Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 pan with parchment.
Cream butter, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in oats, baking soda, salt, and flour until crumbly.
Press half the mixture into pan and bake 10 minutes.
Stir flour into caramel sauce. Spread caramel over crust (carefully!), sprinkle with chocolate chips, then top with remaining dough.
Bake 18–22 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
Cool 1 hour at room temp, then chill 1–2 hours before cutting into bars - I like them best chilled.
Slice, serve, and watch them disappear.
