Hello and thank you for joining us for Episode 19 of Fun with the FAR Season 11!
Our next session will cover FAR Parts 34 (Major System Acquisition) and 35 (Research and Development Contracting)! As we prepare for our 20th episode of Season 11, here are a few Episode 20 FAR Facts for us to think about:
- The program manager shall, throughout the acquisition process, promote full and open competition and sustain effective competition between alternative major system concepts and sources, as long as it is economically beneficial and practicable to do so. FAR 34.005.
- An Earned Value Management System (EVMS) is required for major acquisitions for development, in accordance with OMB Circular A-11. FAR 34.201(a).
- The Government has the authority to request that a prime contractor’s subcontractors possess a compliant EVMS. FAR 52.234-3(c) and 52.234-4(g).
- In reviewing work statements, contracting officers should ensure that language suitable for a level-of-effort approach, which requires the furnishing of technical effort and a report on the results, is not intermingled with language suitable for a task completion approach, which often requires the development of a tangible end item design to achieve specific performance characteristics. FAR 35.005(c).
- BAAs must be publicized through the Government-wide point of entry (GPE) and may also be published in noted scientific, technical, or engineering periodicals if authorized pursuant to subpart 5.5. FAR 35.016(c).
- FFRDCs are operated, managed, and/or administered by either a university or consortium of universities, other not-for-profit or nonprofit organization, or an industrial firm, as an autonomous organization or as an identifiable separate operating unite of a parent organization. FAR 35.017(a)(3).
- An FFRDC may, if permitted by its Sponsoring Agreement, provide research and development services to agencies other than its “sponsoring agency.” FAR 35.017-3
- The National Science Foundation maintains a master list of all FFRDCs. FAR 35.017-6.