Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

(3) The mortuary services that are normally included in the minimal service for direct cremation of remains are;
professional services of the funeral director and staff, transfer of remains to funeral home in a service vehicle, transfer
of the remains to and return of remains from the crematory, cremation, minimal container for cremation, required
medical examiner permits, and other preparation of remains (such as restorative art). Itemized merchandise that should
be included in a mortuary service contract that is not normally included in the minimal service for forwarding of
remains are urn to include engraving and carrying box.
(4) Mortuary service contracts are normally Free on Board (F.O.B.) origin as CAC personnel inspect and accept the
service at the contract funeral home. Accordingly, any additional charges at the receiving funeral home for additional
preparation of the remains or correcting damage to the casket is the Army’s responsibility.
b. Unauthorized service. Mortuary services that may not be included in the mortuary service contract include; use of
facility and staff for viewing or visitation, funeral ceremony, or grave-side service. The charges for these services are
reimbursed as part of the funeral or interment allowance paid to the PADD.
5–4. Mortuary service contracting
a. Mortuary Affairs representatives and contracting officers will ensure the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Department
of Defense FAR Supplement, and Army regulations are followed when obtaining mortuary service contracts. In
the event the Government contract funeral home is also the PADD’s receiving funeral home, a separate contract is
required for the Government procured services and merchandise. Services and merchandise selected or requested by the
PADD will be included on the PADD’s separate contract with the funeral home.
b. The CAC representative and supporting contracting official will meet annually to review procedures for obtaining
mortuary services.
Section II
Requirements Contracts
5–5. Use of indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity requirements contracts
a. Within the United States, requirements contracts will be requested if the number of deaths is estimated to be 10
or more within a given area of performance for a period of a year. In areas where installations of more than one
Service or several installations of the same Service are located, the combined death rate will be considered in providing
a single contract for use by all installations concerned. This also can apply to an area outside the United States where
armed services mortuaries are not available.
b. The responsible CAC will request the servicing contracting office to execute an indefinite delivery-indefinite
quantity requirements contract for mortuary services with a civilian funeral establishment. The contract’s area of
performance will not be so large as to preclude the timely and prompt processing and transportation of remains. The
contract will allow the contract funeral home no more than 36 hours to prepare and ship the remains to the place
designated by the PADD.
5–6. Information needed for requirements contract
The CAC will work very closely with the contracting officer to ensure that desired mortuary services are procured. The
CAC will provide the contracting officer a complete procurement package. This package will include but will not be
limited to the following:
a. Checklist for Inspection of Funeral Homes Before Award of Contract for Care of Remains (see app H). At the
request of the contracting officer, the CAC must be prepared to conduct or assist in a pre-award survey to determine
contractor responsibility.
b. Estimated casket requirements. The number and type (metal and wood) of specification caskets and size (standard
and oversized). The number of oversized caskets normally will be less than 5 percent of the number of standard caskets
unless experience dictates otherwise.
c. Estimated quantities of any other end items. Estimated quantities of any other end items to be priced by
prospective contractor, such as outer shipping containers, urns, and so forth.
d. Transportation. Estimated transportation requirements (not applicable for contracts at port mortuaries).
e. Boundaries of the area of performance. The names and addresses of all organizations and installations to be
serviced within the area of performance under the contract.
f. Armed services specifications. These specifications will be made part of the actual contract. No deviations in the
wording of the specifications will be made without prior approval of CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D). These
specifications also will be used, when possible, when procuring mortuary services and supplies by purchase order. The
CAC personnel will be thoroughly familiar with the requirements in these specifications. Copies of these specifications
are contained as appendixes to this regulation.
(1) Armed Services Specification for Mortuary Services (Care of Remains of Deceased Personnel and Regular and
Port of Entry Requirements for Caskets and Shipping Cases) (app C).
(2) Armed Services Specification for Hardwood Caskets for Base and Port of Entry Requirements (app D).
AR 638–2 22 December 2000
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