Good morning to all our FUN with the FAR℠ Family!
This Wednesday marks our fourth episode of FUN with the FAR℠ Season 12! This episode will cover FAR Parts 7, 10, and 11, and Steve Daoust will be joined by our expert guest speaker, Matt Keller!
FAR Part 7: Acquisition Planning
FAR Part 10: Market Research
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
As we prepare for our 4th episode of Season 12, here are a few Episode 4 FAR Facts for us to think about:
- A request for a rated order item will always take precedence over requests for an unrated item and must be fulfilled first. FAR 11.603(a).
- Agencies are required to perform market research and acquisition planning for ALL acquisitions. FAR 7.102(a).
- Market research and acquisition planning is required to help Contracting Officers determine, among other things, whether the Government should/can use (i) commercial items, (ii) full and open competition, (iii) fixed price contracts and (iv) pre-existing contracts (including inter-agency or intra-agency contracts) to best meet the Government procurement needs. FAR 7.102(a)(1)-(4); FAR 10.001(a)(3).
- The “acquisition planner” does not need to be the assigned Contracting Officer.
- The instructions for completing a proper acquisition plan are set forth in FAR 7.105.
- A list of services “generally” not considered to be inherently governmental functions can be found at FAR 7.503(d).
- A list of excellent Government market research tools is set forth at FAR 10.002(b)(2).
- The Government’s use of “performance specifications” is preferred over “design specifications”. FAR 11.104(a).
- As a general rule, the Government is not permitted to establish a requirement for a particular brand name product, or a feature of a product peculiar to one manufacturer. FAR 11.105. The establishment of a brand name “or equivalent” requirement as established at FAR 11.104, however, is permissible.
- The Government’s Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) is based upon a Department of Commerce regulation. FAR 11.600.