. Regardless of dollar value, the contracting officer is responsible for ensuring that supplies or services have been delivered. The contracting officer shall document the file with evidence of receipt of supplies or services throughout the order period as appropriate to the acquisition.

(f) Clause. The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 1552.232-74, Payments - Simplified Acquisition Procedures Financing, in solicitations and orders that will provide simplified acquisition procedures financing.

(a)-(b) [Reserved]

(c) Agency responsibilities and determinations under FAR 32.006 are, consistent with FAR 32.006-1(c), delegated to the Head of the Contracting Activity, if that individual is not below Level IV of the Executive Schedule. If the Head of the Contracting Activity is below Level IV of the Executive Schedule, then Agency responsibilities and determinations under FAR 32.006 are delegated to the Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management.

The Remedy Coordination Official for EPA is the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations.

(a) EPA shall use the procedures in FAR 32.006-4 when determining whether to reduce or suspend further payments to a contractor when there is a report from the Remedy Coordination Official finding substantial evidence that the contractor's request for advance, partial or progress payments is based on fraud and recommending that the Agency reduce or suspend such payments to the contractor.

(b) [Reserved]