SUBCHAPTER B - ACQUISITION PLANNING

Question 1

Parts of Subchapter B - Acquisition Planning

Answer 1

5 - Publicizing Contract Actions
6 - Competition Requirements
7 - Acquisition Planning
8 - Required Sources of Supplies and Services
9 - Contractor Qualifications
10 - Market Research
11 - Describing Agency Needs
12 - Acquisition of Commercial Items

Question 2

PART 5

Answer 2

PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

Question 3

PART 6

Answer 3

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS

Question 4

PART 7

Answer 4

ACQUISITION PLANNING

Question 5

PART 8

Answer 5

REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

Question 6

PART 9

Answer 6

CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Question 7

PART 10

Answer 7

MARKET RESEARCH

Question 8

PART 11

Answer 8

DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

Question 9

PART 12

Answer 9

ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Question 10

Why publicize

Answer 10

• Increase competition
• Broaden industry participation in meeting government requirement
• Assist small business concerns in obtaining contracts and subcontracts

Question 11

Publicizing requirement

Answer 11

• Requirements exceeding $25K
• For actions $15K-$25K - display in public place (newspaper, etc.)

Publicize in Government-wide point of entry - FidBizOpps www.fbo.gov

Question 12

Part 6-competition requirements - applicability

Answer 12

Part applies to all acquisition except

1. contracts awarded using the simplified acquisition procedures of Part 13
2. Contracts awarded using contracting procedures (other than those addressed in this part ( that are expressly authorized by statute;
3. Contract modifications, including the exercise of priced options that were evaluated as part of the initial competition, that are within the scope and under the terms of an existing contract
4. Orders placed under requirements contracts or definite-quantity contracts
5. Orders placed under indefinite-quantity contracts
6. Orders placed against task order and delivery order contracts entered into pursuant to subpart 16.5

Question 13

Full and open competition

Answer 13

• Sealed bids,
• Competitive proposals
• Combination of competitive procedures (two-step sealed bidding),
• Other competitive procedures (e.g. selection of sources for architect-engineer contracts)

Question 14

Full and Open competition after exclusion of sources FAR 6.2

Answer 14

Agencies may exclude sources if the agency headed determines that to do so would increase or maintain competition and likely result in reduced overall costs; would be in the interest of national defense; would ensure the continuous availability of a reliable source of supplies or services; would satisfy projected needs based on a history of high demand; or satisfy a critical need for medical, safety, or emergency supplies.

Must be supported by D&F signed by head of the agency and not made on a class basis.

Question 15

Additional exclusion of sources

Answer 15

Small Business set-asides - no D&F or separate justification required.

Question 16

Exceptions to full and open competition

Answer 16

1. Only one responsible source
2. Unusual and compelling urgency
3. Industrial mobilization
4. International agreement
5. Source authorized or required by statute
6. National security and
7. Public interest.

Question 17

Justification for for exception to F&O competition

Answer 17

-contracts not exceeding $700,000 by the CO
exceed $700,000, but less than $13.5 million by the competition advocate
-contracts exceed $13.5 million but not exceeding $68 million ($93 million for DOD, NASA, and Coast Guard); by the head of procuring activity above GS-15
-contracts exceeding this amount by the senior procurement executive of the agency

Question 18

Acquisition of commercial items

Answer 18

It is policy that the government acquire commercial or nondevelopmental items whenever they are available and to require prime contractors and subcontracts at all tiers to incorporate commercial and nondevelopmental products as components whenever possible.

Question 19

FAR Part 12 - applicability

Answer 19

FAR Part 12 does not apply to the acquisition of commercial items at or below the micro-purchase threshold, or those acquired using the SF 44, the imprest fund, the governmentwide commercial purchase card, or directly from another federal agency.

Question 20

Commercial Item purchases

Answer 20

Use part 12 with , parts 13, 14, 15 as appropriate for the type of acquisition.

Question 21

Commercial Items and Part 12 Thresholds

Answer 21

For acquisitions of commercial items exceeding the SAT but not exceeding $7Million ($13 million for acquisitions are described in 13.500(e)), including options, contracting activities shall employ the simplified procedures authorized by subpart 13.5 to the maximum extent practical.

Question 22

SF 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items

Answer 22

Use if the acquisition is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, a paper solicitation or contract is being issued, and streamlined solicitation procedures are not being used. The use of the SF 1449 is not mandatory, but encourage for commercial acquisition not exceeding the SAT.

Question 23

Commercial Items and Technical information

Answer 23

Use existing product literature instead of technical proposals.

Question 24

Commercial Items contract types

Answer 24

FFP or FFP/EPA

Question 25

Commercial Items and inspection

Answer 25

Rely on a contractor’s existing quality assurance systems as a substitute for government inspection and testing unless other customary market practices exist.

Question 26

Data and Commercial Items

Answer 26

CP shall assume the data was developed exclusively at private expense.

Question 27

Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)

Answer 27

Do not apply to contracts and subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items unless the contract provides for an economic price adjustment based on actual costs incurred. (FAR 12.214)

Question 28

Tailoring

Answer 28

Do not tailor:

• Assignments
• Disputes
• Payment (except as provided in Subpart 32.11)
• Invoice
• Compliance with laws unique to gov’t and other compliances
• Unauthorized obligations

Question 29

Unique Requirements regarding T’s & C’s for Commercial Items (FAR 12.4)

Answer 29

Acceptance
Termination
Warranties (Implied[operation of law] or express[written card in box])

Question 30

Streamlined evaluation and solicitation of commercial items

Answer 30

When written solicitation will be issued, the CO may combine the GPE synopsis and the solicitation into a single document.