11.204 Solicitation provisions
Source: FAR 11.204 on acquisition.gov
Contracting officers must include the correct solicitation provision to inform offerors how to access referenced specifications not provided with the solicitation.
Overview
FAR 11.204 outlines the requirements for including specific solicitation provisions related to the availability of specifications and standards referenced in government solicitations. The section ensures that offerors have access to all necessary technical documents, whether they are listed in the GSA Index, available through the ASSIST website, or obtainable from other designated sources. Contracting officers must insert the appropriate FAR provisions in solicitations depending on where the referenced specifications can be accessed, especially when these documents are not provided directly with the solicitation package.
Key Rules
- GSA Index Specifications (52.211-1)
- Insert this provision when citing specifications listed in the GSA Index that are not included with the solicitation.
- ASSIST Website Specifications (52.211-2)
- Use this provision for specifications available on the ASSIST website that are not furnished with the solicitation.
- Other Obtainable Specifications (52.211-3)
- Insert a similar provision when citing specifications not in the GSA Index but obtainable from a designated source.
- Specifications for Examination (52.211-4)
- Use a similar provision when specifications are not in the GSA Index but are available for examination at a specified location.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must ensure the correct solicitation provision is included based on the source and availability of cited specifications.
- Contractors: Should review solicitation provisions to understand how and where to access required specifications.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance with these requirements to ensure fair and open competition.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures transparency and accessibility of technical requirements, reducing ambiguity for offerors.
- Failure to include the correct provision may result in confusion, protests, or non-compliant bids.
- Contractors must pay close attention to solicitation instructions to obtain all necessary documents for proposal preparation.
(a) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-1, Availability of Specifications Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, in solicitations that cite specifications listed in the Index that are not furnished with the solicitation.
(b) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-2, Availability of Defense Specifications, Standards, and Data Item Descriptions in the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) website, in solicitations that cite specifications available in ASSIST that are not furnished with the solicitation.
(c) The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.211-3, Availability of Specifications Not Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, in solicitations that cite specifications that are not listed in the Index and are not furnished with the solicitation, but may be obtained from a designated source.
(d) The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially the same as the provision at 52.211-4, Availability for Examination of Specifications Not Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, in solicitations that cite specifications that are not listed in the Index and are available for examination at a specified location.