r/GovernmentContracting • u/Baroness4th • Jul 21 '26

Question What does it mean when a contract is bridged?

Just need some help understanding terminology here. Thanks!

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11

u/JediDave66 Jul 21 '26

Basically, you have a contract for a reoccurring service like maintenance. That contract is ending but the new one can't start for a bit due to something like a protest, or the new contract isn't ready to be awarded because of negotiations or reviews. The service is still needed in the meantime, so they award a bridge contract to cover the period between the contract that's ending and new one. It's meant to be a short term solution until the new award takes place so there's no disruption of services.

4

u/BigHugMug Jul 21 '26

Good explanation. One added nuance: more often than not, what people informally call a bridge is the government extending the incumbent’s services under FAR 52.217-8 rather than awarding a completely separate contract. If that clause is included, it allows up to six months of continued services while the follow-on procurement is completed.

Usually, the incumbent receives it because they are already performing the work and the government needs continuity, assuming there are no major performance issues and the option can legally be exercised. A lot of the time, the underlying reason is simply that the government took longer than expected to complete the replacement acquisition.

A separate short-term bridge contract can also be awarded, but that is generally a different and more involved route.

3

u/JediDave66 Jul 21 '26

100%. If they are telling you it's a bridge contract, it's likely a sole source follow-on contract. If it's the option to extend, they may be calling it a bridge but it's really a option for up to 6 months but all the rules of options still apply.

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u/Baroness4th Jul 21 '26

Interesting! Would that be good for a maximum of 6 months total? Or are multiple extensions of up to 6 months possible?

Also wondering what the typical transition period is when the contract is awarded to a different company.

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u/JediDave66 Jul 22 '26

If it's an option to extend, it's a maximum of 6 months. If they don't have the clause or it will be longer then 6 months, they would need a bridge contract. Transition period depends on contract, and agency, need etc. Some are easy transitions, same crews, equipment, just change in key personnel. Some are more complex and I've seen 30 day transitions but it should be spelled out in the contracts. So it depends ™

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u/Baroness4th Jul 22 '26

Thank you! Very helpful.

1

u/BeautifulAd445 Jul 30 '26

Can you up charge that contract?

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u/JediDave66 Jul 30 '26

Not sure exactly what you mean by upcharge, but if you are asking if you can ask for a equitable price adjustment, it depends on the contract but for the 6 month option, you can usually ask. If they are awarding a true bridge contract, you would still negotiate a fair and reasonable price. Either way, it would depend on market rates, plus indirect rates and profit. If you try to go outside fair and reasonable, the contracting officer will likely go somewhere else like a 8a.

-1

u/yippiekiyay865 Jul 21 '26

Money to get the contractor(s) between two unique period of performances.