Rights in Bid or Proposal Information (JAN 2011)

(a) Definitions.

(1) For contracts that require the delivery of technical data, the terms “technical data” and “computer software” are defined in the Rights in Technical Data—Noncommercial Item clause of this contract or, if this is a contract awarded under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, the Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause of this contract.

(2) For contracts that do not require the delivery of technical data, the term “computer software” is defined in the Rights in Noncommercial Computer and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation clause of this contract or, if this is a contract awarded under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, the Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause of this contract.

(b) Government rights to contract award. By submission of its offer, the Offeror agrees that the Government—

(1) May reproduce the bid or proposal, or any portions thereof, to the extent necessary to evaluate the offer.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this clause, shall use information contained in the bid or proposal only for evaluational purposes and shall not disclose, directly or indirectly, such information to any person including potential evaluators, unless that person has been authorized by the head of the agency, his or her designee, or the Contracting Officer to receive such information.

(c) Government rights subsequent to contract award. The Contractor agrees—

(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(2), (d), and (e) of this clause, the Government shall have the rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose information contained in the Contractor's bid or proposal within the Government. The Government shall not release, perform, display, or disclose such information outside the Government without the Contractor's written permission.

(2) The Government's right to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose information that is technical data or computer software required to be delivered under this contract are determined by the Rights in Technical Data—Noncommercial Items, Rights in Noncommercial Computer Software and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation, or Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause(s) of this contract.

(d) Government-furnished information. The Government's rights with respect to technical data or computer software contained in the Contractor's bid or proposal that were provided to the Contractor by the Government are subject only to restrictions on use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display, or disclosure, if any, imposed by the developer or licensor of such data or software.

(e) Information available without restrictions. The Government's rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or, disclose information contained in a bid or proposal, including technical data or computer software, and to permit others to do so, shall not be restricted in any manner if such information has been released or disclosed to the Government or to other persons without restrictions other than a release or disclosure resulting from the sale, transfer, or other assignment of interest in the information to another party or the sale or transfer of some or all of a business entity or its assets to another party.

(f) Flowdown. Contractor shall include this clause in all subcontracts or similar contractual instruments and require its subcontractors or suppliers to do so without alteration, except to identify the parties.