§3308 Planning for Future Competition in Contracts for Major Systems

Summary

When an agency prepares a request for bids to develop a major system, the agency head must think about asking bidders to include special proposals. The head must consider why the system is needed and what technology it requires. If the proposals are required, the agency must take them into account when judging price. For development work, the proposals can ask designers to use parts already in the agency’s supply, parts available elsewhere in the national supply system, or parts sold commercially by more than one source. For parts likely needed in large amounts during the system’s life, bidders should propose designs that let the government buy those parts competitively later. When the agency prepares a request for bids to produce a major system, the head must likewise consider asking for proposals that show how the government can obtain commonly re-bought parts on a competitive basis. Examples include offering the government the right to use technical data (with the cost and right to use stated) or plans to qualify or develop multiple suppliers. If the agency plans a noncompetitive award, these same goals can be used as negotiation objectives.