This subpart prescribes rules relating to prices, discounts, commissions, credits, allowances, and other payments. These rules shall be observed in the procurement of commodities and commodity-related services financed under this part. The rules implement and supplement the requirements of the Act relating to prices in such procurement. The general purpose of these rules is to assure the prudent use of USAID funds.

(a) Statutory price limitations. (1) Section 604(a) of the Act provides inter alia that funds made available under this Act may be used for procurement outside the United States only if the price of any commodity procured in bulk is lower than the market price prevailing in the United States at the time of procurement adjusted for differences in the cost of transportation to destination, quality, and terms of payment.

(2) Section 604(b) of the Act provides that no funds made available under this Act shall be used for the purchase in bulk of any commodities at prices higher than the market price prevailing in the United States at the time of purchase, adjusted for differences in the cost of transportation to destination, quality, and terms of payment.

(b) Transactions covered. The rules and conditions prescribed by this subpart apply to all USAID-financed transactions subject to this regulation, whether or not the commodities are purchased in bulk.

(c) Compliance. Compliance with this subpart G and with any additional price requirement contained in the implementing document shall be a condition to the financing by USAID of procurement transactions under this part. Post-audit of transactions will be made by USAID to determine whether there has been such compliance.

(a) Class of purchaser means any group of purchasers which is separately identifiable and which is distinguishable from other purchasers on the basis of quantity purchased, distribution function or established trade practice.

(b) Commission. See § 201.01(h).

(c) Comparable domestic sale means any comparable sale not in export transactions.

(d) Comparable export sale means any comparable sale in export transactions.

(e) Comparable sale means any sale of or bona fide offer to sell the same commodity, or (in the absence of such a sale or offer to sell) any sale of or offer to sell a similar commodity which, with respect to the quantity, quality, grade, period of delivery, supply area, terms of sale, or class of purchaser, either:

(1) Is not sufficiently different from the sale being tested to result customarily in a price different from the price in the sale being tested; or

(2) Can be related to the sale being tested through application of a customary price differential. A sale which is otherwise comparable to another sale is not rendered noncomparable by virtue of its being made out of a free port or bonded warehouse. The fact that a sale is made out of a free port or bonded warehouse shall not cause that sale to differ from otherwise comparable sales with respect to terms of sale, supply area, or period of delivery.

(f) The date the purchase price is fixed means the date on which the parties agree on the price. If, however, the parties establish the price as of any other date which is subsequent to the date of such agreement and not later than the date of delivery, the term means such other date regardless of whether it precedes, coincides with or follows the legally effective date of the purchase contract.

(g) Export differential means the customary difference in price, if any, between domestic sales and otherwise comparable export sales.

(h) Period of delivery means the length of time between the date the purchase price is fixed or the date of the purchase contract, whichever is later, and the date by which delivery is to be completed.

(i) Producer means any person who grows, mines, manufactures, processes, or assembles a commodity in the form in which it is exported.

(j) Purchase price means the total amount which the purchaser agrees to pay or make available to or for the benefit of the supplier (including any person or organization designated by the supplier to receive such payment) for any commodity or commodity-related service which is wholly or partly financed by USAID.

(k) Representative of the importer means any entity affiliated with the importer by ownership or management ties, and any office or employee of such entity.

(l) Similar commodity means a commodity which is functionally interchangeable with the commodity in the sale being tested, and affords the purchaser substantially equivalent serviceability.

(m) Supply area means the source country, or if the commodity is customarily sold at different prices (exclusive of transportation costs) from different geographic areas within a source country, the specific geographic area within the source country from which the commodity is shipped to the cooperating country.

(n) Time of purchase means that period encompassing the date the purchase price is fixed during which prices in comparable sales remain substantially constant.

(o) Transportation cost means the cost of all transportation by land, sea, or air from the port of export to the destination in the cooperating country, plus the cost of marine insurance, if any, covering such transaction. Such costs are financed by USAID only to the extent provided in § 201.13.

(a) Responsibilities of borrower/grantee. The borrower/grantee shall:

(1) When required by USAID, develop and periodically update, or cooperate with USAID in the development and updating of, lists of importers who have traditionally imported the commodities which may be purchased under the loan or grant. Such listings shall be by commodity groupings selected by USAID, cover all commodities eligible for financing, and, to the extent such information is available, show the names and addresses of all importers, regardless of the source from which their imports originated.

(2) Insure that the importer

(i) Procures in accordance with the conditions set forth in subpart C as applicable, and

(ii) Except as provided otherwise in § 201.22, pays no more than the lowest available competitive price, including transportation cost, for the commodity.

(b) Responsibility of supplier. In accordance with the provisions contained in the Supplier's Certificate, which the supplier must execute in order to receive payment, the supplier is responsible for compliance with the provisions of this subpart G, other than paragraph (a) of this section.

(a) U.S. prevailing market price—U.S. source. The purchase price for a commodity, the source of which is the United States, shall not exceed the market price prevailing in comparable export sales in the United States at the time of purchase, adjusted for differences in the transportation cost: Provided, however, That if there are no such comparable export sales, then the purchase price, excluding transportation cost, may not exceed the market price prevailing in comparable domestic sales in the United States at the time of purchase, adjusted upward or downward by the appropriate export differential.

(b) U.S. prevailing market price—non-U.S. source. The purchase price, including transportation cost, for a commodity the source of which is not the United States shall be lower than the market price prevailing in comparable export sales in the United States at the time of purchase including transportation cost: Provided, however, That if there are no such comparable export sales in the United States, then the purchase price from the source outside the United States, including transportation cost, must be lower than the market price prevailing in comparable domestic sales in the United States at the time of purchase, adjusted upward or downward by the appropriate export differential and transportation cost.

(c) Supplier's comparable export price—U.S. and non-U.S. sources. (1) The purchase price excluding transportation cost, shall not exceed prices generally charged by the supplier in comparable export sales from the source country at the time of purchase.

(2) The requirement in paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall not apply to the purchase price:

(i) In any sale under formal competitive bid procedures; or

(ii) In any sale of a commodity generally traded on an organized commodity exchange.

(3) Comparable export sales for the purpose of paragraph (c) of this section shall not include sales:

(i) Under formal competitive bid procedures; or

(ii) Of a commodity by a supplier to affiliates if the supplier demonstrates an established practice of selling the commodity to affiliates at prices lower than the prices it charges to nonaffiliates.

(d) Source country prevailing market price—non-U.S. source. The purchase price, excluding transportation cost, shall not exceed the market price prevailing in the source country in comparable export sales at the time of purchase: Provided, however, That, if there are no such comparable export sales, then the purchase price, excluding transportation cost, shall not exceed the market price prevailing in comparable domestic sales in the source country at the time of purchase, adjusted upward or downward by the appropriate export differential.

(e) Price test in the absence of comparable sales at time of purchase—(1) Sale by supplier who is not the producer. The purchase price shall not exceed the sum of:

(i) The lower of the following: The price paid by the supplier for the commodity or the price charged by the producer in the original sale of that specific commodity; and

(ii) A markup over the amount allowed in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section which may not exceed the lower of the following: The markup over direct cost that is usual and customary in sales by the supplier of the same commodity, if any, or the most similar commodity, or, the markup over direct cost that is usual and customary in such sales by the competitors of the supplier; and

(iii) To the extent not included in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section an amount not to exceed the cost at prevailing rates of those expenses recognized in § 201.64(a) and actually incurred in moving the commodities supplied from the point of purchase to a position alongside or on board the vessel or other export conveyance at point of export.

(2) Sale by a supplier who is the producer. The purchase price shall not exceed a price established in accordance with the customary pricing practices of the supplier for other products of the same general class as the commodity sold.

(f) Additional rules for sales through or out of a free port or bonded warehouse. (1) The purchase price, including transportation costs to a cooperating country, of a commodity which has passed through a free port or bonded warehouse shall not exceed:

(i) The maximum price f.o.b. or f.a.s. source country eligible for USAID-financing under the foregoing provisions of this § 201.63: plus

(ii) Transportation cost calculated on the basis of the prevailing ocean freight rate for shipments using the most direct route from the source country to the cooperating country on the type and flag of vessel on which the commodity actually moved from the free port or bonded warehouse to the cooperating country.

(2) The purchase price of a commodity f.o.b. or f.a.s. a free port or bonded warehouse shall not exceed the maximum price established in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, minus transportation costs from the free port or bonded warehouse to the cooperating country, calculated on the basis of the prevailing ocean freight rate from the free port or bonded warehouse to the cooperating country for the type and flag of vessel on which the commodity actually moved between those points.

(g) Commodity price subject to escalation. If a purchase contract contains a price escalation clause, USAID will finance:

(1) The purchase price of the commodity before the operation of the escalation clause to the extent that it does not exceed the applicable price limitations contained in this subpart; and

(2) That portion of the commodity price attributable to the operation of the price escalation clause if such clause:

(i) Uses a formula based on variations in a cost factor which is reasonably related to the price of the commodity subject to escalation and is readily determinable;

(ii) Provides for downward as well as upward adjustment of the price; and

(iii) Accords with recognized trade practices.

(a) Calculation of commodity prices on a common basis. In testing whether the purchase price of a commodity exceeds the price in comparable export sales or in comparable domestic sales, as applicable under § 201.63 (a), (c), (d) and (e), it is necessary to insure that the price being tested as well as the prices being used as a test or measurement are calculated on the basis of delivery alongside or on board the vessel or other export conveyance. Such prices will include, therefore, in addition to the price of the commodity at an internal point in the source country, transportation from that point to the port of export in the source country, and to the extent not already included in the price at the internal point, inspection, export packing, forwarder's fees at customary rates, the cost of placing the commodities on board the vessel or export conveyance (unless this cost is covered in the export freight), and other necessary costs customary in the trade.

(b) Calculation of commodity prices which involve transportation costs. (1) In testing the purchase price which includes transportation cost (customarily known as a c. & f. or c.i.f. price) for compliance with the requirements of § 201.63 (a), (c), (d) and (e), USAID will subtract transportation cost as calculated by reference to the freight rate, for the type and flag of vessel on which the commodity was shipped, prevailing on the date the purchase price is fixed. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the actual transportation cost paid by the supplier shall be presumed to be the transportation cost calculated in accordance with the formula contained in the foregoing sentence.

(2) In testing a purchase price involving transportation cost for compliance with § 201.62 and § 201.63(b), the test or measurement prices shall be:

(i) Prices based upon transportation by a U.S.-flag vessel if the price tested involves transportation by such vessel; or

(ii) Prices based upon transportation by either a U.S.-flag or a foreign-flag vessel, whichever is lower, if the price tested involves transportation by a foreign-flag vessel.

(c) Calculation of amount eligible for financing when shipment is through or out of a free port or bonded warehouse. (1) When a shipment to a cooperating country has passed through a free port or bonded warehouse, USAID will finance no more than the lower of the following:

(i) The maximum price described in § 201.63(f)(1), or

(ii) The maximum price described in § 201.63(f)(1)(i), plus any transportation costs into the free port or bonded warehouse which meet the requirements of § 201.13(b)(1)(i)(D), and any transportation costs out of the free port or bonded warehouse on a vessel flying the flag of a country included in the authorized geographic code.

(2) When a shipment is f.o.b. or f.a.s. a free port or bonded warehouse, USAID will finance no more than the lower of the following:

(i) The maximum price described in § 201.63(f)(2), or

(ii) The maximum price described in § 201.63(f)(1)(i), plus any transportation costs into the free port or bonded warehouse which meet the requirements of § 201.13(b)(1)(i)(D).

(d) Determination of prevailing prices. In the determination of any prevailing market price of any commodity or any prevailing price or maximum eligible freight rate for a commodity related service, relevant published and unpublished price information will be considered.

(a) General. This section sets forth the rules which govern the eligibility of commissions, discounts and certain other payments, credits, benefits and allowances for USAID-financing.

(b) Commissions to sales agents. Unless otherwise provided in the implementing document, a commission paid, or to be paid, to a bona fide agent of the supplier is eligible for financing under this part, if such agent either has made a direct and substantial contribution toward securing the purchase contract for the supplier or is engaged on a continuing basis in securing similar contracts for the supplier. Such commissions are eligible to the extent they comply with § 201.65(f).

(c) Commissions and other payments, credits, benefits or allowances to importers, purchasing agents and others. Unless otherwise authorized by USAID, no commission or other payment, credit, benefit or allowance of any kind shall be paid, made, or given, or agreed to be paid, made or given, in connection with any sale subject to this part by the supplier or its agent:

(1) To or for the benefit of the importer;

(2) To or for the benefit of a purchasing agent or other agent or representative of an importer, even though such agent or representative may also have an agreement with a supplier to represent the supplier; or

(3) To any third party in connection with a sale by the supplier to its dealer, distributor, or established agent in the cooperating country.

(d) Trade discounts. To arrive at the net amount eligible for USAID-financing, all trade discounts, whether in the form of payments, credits, or allowances, to which the importer is entitled shall be deducted from the gross amount of the supplier's invoice submitted under § 201.52(a)(2)(i)(D).

(e) Commissions and other payments or benefits attributable to USAID-financing. Every commission or other payment, credit, benefit, or allowance of any kind paid, made or given, or agreed to be paid, made or given, in connection with the sale of commodities financed under this part to any person described in § 201.65(c) (1), (2) or (3) shall be presumed conclusively to have been paid from USAID funds and shall thereby be subject to the requirements of this part 201.

(f) Maximum commission. A commission shall not exceed the lesser of the amount which the supplier customarily pays in connection with similar transactions or the amount which is customary in the trade.

(g) Reporting. All commissions and other payments, credits, benefits or allowances of any kind paid, made or given, or agreed to be paid, made or given, by the supplier in connection with USAID-financed sales of commodities and commodity-related services shall be fully reported on the Invoice-and-Contract Abstract of the Supplier's Certificate required under § 201.52(a)(6). Any such amounts not reported shall be ineligible for USAID-financing.

(h) Brokerage commission. In connection with ocean freight services, USAID will finance a brokerage commission only if:

(1) Such commission does not exceed 2 1/2 percent of the ocean freight charge (exclusive of deadfreight, demurrage and detention);

(2) Such commission is payable to an individual resident in a country included in the authorized source code; a non-resident citizen of a country included in the authorized source code; or a corporation or partnership organized under the laws of a country included in the authorized source code; and

(3) The names of all persons receiving such commissions appear on the face of the charter party.

(i) Address commissions. An address commission to or for the benefit of a charterer shall be deemed a discount on the stated freight rate or freight charge which the supplier of transportation services shall deduct from the cost of transportation financed by USAID. If the supplier of the commodity is the charterer, it shall refund to USAID any address commission received by it. If the supplier of the commodity is not the charterer, the borrower/grantee shall be responsible for making a refund to USAID of any such commissions received by the charterer.

Any payment which an importer makes to a supplier, whether or not indicated on the supplier's invoice and whether or not financed by USAID, in connection with an USAID-financed transaction, shall be disclosed by the supplier on the Supplier's Certificate and shall be considered as part of the actual purchase price in applying the rules of this subpart G.

(a) Ocean freight rates—(1) Similar shipments. Similar shipments means shipments which are similar with respect to type of commodity, commodity rate classification, quantity, vessel flag category (U.S.-or foreign-flag), choice of ports, and other pertinent factors. In determining whether shipments are similar, no effect shall be given to the identity of the shipper or the circumstance that the shipment is or is not financed by the Government of the United States.

(2) Maximum charter rates. (i) USAID will not finance ocean freight under any charter which has not been submitted to and received prior approval by USAID/W. USAID will not approve a charter if the freight rate exceeds:

(A) The rate prevailing for similar shipments; or

(B) The lowest rate charged by the vessel for similar shipments on the same voyage.

(ii) In determining the rate prevailing for similar shipments, recognized sources of charter market rate information will be consulted and, if necessary, will be supplemented by other information which contributes to a realistic determination of the prevailing charter rate.

(3) Effect of USAID approval of a charter. USAID prior approval of a charter shall be confirmed by USAID in writing and shall then be final except in cases where the freight rate exceeds the lowest rate charged by the vessel for similar shipments on the same voyage or where USAID's prior approval is based on false or misleading representations made to USAID by the charterer or vessel owner(s).

(4) Maximum liner rates. USAID will not finance ocean freight for a cargo liner shipment at a rate which exceeds the lowest of the following:

(i) The conference contract rate or the conference noncontract rate, whichever is lower;

(ii) The rate named in any tariff or other rate listing for the same destination and commodities on file at the Federal Maritime Commission; or

(iii) The lowest rate charged by the VOCC for similar shipments on the same voyage.

(5) Despatch. (i) The borrower/grantee, or the supplier with respect to despatch earned by the supplier, shall be responsible for refunding to USAID all despatch earned:

(A) At the port of unloading on c.i.f. or c. & f. shipments, or

(B) At the port of loading or unloading on f.o.b. or f.a.s. shipments, to the extent that despatch exceeds demurrage incurred on the same voyage.

(ii) Refunds of despatch, supported by the vessel's signed laytime statement(s), must be transmitted to the Office of Financial Management, USAID, Washington, DC 20523-7702, within 90 days after date of discharge of cargo on which the despatch was earned.

(b) Airfreight rates. USAID will not finance airfreight which exceeds the following:

(1) The rate under any air charter approved by USAID covering the transaction;

(2) The lowest rate charged by the carrier for similar shipments on the same flight; or

(3) The rate prevailing in the industry for similar shipments. A similar shipment is one which is similar with respect to type of commodity, commodity rate classification, quantity, flag category, choice of airport, and other pertinent factors.

(a) The price for an USAID-financed commodity-related service, other than ocean or air transportation, shall not exceed the lower of:

(1) The prevailing price, if any, for the same or similar services; or

(2) The price paid to the supplier under similar circumstances by other customers.

(b) The eligible price of services covered by an NVOCC bill of lading is limited to the sum of the costs of individual delivery services eligible under § 201.13 of this part, and only to the extent that the cost of each such service is eligible for USAID-financing under § 201.67 or § 201.68(a) of this part.

USAID will not finance any taxes or fees imposed under the laws in effect in the cooperating country, including customs duties, consular and legalization fees, and other levies.