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Welcome back to the Cost Corner, where we provide practical insight into the complex cost and pricing requirements that apply to Government Contractors. We just completed two articles on the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA) [1] and, before that, two articles on Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audits.
If you feel like prices for just about everything are going up, you’re not alone. In federal government contracting, however, a contractor may not have the same leeway to raise its prices. After evaluating the quotations, CMS announced that the order would be awarded to Octane Public Relations. B-421917.2,
Price analysis can be considered a stage of bid evaluation depending on the provisions of a legal and regulatory framework. It is an assessment of the evaluatedprice of a responsive bid to ascertain that it is not unreasonably high nor unreasonably low, but fair enough to the procuring entity and the supplier.
Data management tools, like pricing algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), are playing an ever-larger role in Federal procurement as agencies look to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and improve contract outcomes. GSA’s current use of algorithms and pricing data is instructive in this regard.
Other agencies can also use the contract with competitive pricing and terms. By pooling demand, public sector entities can benefit from bulk buying discounts and negotiatedprice reductions. This reduces the need for bid preparation and evaluation.
In the interim, the document should be rescinded, with contracting officers referring back to the GSAR and FAR for guidance on determining fair and reasonable pricing. In the interim, the document should be rescinded, with contracting officers referring back to the GSAR and FAR for guidance on determining fair and reasonable pricing.
Embrace dynamic pricing models that leverage competition from the commercial market. There simply needs to be greater flexibility in pricing to meet customer demand across the federal market. Static pricing ultimately hinders competition and reduces value for customer agencies.
In turn, this will lead to more consistent and sound negotiation and administration of MAS contracts. In the past, the regional structure gave rise to differing cultures, negotiation approaches, and interpretations of applicable regulations and solicitation provisions. Data context is critical to data driven decision making.
On November 16, 2023, the General Services Administration issued a proposed rule updating the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) Federal Supply Schedule Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clauses. limits on the timing and number of price adjustments). Pricing context is dependent on accurate, relevant data.
Data management tools, like pricing algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), are playing an ever-larger role in Federal procurement as agencies look to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and improve contract outcomes. GSA’s current use of algorithms and pricing data is instructive in this regard.
We generally negotiated those pricing and terms and conditions with our contracting officers. The cool thing too, is that we used to run separately a pricing compliance report and we’re actually running this report before the vendors even submit their modification.” And so we relaxed that to one process.
Embrace dynamic pricing models that leverage competition from the commercial market. There simply needs to be greater flexibility in pricing to meet customer demand across the federal market. Static pricing ultimately hinders competition and reduces value for customer agencies.
On November 16, 2023, GSA issued a proposed rule updating the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) Federal Supply Schedule Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clauses. The rule proposes to remove “certain economic price adjustment requirements within these clauses to better align with commercial standards and practices.”
HUBZone-certified businesses not only gain eligibility for set-aside contracts but also receive a 10% priceevaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. Cost: provide a clear and competitive pricing structure for your services.
The General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) set forth the policies and procedures for the evaluation and negotiation of “fair and reasonable” contract level pricing under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program.
Welcome back to the Cost Corner, where we provide practical insight into the complex cost and pricing requirements that apply to Government contractors. Applicability of the FAR Cost Principles The FAR Cost Principles apply to the “pricing of contracts, subcontracts, and modifications whenever cost analysis is performed.” [1]
Federal Acquisition Policy and Procedure (PAP) 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing , sets forth “comprehensive guidance regarding the evaluation of pricing throughout the life of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program contract.” Pay a Fair and Reasonable Price ). Emphasis added.) See Section 2.
Over the next four years, GSA fine-tuned the applicability/scope of TDR, established evaluation criteria, and monitored TDR performance. In 2021, after reviewing the Fiscal Year 2020 evaluation results, GSA decided that the “TDR Pilot” was eligible for expansion.
An RFP is typically used for complex projects where the agency needs detailed proposals, while an RFQ is more suitable for simpler purchases where price is the primary factor. Mastering Cost and Price Analysis Accurate cost estimation and effective price analysis are crucial components of successful RFPs and RFQs.
Forrester identified AWS Marketplace as a leader in its most recent Forrester Wave evaluation of software as a service (SaaS) marketplaces. Myth #2: The prices in the marketplace are much higher than the ones I got quoted by my software vendor AWS Marketplace is a public website, so many software manufacturers choose to post MSRP-like prices.
This week, in the spirit of “Fair and Reasonable Transparency,” the Coalition submitted to the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) feedback on its “ FAS Policy and Procedure (PAP) 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing.” Beyond the non-mandatory nature of the FSS program, all task and delivery orders are governed by the FAR 8.4
In government co-ops, a lead government agency issues a solicitation for a good or service, evaluates proposals, and awards a contract. If the lead agency that negotiates the contract has more experience than your organization, you can benefit from their expertise. And the pricing under these contracts may not be the absolute lowest.
These regulations and associated guidance address a host of contracting officer responsibilities, including but not limited to, proposal evaluation, negotiations, price and/or cost analysis, data rights, and foreign acquisition ( e.g. , TAA). For this reason, procurement policy flow-downs cannot be one-sided.
Government agency programs like the GSA Schedules provide long-term contracts, allowing businesses to sell commercial products and services at pre-negotiatedprices, simplifying the purchasing process. Understanding the pricing structure outlined in the RFP can help in formulating a bid that aligns with government expectations.
I think most government contractors have contracts that are negotiated and the prices are negotiated upfront, and then they have to adhere to those prices over the course of the entire five-to-10 year contract. And that shows up in the way they’re evaluating the RFP, for sure. Tom Temin Right. They want both.
The SiteOne executive says cooperative purchasing agreements can help local governments streamline the procurement process by reducing the time spent seeking bids, evaluating vendors and negotiating individual contracts. Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at michael.keating@informa.com.
In our next session, we will cover FAR Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation) As we prepare for our 9th episode of Season 11, here are a few FAR Facts for us to think about: A contract awarded using other than sealed bidding procedures is a “negotiated ” FAR 15.000. The Government is not required to hold in-person FAR 15.505(c).
Cooperative contracts simplify and expedite the procurement process by including pre-negotiated terms and conditions that comply with government regulations, thereby reducing administrative overhead and the risk of non-compliance.” Cunningham says cooperative agreements can help cities and counties acquire needed technology.
Federal Acquisition Policy and Procedure (PAP) 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing , sets forth “comprehensive guidance regarding the evaluation of pricing throughout the life of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program contract.” Pay a Fair and Reasonable Price ). Emphasis added.) See Section 2.
Under some circumstances, if an IFB is canceled but the requirement remains, the agency may complete the procurement by converting it to a negotiated procurement, but FAR 14.404-1 places limitations on when this is permitted. In Great Lakes Dredge & Drydock Co., LLC, B-421676.4, million and the amount of funds ($60.4
Welcome back to the Cost Corner, where we provide practical insight into the complex cost and pricing requirements that apply to Government contractors. 28] DCAA Audit Guidance Chapter 6 of the DCAM, Incurred Cost Audit Procedures, includes detailed guidance for evaluating the reasonableness of compensation costs.
The General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) set forth the policies and procedures for the evaluation and negotiation of “fair and reasonable” contract level pricing under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program.
It typically involves the following steps: Identifying opportunities Reviewing solicitation documents Attending pre-bid meetings Preparing and submitting a responsive bid Participating in bid evaluation and negotiations To excel in the bidding process, consider enrolling in our Life Sciences Contracting 101 course.
Securing a contract involves preparing a competitive proposal that meets the solicitation document’s requirements, developing effective pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with profitability, and potentially navigating subcontracting and partnerships.
These regulations and associated guidance address a host of contracting officer responsibilities, including but not limited to, proposal evaluation, negotiations, price and/or cost analysis, data rights, and foreign acquisition ( e.g. , TAA). For this reason, procurement policy flow-downs cannot be one-sided.
Procurement Evaluation- The final phase includes activities like Audit, Evaluation, Contract Award, and Feedback. Procurement Professionals evaluate Tenders based on Price v/s Quality.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines benchmarking as: Evaluating (something) by comparison with a standard. More Than Just Price While price is often the most common focus in benchmarking, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Enhances competitiveness Ensures organisations stay ahead in supplier negotiations.
How is AI being leveraged to streamline procurement processes and evaluations? Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) PriceEvaluation. Significantly, the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is revising its guidance to contracting officers regarding the evaluation/negotiation of MAS contract pricing.
In turn, this will lead to more consistent and sound negotiation and administration of MAS contracts. In the past, the regional structure gave rise to differing cultures, negotiation approaches, and interpretations of applicable regulations and solicitation provisions. Data context is critical to data driven decision making.
Over the next four years, GSA fine-tuned the applicability/scope of TDR, established evaluation criteria, and monitored TDR performance. In 2021, after reviewing the Fiscal Year 2020 evaluation results, GSA decided that the “TDR Pilot” was eligible for expansion.
Delay in Preparing Technical Specifications, Scope of Work or Terms of Reference Technical specifications , scope of work , and terms of reference are documents that describe what is needed, and should be clear enough to avoid confusing suppliers, contractors, service providers or the evaluation panel.
But if they aren’t designed properly, RFPs can backfire, leading to low response rates, poor bidder fit or proposals that are time consuming to evaluate. Run Negotiations Alongside the Selection Process Negotiation is often necessary when: • The purchase price is high or the vendor will provide ongoing products/services.
This not only enables you to bid on contracts but also allows agencies to evaluate your business capabilities and services, ensuring regulatory compliance. Differentiating your company through technical excellence, innovative solutions, and competitive pricing can also increase your chances of winning contracts.
One of the greatest sources of contract disputes is how to handle price increase requests where there is no clear contract language. The best method is an evidence-based approach showing the underlying cause of the price increase. Communication Including the proforma contract in the RFx document minimizes any dispute upon signing.
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