This part establishes policy under 10 U.S.C. 1091, “Contracts For Direct Health Care Providers,” and assigns responsibility for implementing the authority for personal services contracts for direct health care providers.

(a) This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Military Departments.

(b) It applies only to personal services contracts awarded under 10 U.S.C. 1091 for direct health care providers.

(a) Personal Services Contract. A contract that, by its express terms or as administered, makes the contractor personnel appear, in effect, to be government employees.

(b) Direct Health Care Providers. Health services personnel who participate in clinical patient care and services. This does not include personnel whose duties are primarily administrative or clerical, nor personnel who provide maintenance or security services.

(a) It is the policy of the Department of Defense that when in-house sources are insufficient to support the medical mission of the Military Departments, personal services contracts under 10 U.S.C. 1091 may be executed.

(b) It is the purpose of personal services contracts to facilitate mission accomplishment, maximize beneficiary access to military MTFs, maintain readiness capability, reduce use of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), and enhance quality of care by promoting the continuity of the patient/provider relationship.

(c) Personal services contractors shall be subject to the same quality assurance, credentialing processes, and other standards as those required of military health care providers. In addition, providers, other than para-professionals, must be licensed in accordance with State or host country requirements to perform the contract services.

(d) In establishing lines of authority and accountability, DoD supervisors may direct the activities of personal services contractors on the same basis as DoD employees. However, the rights, benefits, and compensation of personal services contractors shall be determined solely in accordance with the personal service contract.

(e) Requests for personal services contracts contemplating reimbursement at the maximum rate of basic pay and allowances under 10 U.S.C. 1091 shall be approved at the major command level. The 0-6 grade shall be used sparingly and subsequently will be subject to review.

(a) Each contract under 10 U.S.C. 1091 with an individual or with an entity, such as a professional corporation or partnership, for the personal services of an individual must contain language specifically acknowledging the individual as a personal services contractor whose performance is subject to supervision and direction by designated officials of the Department of Defense.

(b) The appearance of an employer-employee relationship created by the DoD supervision of a personal services contractor will normally support a limited recognition of the contractor as equal in status to a DoD employee in disposing of personal injury claims arising out of the contractor's performance. Personal injury claims alleging negligence by the contractor within the scope of his or her contract performance, therefore, will be processed as claims alleging negligence by DoD military or civil service personnel.

(c) Compensation for personal services contractors under 10 U.S.C. 1091 shall be within the limits established in the Table of Authorized Compensation Rates (see enclosure 1). Prorated compensation based upon hourly, daily, or weekly rates may be awarded when a contractor's services are not required on a full-time basis. In all cases, however, a contractor may be compensated only for periods of time actually devoted to the delivery of services required by the contract.

(d) Contracts for personal services entered into shall be awarded and administered pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), part 37 and DoD and departmental supplementary contracting provisions.

(a) The Military Departments shall be responsible for the management of the direct health care provider contracting program, ensuring that effective means of obtaining adequate quality care is achieved in compliance with the FAR, part 37. The portion of the Military Department regulations ensuring that compensation provided for a particular type of service is based on objective criteria and is not susceptible to individual favoritism shall be stressed.

(b) The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) (OASD(HA)) shall be responsible for monitoring the personal services contracting program.