Socioeconomics of Government Contracting

Socioeconomics of Government Contracting

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is the primary document sent to offerors that invites them to submit a proposal in order to provide goods and services to the government; an RFP is designed to get offerors to provide a creative solution to a business problem or issue. The RFP should be used carefully since the solicitation process can take a lot of time for both the organization and its potential suppliers; although this is the case, an RFP can be the most effective way to source the goods or services required when dealing with more complex projects. This paper will discuss RFP standards, competitive negotiations as well as protest procedures. (http://www.epiqtech.com/request-for-proposal-rfp.htm)

Request for Proposal Standards

For an RFP issued on standard form 33 (SF 33), the minimum requirement must include the following:

• RFP or solicitation number and date

• Name and address of Contracting Office

• Type of contract contemplated

• Quantity, description and required delivery date for the item/services

• Applicable representations and certifications

• Anticipated contract terms and conditions

• Instructions to offerors and evaluation criteria

• Proposal due date and time

The sample RFP does not contain any of these requirements therefore it does not meet the government’s standard form for solicitation. (FAR 15.203)

Competitive Negotiations in Government

Competitive negotiations are almost always in the government’s best interest because it gives the government several different choices as far as contractors are concerned even though at times choosing the most qualified contractor may not necessarily produce cost savings for the government. That being said, with the limited information provided in the RFP it is difficult to determine whether or not competitive negotiation would produce any cost savings to the government. The primary objective of an RFP is to maximize the government’s ability to obtain the...