18.205 Resources
Source: FAR 18.205 on acquisition.gov
FAR 18.205 directs contracting professionals to essential federal resources—the National Response Framework and OFPP Emergency Acquisitions Guide—for effective and compliant emergency acquisitions.
Overview
FAR 18.205 provides contracting professionals with references to essential resources for emergency acquisitions, specifically the National Response Framework (NRF) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Emergency Acquisitions Guide. The NRF outlines the national strategy for responding to all-hazards incidents, detailing the roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms among federal, state, local, private sector, and non-governmental entities. The OFPP guide offers practical procurement guidance for federal agencies during emergencies, ensuring acquisitions are conducted efficiently and in compliance with federal regulations. These resources are critical for ensuring a coordinated and effective response during domestic emergencies or catastrophic incidents.
Key Rules
- National Response Framework (NRF)
- Contracting professionals must understand and reference the NRF for guidance on national response coordination and federal roles during emergencies.
- OFPP Emergency Acquisitions Guide
- The OFPP guide provides detailed procedures and best practices for emergency procurement and should be consulted during emergency acquisition activities.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must familiarize themselves with and utilize the NRF and OFPP guide when planning and executing emergency acquisitions.
- Contractors: Should be aware of the frameworks guiding federal emergency response and procurement processes.
- Agencies: Responsible for ensuring staff are trained and have access to these resources during emergency situations.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures contracting professionals have immediate access to authoritative resources for emergency acquisitions.
- It helps streamline procurement processes during emergencies, reducing confusion and delays.
- Failure to consult these resources may result in non-compliance or ineffective response during critical incidents.
(a) National Response Framework. The National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide to how the Nation conducts all-hazards response. This key document establishes a comprehensive, national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response. The Framework identifies the key response principles, roles and structures that organize national response. It describes how communities, States, the Federal Government, the private-sector, and nongovernmental partners apply these principles for a coordinated, effective national response. It also describes special circumstances where the Federal Government exercises a larger role, including incidents where Federal interests are involved and catastrophic incidents where a State would require significant support. The NRF is available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/117791" target="_blank">https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/117791.
(b) OFPP Guidelines. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) "Emergency Acquisitions Guide" is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/assets/procurement_guides/emergency_acquisitions_guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/assets/procurement_guides/emergency_acquisitions_guide.pdf.