The method seems promising from what can be seen on the referenced page. I get the impression from FAQ that you are interactively refining the draft SOW with those responding -- using the proofreading ability and also experience of contractors. I believe this is one of the best ways to produce a quality set of tasking requirements as long as the easily avoided hazard of skewing by a contractor is recognized.

I hope you will carefully collect and analyze information about how this works and then make it available. It seems the technique could save a great deal of wasted effort in later stages by both government and contractors.

By Vern Edwards on Friday, March 3, 2000 - 09:50 pm:

Hi Susan:

I just sent a book manuscript to my publisher and I thought you'd like to know that I wrote up your test. Good luck.

Vern

By Susan Hopkins on Thursday, March 2, 2000 - 10:16 am:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is testing alternative source selection procedures for management and support services over the simplified acquisition threshold. This innovative test procedure, referred to as "Focused Source Selection," features:
immediate access by all businesses to draft statements of work on NRC's Focused Source Selection Internet homepage (http://www.nrc.gov/ADM/CONTRACT/Page1.html);
opportunity for all businesses to compete through submittal of non-priced capability statement information which demonstrates satisfactory past performance of, and experience with, similar work;
selection of three top-ranked businesses to submit cost and technical proposals; and
negotiations focused on the top ranked proposal which offers the best integrated technical/cost value to the Agency.

Focused Source Selection is so named because the procedures allow all parties to focus on the things that mater the most to them. Contractors can focus immediately on NRC's draft Statement of Work. The NRC can focus on the quality of and customer satisfaction with contractors' work on requirements similar to the agency's requirements.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy authorized the NRC to test these procedures under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act and has waived 5 FAR requirements to ensure the successful implementation of this test program. Those waivers are for FAR 5.203 (publicizing and response time); FAR 5.207(c)(2)(xv) and FAR 6.003 (all sources may submit a proposal and all responsible sources are permitted to compete); FAR 15.306(c) (cost must be considered when making a down-select decision); and FAR 15.306(d) (negotiations must be held with all sources in the competitive range).

We invite you to visit our website and learn more about our Focused Source Selection test procedures. If you have any questions - feel free to e-mail Susan Hopkins, NRC Contract Policy Analyst, at sbh@nrc.gov. We look forward to hearing from you.