Hello and thank you for joining us for our first eight Episodes of Fun with the FAR Season 10!
Our next session will cover: FAR Parts 9 (Contractor Qualifications) and 14 (Sealed Bidding)
As we prepare for our ninth episode of Season 10, here are a few FAR Facts for us to think about
A contract awarded using other than sealed bidding procedures is a “negotiated contract.” FAR 15.000.
- Exchanges of information between the Government and industry are permitted and encouraged during the pre- solicitation stage. FAR 15.201(a).
- The Government may request oral presentations in FAR Part 15 procurements. FAR 15.102.
- Contracting officers are required to take detailed notes during oral presentations to document what the Government relied upon for purposes of source selection. FAR 15.102(d)-(e). A best practice is for the contracting officer to tape record the oral presentation.
- The Government is required to evaluate price or cost in all FAR Part 15 acquisitions. FAR 15.304(c)(1).
- Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that include FAR 52.215-1(f)(4) permit the Government to award a FAR Part 15-based contract upon receipt of initial proposals.
- Proprietary information included in a contractor’s proposal will be protected from third party disclosure if it is properly marked in accordance with FAR 52.215-1(e).
- To be considered for award, contractors must submit their proposals in strict compliance with instructions set forth in Section L of the solicitation. If no time for submission is referenced in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 pm, local time, for the designated office on the date that proposals are due. FAR 15.208(a).
- At the conclusion of discussions, each offeror still in the competitive range shall be given an opportunity to submit a final proposal revision. FAR 15.307(b).
- The term “best and final offer” has now been changed to “final proposal revision.” FAR 15.307(b).
- Disappointed offerors are entitled to a debriefing only if they request one in writing within three (3) days of receiving notice that the contract has been awarded to another contractor. FAR 15.506(a)(1).
- The Government is not required to hold in-person debriefings. FAR 15.505(c).
- During a debriefing, a disappointed offeror is entitled to obtain the following information about the winning contractor: (i) the overall evaluated cost or price (including unit prices) and (ii) the technical ranking of the winning contractor relative to the technical ranking of the debriefed offerors. FAR 15.506(d).
- Unsolicited proposals should only be used for the sale and purchase of “innovative and unique ideas or approaches that have been developed outside the Government.” FAR 15.603.