Wednesday, December 6th, 2017
Written By: APTAC staff
If you are new to government contracting, lengthy, complex Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with tight deadlines can be overwhelming. This three part series of articles hopes to offer some basic principles and definitions particularly with regard to negotiated acquisitions which may help be helpful. Each article will address issues specific to a different stage of the Proposal process.
Negotiated Acquisitions are contracts awarded using other than sealed bidding procedures. Source selection is made based on “best value”, involving an evaluation of price and other non-price factors (“trade-offs”) with award going to the proposal judged to be the best overall value to agency. Award decisions are made by the Source Selection Authority (SSA), which in most cases is the Contracting Officer. Proposals are evaluated solely on the factors and sub-factors in the RFP. A competitive proposal must demonstrate a thorough understanding the RFP and present a clear, compelling narrative as to how your company can provide the best possible solution to the customer’s (agency’s) needs, rising above mere compliance to provide better value than any competing proposals.
Ideally, you will accomplish some important background tasks before you are faced with specific RFPs. Take these tasks up early in your government contracting efforts so you are ready when the right opportunity comes along. Some examples include:
Your PTAC Counselor can elaborate on this topic and provide you with additional advice at no cost. Click here to Find your PTAC today!
Watch this space for the rest of the series: Reviewing the Solicitation and Reaching a “Go/No Go” Decision and Preparing the Proposal.
More about Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)
Ninety-eight PTACs – with over 300 local offices – form a nationwide network of procurement professionals dedicated procurement professionals working to help local businesses compete successfully in the government marketplace. Funded under the Defense Logistics Agency’s Procurement Technical Assistance Program through cooperative agreements with state and local governments and non-profit organizations, PTACs are the bridge between buyer and supplier, bringing to bear their knowledge of both government contracting and the capabilities of contractors to maximize fast, reliable service to our government with better quality and at lower costs.