November 20, 2023

Vendors/Contractors:

The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, comprised of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court, and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, is issuing this notice to apprise the Judiciary contractor community of plans regarding contract actions that may be necessary in the event that contract funding is affected by a lapse in appropriations, better known as a Federal Government Shutdown. As you are aware, the budget for fiscal year 2024 has not been fully enacted and may result in a lapse in the funds designated to purchase supplies and services by contract and a reduction in the Government's capacity to administer Judiciary contracts.

Congress has enacted a continuing resolution to fund the government until February 2, 2024. A lapse in appropriations after this date, would mean that several government activities would cease, including, in some cases, performance under contracts. In addition, certain planned procurements may be cancelled, and certain existing contracts may be stopped, reduced in scope, terminated, or partially terminated. In yet other cases, both contractors and the Court may be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations due to circumstances created by the lapse in appropriations, a sovereign act of the government.

Should the Court’s contracting officers determine that any of these actions is necessary or that contractors will be unable to fulfill their obligations, the Court’s contracting officer will provide prompt notice and instructions to contractors for each affected contract. If a contract will not be affected by the lapse in appropriations, the Judiciary will not provide a separate notification or communication to that effect.

Unless the Court’s contracting officer provides the contractor a formal notification to the contrary, all Judiciary contractors must continue to fulfill their contractual obligations to the Court unless notified otherwise, Contractors must continue to comply with all terms, conditions, requirements and delivery requirements specified in their contracts during a period covered by a lapse in appropriations.

Thank you for your continued support and business with the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, and for your cooperation as we work together to manage a potential future lapse in appropriations.