Negotiations
The Contracting Officer holds discussions in this step with offerors to resolve
any deficiencies in their respective technical and/or cost proposals. These discussions
may take place orally or in writing. Each offeror is given the same amount of time
to submit a revised proposal. As a result of discussions with offerors the technical
evaluation panel must be reconvened to re-evaluate any proposal revisions. The process
then proceeds to final clearance approval. The Contracting Officer makes a preliminary
selection and obtains SSA (or higher approval) and documents the selection of the
single contractor that will compete with the MEO in the final step of the cost comparison.
The selection of the single contractor should be a"best value" source selection
process with the expected outcome of an aquisition that provides the greatest overall
benefit to the Government in response to the solicitation. All competitive methods
of Federal procurement provided for in the FAR are appropriate, including sealed
bids, two-step source selection, cost technical trade-off and other competitive
qualifications-based or negotiated procurement techniques. In selecting the method
of procurement and contract type, the Contracting Officer analyzes the PWS and applies
the guidance contained in OFPP Policy Letter 91-2 and FAR Part 16. Source Selection
or negotiated procurement techniques may be used for some A-76 cost comparisons.
What is the purpose of a source selection plan?
A source selection plan serves as the approach for soliciting and evaluating proposals.
It describes the relevant factors and sub-factors, the relative importance of each,
and the methodology to be used for evaluating proposals. Most importantly, the source
selection plan provides essential information to the Contracting Officer for development
of Sections L and M of the solicitation and serves as the Source Selection Team's
guide during proposal evaluations.
What are the acquisition rules during a Tradeoff-Negotiation Process, also known
as a negotiated tradeoff or Cost Technical/Tradeoff approach (CTT)?
When the acquisition process used is the negotiated tradeoff approach, commonly
referred to as the Cost Technical/Tradeoff (CTT) approach, the in-house bid must
be supported by a Technical Performance Plan (TPP). The TPP must respond to the
same instructions provided industry in Sections L and M of the solicitation, with
the exception of those instructions excluded by the Contracting Officer. It is good
practice to notify industry through solicitation Sections L and M of the specific
items the in-house offer is relieved from including in its response. The Government
Management Plan describes the MEO structure, while the TPP explains how the MEO
will perform. The TPP should follow the format instructions described in Section
L of the solicitation and should emphasize the evaluation factors listed in Section
M. The TPP is bound by the same page limitations imposed on industry and is only
required for those acquisitions which use the negotiated tradeoff approach.
How is the Technical Performance Plan (TPP) used during negotiations?
The TPP is a critical document for Cost Technical Tradeoff acquisitions. The Source
Selection Authority (SSA) is obligated to review the TPP and apply the same level
of review and analysis used for the industry offers. The SSA is responsible for
determining the MEO's ability to perform the work requirements, identifying any
deficiencies found in the MEO's approach and providing the MEO an opportunity to
respond to the deficiency notices; and providing the MEO the opportunity to revise
its proposal against any amended Performance Work Statement requirements as a result
of the industry cost technical tradeoff evaluation. In the course of this process,
the SSA must conduct any discussions with the MEO offeror through the Contracting
Officer using the same techniques used for communicating with the industry offerors.
Resources:
Policy
Guides And Recommended Readings