Subpart 13.1
Procedures
FAR Subpart 13.1 streamlines small-dollar federal procurements by establishing efficient, competitive, and transparent procedures for simplified acquisitions.
Overview
FAR Subpart 13.1 outlines the core procedures for conducting simplified acquisitions under Part 13. It provides contracting professionals with the foundational steps for source selection, competition, price quotation management, public posting, and award documentation. The subpart is designed to streamline procurement for lower-dollar-value contracts, emphasizing efficiency, competition, and transparency while reducing administrative burden. Each section addresses a specific aspect of the simplified acquisition process, from maintaining source lists and using standing price quotations to promoting competition and fulfilling synopsis requirements.
Key Rules
- General Procedures (13.101)
- Establishes the overall approach for simplified acquisitions, focusing on efficiency and compliance with applicable laws.
- Source List (13.102)
- Requires maintaining a list of potential sources to ensure fair opportunity and competition.
- Standing Price Quotations (13.103)
- Allows the use of previously obtained price quotations to expedite purchases when appropriate.
- Promoting Competition (13.104)
- Mandates efforts to maximize competition among qualified sources.
- Synopsis and Posting Requirements (13.105)
- Details when and how to publicly post procurement opportunities and awards.
- Soliciting, Evaluating, and Awarding (13.106)
- Provides procedures for soliciting offers, evaluating responses, making awards, and documenting the process.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must follow streamlined procedures, maintain source lists, promote competition, and ensure proper documentation and public posting.
- Contractors: Should be aware of how simplified acquisition procedures affect solicitation and award processes, and respond accordingly.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance with simplified acquisition rules and ensure transparency and fairness.
Practical Implications
- This subpart exists to make small-dollar procurements faster and less burdensome while maintaining integrity and competition.
- It impacts daily contracting by reducing paperwork and speeding up awards, but still requires careful documentation and adherence to competition requirements.
- Common pitfalls include inadequate competition, poor documentation, or failure to properly post opportunities.