§ 970.3102-2 - Compensation for personal services.

(a) General. Compensation for personal services includes all remuneration paid currently or accrued, in whatever form and whether paid immediately or deferred, for services rendered by employees to the contractor during the period of contract performance (except as otherwise provided for severance pay costs in paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this section and for pension cost in paragraph (b)(1) of this section). It includes, but is not limited to, salaries; wages; directors’ and executive committee members’ fees; bonuses (including stock bonuses); incentive awards; employee stock options, stock appreciation rights, and stock ownership plans; employee insurance; fringe benefits; contributions to pension, annuity, and management employee incentive compensation plans; and allowances for off-site pay, incentive pay, location allowances, hardship pay, severance pay, and cost of living differential.

(b) Allowability. Reimbursable costs for compensation for personal services are to be set forth in a personnel appendix in the contract as discussed at 970.3101-6. This personnel appendix shall be negotiated using the principles and policies of this 970.3102-2, and other pertinent parts of the DEAR. However, costs that are unallowable pursuant to other paragraphs of 970.3102 or contract terms shall not be allowable under this 970.3102-2 on the basis they constitute compensation for personnel services. Costs of compensation for personal services are reimbursable to the extent that:

(1) The compensation is for personal services work performed by the employee in the current year and must not represent a retroactive adjustment of prior year's salaries or wages (but see 970.3102-2 (i), (j), (l), (m), and (n));

(2) The compensation in total is reasonable for the work performed; however, specific restrictions on individual compensation elements must be observed where they are prescribed;

(3) The compensation is based upon and conforms to the terms and conditions of the contractor's established compensation plan or practice followed so consistently as to imply, in effect, an agreement to make the payment;

(4) Any approvals prescribed by this 970.3102-2 are obtained. No assumption of allowability will exist where the contractor introduces major revisions of existing compensation plans or new plans and the contractor—

(i) Has not notified the cognizant contracting officer of the changes either before their implementation, or within a reasonable period after their implementation, and

(ii) Has not provided the Government, either before implementation or within a reasonable period after it, an opportunity to review the allowability of the changes.

(5) Costs that are unallowable under the contract terms or other paragraphs of this 970.3102 shall not be allowable under this 970.3102-2 solely on the basis that they constitute compensation for personal services.

(c) Reasonableness. Subject to 970.3102-2(d) of this section compensation for personal services will be considered reasonable if the total compensation conforms generally to compensation paid by other firms of the same size, in the same industry, or in the same geographic area for similar services or work performed. This does not preclude the Government from challenging the reasonableness of an individual element of compensation where costs are excessive in comparison with compensation paid by other firms of the same size, same industry, or in the same geographic area for similar services. In administering this principle, it is recognized that not every compensation case need be subjected in detail to the above tests. The tests need be applied only when a general review reveals amounts or types of compensation that appear unreasonable or unjustified. In questionable cases, the contractor has responsibility to support the reasonableness of compensation in relation to the effort performed. Compensation costs under certain conditions give rise to the need for special consideration. Among such conditions are the following:

(1) Compensation to (i) owners of closely held corporations, partners, sole proprietors, or members of their immediate families, or (ii) persons who are contractually committed to acquire a substantial financial interest in the contractor's enterprise. Determination should be made that salaries are reasonable for the personal services rendered rather than being a distribution of profits. Compensation in lieu of salary for services rendered by partners and sole proprietors will be allowed to the extent that it is reasonable and does not constitute a distribution of profits. For closely held corporations, compensation costs covered by this subparagraph shall not be recognized in amounts exceeding those costs that are deductible as compensation under the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations.

(2) Any change in a contractor's compensation policy that results in a substantial increase in the contractor's level of compensation, particularly when it was concurrent with an increase in the ratio of Government contracts to other business, or any change in the treatment of allowability of specific types of compensation due to changes in the treatment of allowability of specific types of compensation due to changes in Government policy. No presumption of reasonableness will exist where major revisions of existing compensation plans or new plans are introduced by the contractor; and the contractor—

(i) Has not notified the cognizant contracting officer of the change either before their implementation or within a reasonable period after their implementation; and

(ii) Has not provided the Government, either before implementation or within a reasonable period after it, an opportunity to review the reasonableness of the changes.

(3) The contractor's business is such that its compensation levels are not subject to the restraints that normally occur in the conduct of competitive business.

(4) The contractor incurs costs for compensation in excess of the amounts which are deductible under the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations.

(d) DOE review and approval of compensation paid individual employees. In determining the reasonableness of compensation, the compensation of each individual contractor employee normally need not be subjected to review and approval. Generally, the compensation paid individual employees should be left to the judgment of contractors subject to the limitations of DOE-approved compensation policies, programs, classification systems, and schedules, and amounts of money authorized for wage and salary increases for groups of employees. However, all compensation due an individual of $80,000 or more shall require the contracting officer's or designee's review and approval. In addition, it will often be necessary that employee compensation be subjected to review and approval on an individual basis at a level below $80,000, when the contracting officer finds it appropriate for the particular situation. The contract shall specifically provide for the approval by the contracting officer of the cost of compensating an individual contractor employee above the level determined by the contracting officer, if a total of 50 percent or more of such compensation is reimbursed under DOE cost-type contracts. For purposes of determining the level for individual review and approval, total compensation as used in this paragraph includes only the employee's salary and bonus or incentive compensation. As in the case of other personnel and compensation costs, it is intended that contracting officer review and approval of individual compensation normally will be prior to incurrence of costs.

(e) Labor-management agreements. Notwithstanding any other DOE requirements, costs of compensation are not allowable to the extent that they result from provisions of labor-management agreements that, as applied to work in performing Government contracts, are determined to be unreasonable because they are either unwarranted by the character and circumstances of the work or discriminatory against the Government. The application of the provisions of a labor-management agreement designed to apply to a given set of circumstances and conditions of employment (e.g., work involving extremely hazardous activities or work not requiring recurrent use of overtime) is unwarranted when applied to a Government contract involving significantly different circumstances and conditions of employment (e.g., work involving less hazardous activities or work continually requiring use of overtime). It is discriminatory against the Government if it results in employee compensation (in whatever form or name) in excess of that being paid for similar non-Government work under comparable circumstances. Disallowance of costs will not be made under this paragraph (e) unless—

(1) The contractor has been permitted an opportunity to justify the costs; and

(2) Due consideration has been given to whether unusual conditions pertain to Government contract work, imposing burdens, hardships, or hazards on the contractor's employees, for which compensation that might otherwise appear unreasonable is required to attract and hold necessary personnel.

(f) Salaries and wages. Salaries and wages for current services include gross compensation paid to employees in the form of cash, stock (see paragraph (h)(2) of this section regarding valuation), products, or services, and are allowable.

(g) Domestic and foreign differential pay. (1) When personal services are performed in a foreign country, compensation may also include a differential that may properly consider all expenses associated with foreign employment such as housing, cost of living adjustments, transportation, bonuses, additional Federal, state, local or foreign income taxes resulting from foreign assignment, and other related expenses.

(h) Bonuses and incentive compensation. Incentive compensation and cash bonuses based on production, cost reduction or efficient performance, suggestion awards, and safety awards are to be treated as allowable, to the extent that the contractor's overall compensation plan is determined to be reasonable and such costs are paid or accrued, pursuant to an agreement entered into in good faith between the contractor and the employees before the services were rendered, or pursuant to an established plan followed by the contractor so consistently as to imply, in effect, an agreement to make such payment (see 970.3101-6). In determining reasonableness, it will be necessary to take into account, not only bonuses and incentive compensation payments charged directly to the contract, but also payments charged indirectly to the contract through overhead. Bonuses, awards, and incentive compensation, when any of them are deferred, are to be treated as allowable to the extent provided in paragraph (m) of this section.

(1) Bonuses and incentive compensation paid to employees other than those whose pay is directly reimbursed will not be made allowable in on-site construction and management and operating contracts, where home office general and administrative expense is unallowable.

(2) When the costs of bonuses and incentive compensation are paid in the stock of the contractor or of an affiliate, the following additional restrictions apply:

(i) Valuation placed on the stock shall be the fair market value on the measurement date (i.e., the first date the number of shares awarded is known) determined upon the most objective basis available; and

(ii) Accruals for the cost of stock before issuing the stock to the employees shall be subject to adjustment according to the possibilities that the employees will not receive the stock and that their interest in the accruals will be forfeited.

(3) When the bonus and incentive compensation payments are deferred, the costs are subject to the requirements of paragraph (h)(1) of this section and of paragraph (m) of this section.

(i) Severance pay. (1) Severance pay, also commonly referred to as dismissal wages, is a payment in addition to regular salaries and wages by contractors to workers whose employment is being involuntarily terminated. Payments for early retirement incentive plans are covered in paragraph (l)(6) of this section.

(2) Severance pay to be allowable must meet the general allowability criteria in paragraph (i)(2)(i) of this section, and, depending upon whether the severance is normal or abnormal, criteria in paragraph (i)(2)(ii) of this section for normal severance pay or paragraph (i)(2)(iii) of this section for abnormal severance pay also apply. In addition, paragraphs (i)(2)(iv) and (v) of this section apply if the severance cost is for foreign nationals employed outside the United States.

(i) Severance pay is allowable only to the extent that, in each case, it is required by (A) law, (B) employer-employee agreement, (C) established policy that constitutes, in effect, an implied agreement on the contractor's part, or (D) circumstances of the particular employment. Payments made in the event of employment with a replacement contractor where continuity of employment with credit for prior length of service is preserved under substantially equal conditions of employment, or continued employment by the contractor at another facility, subsidiary, affiliate, or parent company of the contractor are not severance pay and are unallowable.

(ii) Actual normal turnover severance payments shall be allocated to all work performed in the contractor's plant, or where the contractor provides for accrual of pay for normal severances, that method will be acceptable if the amount of the accrual is reasonable in light of payments actually made for normal severances over a representative past period and if amounts accrued are allocated to all work performed at the facility.

(iii) Abnormal or mass severance pay is of such a conjectural nature that measurement of costs by means of an accrual will not achieve equity to both parties. Thus, accruals for this purpose are not allowable. However, the Government recognizes its obligation to participate, to the extent of its fair share, in any specific payment. Thus, allowability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

(iv) Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph (c) of this section, which references geographic area, under 41 U.S.C. 256(e)(1)(M), the costs of severance payments to foreign nationals employed under a service contract performed outside the United States are unallowable to the extent that such payments exceed amounts typically paid to employees providing similar services in the same industry in the United States.

(v) Further, under 41 U.S.C. 256(e)(1)(N), the costs of severance payments referred to in paragraph (i)(2)(iv) of this section are unallowable if the termination of employment is the result of the closing of, or curtailment of, activities at a United States facility in that country at the request of the government of that country.

(vi) The Head of the Contracting Activity may waive the application of the provisions of paragraphs (i)(2)(iv) and (v) of this section under the conditions specified in subpart 970.25.

(3) Subject to paragraph (a) of this section, the following standards apply in determining allowability of costs for severance pay plans of management and operating contractors:

(i) Payments should be made only upon involuntary termination by reduction in force (RIF) of an employee which results in a permanent separation from the employment of the contractor. However, payments may also be made upon voluntary separation of an employee within a RIF grouping, but not otherwise scheduled for termination, which thereby eliminates the need for terminating another employee involuntarily.

(ii) Payments should be not provided for in the event of temporary layoffs; employment or offer of employment with a replacement contractor (employer) where continuity of employment with credit for prior length of service is preserved under substantially equal conditions of employment; early or normal retirement; or continued employment by the contractor at another facility, subsidiary, affiliate, or parent company of the contractor. Contractor employees should not have the option of refusing employment to receive severance pay.

(j) Backpay—(1) Backpay resulting from violations of Federal labor laws or the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Backpay may result from a negotiated settlement, order, or court decree that resolves a violation of Federal labor laws or the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such backpay falls into two categories: one requiring the contractor to pay employees additional compensation for work performed for which they were underpaid, and the other resulting from other violations, such as when the employee was improperly discharged, discriminated against, or other circumstances for which the backpay was not additional compensation for work performed. Backpay resulting from underpaid work is compensation for the work performed and is allowable. All other backpay resulting from willful violation of Federal labor laws or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is unallowable.

(2) Other backpay. Backpay may also result from payments to union employees (union and non-union) for the difference in their past and current wage rates for working without a contract or labor agreement during labor management negotiations. Such backpay is allowable. Backpay to nonunion employee based upon results of union agreement negotiations is allowable only if (i) a formal agreement or understanding exists between management and the employees concerning these payments, or (ii) an established policy or practice exists and is followed by the contractor so consistently as to imply, in effect, an agreement to make such payment.

(k) Stock options, stock appreciation rights, and phantom stock plans. (1) The cost of stock options awarded to employees to purchase stock of the contractor or of an affiliate will be treated as deferred compensation and must comply with the requirements of paragraph (m) of this section and with the allowability criteria contained in paragraph (k)(2) of this section. The allowable cost of stock appreciation rights, whether offered separately or combined with stock options, will be determined in the same manner as stock options.

(2) The allowable costs of stock options and stock appreciation rights will be limited to the difference between the option price or stock-appreciation-right price and the market price of the stock on the measurement date (i.e., the first date on which both the number of shares and the option or stock-appreciation-right price are known). Accordingly, when the option or stock-appreciation-right price is equal to or greater than the market price on the measurement date, then no costs are allowed for contract costing purposes.

(3) In phantom-stock-type plans, contractors assign or attribute contingent shares of stock to employees as if the employees own the stock, even though the employees neither purchase the stock nor receive title to it. Under these plans, an employee's account may be increased by the equivalent of dividends issued and any appreciation in the market price of the stock over the price of the stock on the measurement date (i.e., the first date the number of shares awarded is known). Such increases in employee accounts for dividend equivalents and market price appreciation are unallowable.

(l) Pension costs. (1) A pension plan is a deferred compensation plan that is established and maintained by one or more employers to provide systematically for paying benefits to plan participants after their retirement, provided that the benefits are paid for life or are payable for life at the option of the employee. Additional benefits such as permanent and total disability and death payments and survivorship payments to beneficiaries of deceased employees may be treated as pension costs, provided the benefits are an integral part of the pension plan and meet all the criteria pertaining to pension costs.

(2) Pension plans are normally segregated into two types of plans: defined benefit or defined contribution pension plans. Except as provided by other DOE directives, the cost of all defined benefit pension plans shall be measured, allocated, and accounted for in compliance with the provisions of CAS 412, Composition and Measurement of Pension Costs, and CAS 413, Adjustment and Allocation of Pension Cost. The costs of all defined contribution pension plans shall be measured, allocated, and accounted for in accordance with the provisions of CAS 412. Pension costs are allowable subject to directives issued by the Office of Contractor Human Resource Management, Headquarters, the referenced standards and the cost limitations and exclusions set forth below in this paragraph and in paragraphs (l) (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) below.

(i) To be allowable in the current year, pension costs must be funded by the time set for filing the Federal income tax return or any extension thereof. Pension costs assigned to the current year, but not funded by the tax return time, shall not be allowable in any subsequent year.

(ii) Pension payments must be reasonable in amount and be paid pursuant to (A) an agreement entered into in good faith between the contractor and employees before the work or services are performed and (B) the terms and conditions of the established plan. The cost of changes in pension plans which are discriminatory to the Government or are not intended to be applied consistently for all employees under similar circumstances in the future are not allowable.

(iii) Except as provided for early retirement benefits in paragraph (l)(6) below, one-time-only pension supplements not available to all participants of the basic plan are not allowable as pension costs unless the supplemental benefits represent a separate pension plan and the benefits are payable for life at the option of the employee.

(iv) Increases in payments to previously retired plan participants covering cost-of-living adjustments are allowable if paid in accordance with a policy or practice consistently followed.

(3) Defined benefit pension plans. This paragraph covers pension plans in which the benefits to be paid or the basis for determining such benefits are established in advance and the contributions are intended to provide the stated benefits. The cost limitations and exclusions pertaining to defined benefit plans are as follows:

(i) Normal costs of pension plans not funded in the year incurred, and all other components of pension costs (see CAS 412.40(a)(1)) assignable to the current accounting period but not funded during it, shall not be allowable in subsequent years (except that a payment made to a fund by the time set for filing the Federal income tax return or any extension thereof is considered to have been made during such taxable year). However, any part of a pension cost that is computed for a cost accounting period that is deferred pursuant to a waiver granted under the provisions of the Employee's Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (see CAS 412.50(c)(3)), will be allowable in those future accounting periods in which the funding does occur. The allowability of these deferred contributions will be limited to the amounts that would have been allowed had the funding occurred in the year the costs would have been assigned except for the waiver.

(ii) Any amount paid or funded before the time it becomes assignable and allowable shall be applied to future years, in order of time, as if actually paid and deductible in those years. The interest earned on such premature funding, based on the valuation rate of return, may be excluded from future years’ computations of pension costs in accordance with CAS 412.50(a)(7).

(iii) Increased pension costs caused by delay in funding beyond 30 days after each quarter of the year to which they are assignable are unallowable. If a composite rate is used for allocating pension costs between the segments of a company and if, because of differences in the timing of the funding by the segments, an inequity exists, allowable pension costs for each segment will be limited to that particular segment's calculation of pension costs as provided for in CAS 413.50(c)(5). Determination of unallowable costs shall be made in accordance with the actuarial method used in calculating pension costs.

(iv) Allowability of the cost of indemnifying the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) under ERISA section 4062 or 4064 arising from terminating an employee deferred compensation plan will be considered on a case-by-case basis; provided that if insurance was required by the PBGC under ERISA section 4023, it was so obtained and the indemnification payment is not recoverable under the insurance. Consideration under the foregoing circumstances will be primarily for the purpose of appraising the extent to which the indemnification payment is allocable to Government work. If a beneficial or other equitable relationship exists, the Government will participate in the indemnification payment to the extent of its fair share.

(4) Defined contribution pension plans. This paragraph covers those pension plans in which the contributions to be made are established in advance and the level of benefits is determined by the contributions made. It also covers profit sharing, savings plans, and other such plans provided the plans fall within the definition of a pension plan in paragraph (l)(1) of this section.

(i) The pension cost assignable to a cost accounting period is the net contribution required to be made for that period after taking into account dividends and other credits, where applicable. However, any portion of pension cost computed for a cost accounting period that is deferred pursuant to a waiver granted under the provisions of ERISA (see CAS 412.50(c)(3)) will be allowable in those future accounting periods when the funding does occur. The allowability of these deferred contributions will be limited to the amounts that would have been allowed had the funding been made in the year the costs would have been assigned except for the waiver.

(ii) Any amount paid or funded to the trust before the time it becomes assignable and allowable shall be applied to future years, in order of time, as if actually paid and deductible in such years.

(iii) The provisions of paragraph (l)(3)(vi) of this section concerning payments to PBGC apply to defined contribution plans.

(5) Pension plans using pay-as-you-go methods. A pension plan using pay-as-you-go methods is a plan in which the contractor recognizes pension cost only when benefits are paid to retired employees or their beneficiaries. Regardless of whether the payment of pension benefits contribution can or cannot be compelled, allowable costs for these types of plans shall not exceed an amount computed as follows:

(i) Compute, by using an actuarial cost method, the plan's actuarial liability for benefits earned by plan participants. This entire liability is always unfunded for a pay-as-you-go plan.

(ii) Compute a level amount which, including an interest equivalent, would amortize the unfunded actuarial liability over a period of no less than 10 or more than 40 years from the inception of the liability.

(iii) Compute, by using an actuarial cost method, a normal cost for the period.

(iv) The sum of paragraphs (l)(5) (i), (ii), and (iii) of this section represents the amount of pension costs assignable to the current period. This amount, however, is limited to the amount paid in the year.

(v) For purposes of determining contract cost where a pay-as-you-go plan is initiated as either a supplemental plan or an additional but separate plan to a basic funded plan, the plans will be treated as one plan; e.g., the actuarial cost method, past service amortization period, etc., of the basic plan will be used on the supplemental or additional pay-as-you-go plan in determining the proper costs assignable to the current period. Any costs in excess of those determined by using the actuarial cost method and assumptions of the basic plan are unallowable. However, where assumption for salary progressions, mortality rates of the participants, and so forth are significantly different, the assumptions used for the basic and supplemental plan may be different.

(vi) The requirements of paragraphs (l)(3) (i) through (iv) of this section are also applicable to pay-as-you-go plans.

(6) Early retirement incentive plans. An early retirement incentive plan is a plan under which employees receive a bonus or incentive, over and above the requirement of the basic pension plan, to retire early. These plans normally are not applicable to all participants of the basic plan and do not represent life income settlements, and as such would not qualify as pension costs. However, for contract costing purposes, early retirement incentive payments are allowable subject to pension criteria contained in paragraphs (l)(3)(i) through (iv) provided—

(i) The costs are accounted for and allocated in accordance with the contractor's system of accounting for pension costs (see paragraph (l)(5)(v) of this section for supplemental pension benefits);

(ii) The payments are made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contractor's plan;

(iii) The plan is applied only to active employees. The cost of extending the plan to employees who retired or were terminated before the adoption of the plan is unallowable; and

(iv) The total of the incentive payments to any employee may not exceed the amount of the employee's annual salary for the previous fiscal year before the employee's retirement.

(7) Employee stock ownership plans (ESOP). (i) An ESOP is an individual stock bonus plan designed specifically to invest in the stock of the employer corporation. The contractor's contributions to an Employee Stock Ownership Trust (ESOT) may be in the form of cash, stock, or property. Costs of ESOP's are allowable subject to the following conditions:

(A) Contributions by the contractor in any one year may not exceed 15 percent (25 percent when a money purchase plan is included) of salaries and wages of employees participating in the plan in any particular year.

(B) The contribution rate (ratio of contribution to salaries and wages of participating employees) may not exceed the last approved contribution rate except when approved by the contracting officer based upon justification provided by the contractor. When no contribution was made in the previous year for an existing ESOP, or when a new ESOP is first established, and the contractor proposes to make a contribution in the current year, the contribution rate shall be subject to the contracting officer's approval.

(C) When a plan or agreement exists wherein the liability for the contribution can be compelled for a specific year, the expense associated with that liability is assignable only to that period. Any portion of the contribution not funded by the time set for filing of the Federal income tax return for that year or any extension thereof shall not be allowable in subsequent years.

(D) When a plan or agreement exists wherein the liability for the contribution cannot be compelled, the amount contributed for any year is assignable to that year provided the amount is funded by the time set for filing of the Federal income tax return for that year.

(E) When the contribution is in the form of stock, the value of the stock contribution shall be limited to the fair market value of the stock on the date that title is effectively transferred to the trust. Cash contributions shall be allowable only when the contractor furnishes evidence satisfactory to the contracting officer demonstrating that stock purchases by the ESOT are or will be at a fair market price; e.g., makes arrangements with the trust permitting the contracting officer to examine purchases of stock by the trust to determine that prices paid are at fair market value. When excessive prices are paid, the amount of the excess will be credited to the same indirect cost pools that were charged for the ESOP contributions in the year in which the stock purchase occurs. However, when the trust purchases the stock with borrowed funds which will be repaid over a period of years by cash contributions from the contractor to the trust, the excess price over fair market value shall be credited to the indirect cost pools pro rata over the period of years during which the contractor contributes the cash used by the trust to repay the loan. When the fair market value of unissued stock or stock of a closely held corporation is not readily determinable, the valuation will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the guidelines for valuation used by the IRS.

(ii) Amounts contributed to an ESOP arising from either (A) an additional investment tax credit (see 1975 Tax Reduction Act); or (B) a payroll-based tax credit (see Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981) are unallowable.

(iii) The requirements of paragraphs (l)(3)(ii) of this section are applicable to Employee Stock Ownership Plans.

(m) Deferred compensation. (1) Deferred compensation is an award given by an employer to compensate an employee in a future cost accounting period or periods for services rendered in one or more cost accounting periods before the date of receipt of compensation by the employee. Deferred compensation does not include the amount of year-end accruals for salaries, wages, or bonuses that are paid within a reasonable period of time after the end of a cost accounting period. Subject to 970.3102-2(a), deferred awards are allowable when they are based on current or future services. Awards made in periods subsequent to the period when the work being remunerated was performed are not allowable.

(2) The costs of deferred awards shall be measured, allocated, and accounted for in compliance with the provisions of CAS 415, Accounting for the Cost of Deferred Compensation.

(3) Deferred compensation payments to employees under awards made before the effective date of CAS 415 are allowable to the extent they would have been allowable under prior acquisition regulations.

(n) Fringe benefits. Fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by the contractor to its employees, as compensation, in addition to regular wages and salaries. Subject to the determination that total compensation is reasonable in accordance with this 970.3102-2, costs of fringe benefits such as pay for vacations, holidays, sick leave, military leave, employee insurance, pension, retirement plans, and supplemental unemployment benefit plans are to be treated as allowable, provided such fringe benefits meet the following conditions;

(1) The benefits contribute to the performance of contract work and are appropriate for reimbursement from public funds;

(2) Such benefit plans as exist in the contractor's private operations that are inconsistent with DOE published requirements are appropriately modified or disallowed;

(3) Employee benefit plans especially established to meet the particular needs of the contract are in conformity with published DOE policy and standards;

(4) Appropriate controls under the contract are established to assure that employees on contract work are treated no more or no less favorably than employees in the contractor's private operation, except to the extent that paragraphs (n)(2) and (3) of this section apply;

(5) To the fullest extent possible, definite limitations or terminal points are established for each of the various benefit plans, so that DOE's full liability with respect thereto is established under the contract; and

(6) DOE has access to all information necessary to complete understanding of the means of computing or determining the cost of the benefits afforded contract employees and their dependents under the benefit plans.

(o) Training and education expenses. See 970.5204-13 and 970.5204-14.

(p) Special compensation. The following costs are unallowable:

(1) Special compensation to employees pursuant to agreements which permit payments in excess of the contractor's normal severance pay practices, if their employment terminates following a change in the management control over, or ownership of, the contractor or a substantial portion of its assets.

(2) Special compensation to employees pursuant to agreements which permit payments resulting from a change, whether actual or prospective, in the management control over, or ownership of, the contractor or a portion of its assets which is contingent upon the employee remaining with the contractor for a stated period of time.

(q) Limitation on allowability of compensation for certain contractor personnel. Costs incurred for compensation of a senior executive in excess of the benchmark compensation amount determined applicable for the contractor fiscal year by the Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, are unallowable. Allowable costs of executive compensation shall be determined pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 31.205-6(p).