Acquisition Planning in the Government

The Acquisition Process is only one major phase of the Federal Acquisition System. The Acquisition Process phase consists of three major processes known as 1) the Pre-award; 2) the Solicitation and Award; and 3) the Post-award Processes. Acquisition Planning is part of the first process, i.e., the Pre-award Process, and is described in Part 7 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The definition of Acquisition Planning is defined in Part 2 of the FAR as "the process by which the efforts of all personnel responsible for an acquisition are coordinated and integrated through a comprehensive plan for fulfilling the agency need in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost." In addition, it includes developing the overall strategy for managing the acquisition. Acquisition Planning includes conducting the determination of need; the analysis of the requirement; the extent of competition; and the source selection planning. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 7 establishes the statutory requirement for acquisition planning.

Full and open competition is mandatory in federal procurement unless there is justification on why it could not be used. In the case Bannum, Inc., B-289707, March 14, 2002, “Bannum, Inc. protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. 200-0732-MA (RFP 0732), issued by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for halfway-house services in Nashville, Tennessee. BOP conducted the procurement under the limited competition provision of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Sec. 6.302-2 (unusual and compelling urgency). Bannum contends that the limited competition was improper because the agency's urgent and compelling need for these services was due to a lack of advance planning” (GAO 2002). The protest was denied because there was no evidence of lack of planning on the Agency’s behalf. It is wise for contracting specialist to cover all avenues when it comes to full and open competition.

At times Government officials are...