Week 3 Notes Selecting a Contractor Information FAR Part 9 mandates that

Week 3 Notes

Selecting a Contractor Information

FAR Part 9 mandates that purchases shall be made from, and contracts shall be awarded to, responsible prospective contractors only. No purchase or award can be made unless the contracting officer makes an affirmative determination of the contractor’s responsibility. In the absence of information clearly indicating that the prospective contractor is responsible, the contracting officer must make a determination of non-responsibility.

To understand the subject of market research we must begin within its definition of being described as a “continuous process for gathering data.” That process takes shape from both a strategic and a tactical vantage point. Strategic market research is that overarching process of market “surveillance” that will take place continuously throughout the entire acquisition lifecycle. From the early stages of the Materiel Solution Analysis Phase through to the final steps in the Operations and Support Phase; acquisition workforce members in all disciplines are engaged at varying degrees of market research to remain knowledgeable in market developments that may meet government requirements. The tactical side of market research is the market “investigation” layer of the process. Again this is ongoing throughout the acquisition lifecycle as well; however the difference is in its focus and scope. In the tactical market research environment, we may periodically find ourselves faced with a specific challenge that requires a focused effort to find a plausible, timely, and affordable solution. These are relatively short in duration; an investigative market research event that may take place at multiple times during any phase of the acquisition cycle but is focused on finding a state of the current solution that will work now.

Market research is mandated for every acquisition, as governed by FAR Part 10, and is intended to help:

– Discover prevailing industry practices

– Identify the availability (if any) of commercially available solutions

– Identify customary industry terms, conditions, and warranties

– Understand distribution and logistics capabilities

– Uncover historical acquisition information

– Ensure maximum competition

– Reveal pricing information

– Themes: Solicitation/Selecting a Contractor