15.308
Source selection decision
The SSA must independently document and justify source selection decisions based on all solicitation criteria, clearly explaining any tradeoffs made.
Overview
FAR 15.308 outlines the requirements for the source selection decision in negotiated procurements. The Source Selection Authority (SSA) must base their decision on a comparative assessment of proposals using all criteria specified in the solicitation. While the SSA can consider input from evaluation teams or advisors, the final decision must reflect the SSA’s independent judgment. The decision must be thoroughly documented, including the rationale for any business judgments or tradeoffs, such as the benefits of higher costs. However, the documentation does not need to provide a quantitative analysis of tradeoffs, only a clear explanation of the reasoning behind the selection.
Key Rules
- Comparative Assessment Required
- The SSA must evaluate proposals against all source selection criteria in the solicitation.
- Independent Judgment
- The SSA’s decision must reflect their own independent judgment, even if they use supporting reports or analyses.
- Documentation of Decision
- The source selection decision must be documented, including the rationale for business judgments and tradeoffs.
- No Quantification Required
- The rationale for tradeoffs does not need to include quantitative analysis, just a clear explanation.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure the SSA’s decision is properly documented and based on solicitation criteria.
- Contractors: Understand that award decisions are based on comparative assessments and documented rationale.
- Agencies: Oversee that source selection processes are transparent and compliant with FAR requirements.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures transparency and accountability in source selection decisions.
- Contractors should focus on addressing all evaluation criteria, knowing the SSA must justify their decision.
- Common pitfalls include inadequate documentation or failure to base decisions on stated criteria.