Types of negotiated acquisition
Tailor RFPs and acquisition procedures to the specific environment—streamline for sole source, and ensure fairness and best value for competitive acquisitions.
Overview
FAR 15.002 outlines the two primary types of negotiated acquisitions: sole source and competitive. For sole source acquisitions, contracting officers are encouraged to streamline the Request for Proposals (RFP) by removing unnecessary information, such as detailed evaluation criteria and extensive proposal instructions, since only one offeror is involved. For competitive acquisitions, the regulation emphasizes minimizing the complexity of the solicitation, evaluation, and source selection processes, while ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation that leads to the best value for the Government. This section sets the foundational approach for tailoring acquisition procedures based on the competitive environment, aiming to balance efficiency with fairness and value.
Key Rules
- Sole Source Acquisitions
- RFPs should be simplified by omitting unnecessary requirements and information, focusing only on what is essential for the single offeror.
- Competitive Acquisitions
- Procedures should reduce complexity but maintain impartiality and comprehensiveness in evaluating proposals to ensure best value selection.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must tailor RFPs appropriately for sole source or competitive environments, ensuring efficiency and compliance with FAR Part 15 principles.
- Contractors: Should be aware of the streamlined or comprehensive requirements depending on the acquisition type.
- Agencies: Oversee that acquisition procedures align with the intent to minimize complexity and maximize value.
Practical Implications
- This section exists to promote efficiency and fairness in negotiated acquisitions.
- It impacts daily contracting by guiding how RFPs are structured and how proposals are evaluated based on the acquisition environment.
- Common pitfalls include over-complicating sole source RFPs or failing to ensure fairness in competitive evaluations.