14.205 Presolicitation notices
Source: FAR 14.205 on acquisition.gov
Presolicitation notices help agencies efficiently manage bid set distribution by identifying interested parties before sending full solicitation documents.
Overview
FAR 14.205 allows contracting officers to send presolicitation notices instead of immediately distributing complete bid sets to potential bidders. These notices serve as an initial communication to gauge interest and manage the distribution of bid documents efficiently. The notice must specify the deadline for requesting a full bid set, provide a brief description of the requirement, and include enough information for recipients to decide if they are interested. Typically, detailed documents like drawings and specifications are not included in the presolicitation notice. The deadline for responses must allow enough time to estimate how many bid sets are needed before the formal invitation for bids is sent. Only those who respond to the notice will receive the complete bid set.
In lieu of initially forwarding complete bid sets, the contracting officer may send presolicitation notices to concerns. The notice shall-
(a) Specify the final date for receipt of requests for a complete bid set;
(b) Briefly describe the requirement and furnish other essential information to enable concerns to determine whether they have an interest in the invitation; and
(c) Normally not include drawings, plans, and specifications. The return date of the notice must be sufficiently in advance of the mailing date of the invitation for bids to permit an accurate estimate of the number of bid sets required. Bid sets shall be sent to concerns that request them in response to the notice.