Defense Procurement. Solicitation for Contract Support Services Limited Competition
Abstract
The Navy's initial solicitation for this procurement restricted full and open competition, even after the Detachment amended it. The Navy eventually achieved competition for a substantial portion of the work, but only because of a potential competitor's protest. Competition advocates are responsible for challenging overly restrictive requirements in solicitations. However, Detachment procedures did not require a competition advocate review of this solicitation or its amendment. We believe that such a review could have resulted in competition being achieved before the protest. The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984, as amended (10 U.S.C. 2304 and 41 U.S.C. 253) and the implementing Federal Acquisition Regulation, with certain limited exceptions, call for full and open competition in soliciting offers and awarding government contracts. Federal agencies are required to specify agency needs and solicit offers in a manner that allows all responsible sources to compete for a contract award. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act requires each executive agency to appoint a competition advocate for the agency and for each procuring activity within the agency. The basic role of competition advocates is to challenge barriers to and promote full and open competition. (EG)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 22, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222098
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office