Availability of Specifications Listed in the GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29
Contractors must obtain all referenced federal specifications and standards for applicable solicitations from the ASSIST website to ensure compliance with solicitation requirements.
Overview
This FAR provision informs contractors about the availability and access procedures for federal specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions referenced in solicitations. It directs contractors to the ASSIST website (https://assist.dla.mil) as the official source for downloading these documents. The provision specifically applies when the solicitation is issued by the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring that contractors know where to obtain the necessary technical documents to prepare compliant offers.
Key Rules
- Access to Specifications and Standards
- Contractors must use the ASSIST website to download federal specifications, standards, and product descriptions referenced in the solicitation.
- Agency-Specific Applicability
- When solicitations are issued by GSA, Department of Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs, the cited documents are available through the same ASSIST website.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must include this provision in applicable solicitations and ensure referenced documents are accessible via ASSIST.
- Contractors: Must obtain and review all cited specifications and standards from the ASSIST website to ensure compliance with solicitation requirements.
- Agencies: Ensure the provision is included in solicitations and that referenced documents are current and accessible.
Practical Implications
- This provision ensures transparency and equal access to technical requirements for all offerors.
- Contractors must proactively download and review all referenced documents to avoid non-compliance.
- Failure to use the correct specifications or standards may result in disqualification or nonresponsive offers.