Overview
FAR 15.205 establishes the mandatory cross-references and authorized methods that Contracting Officers must follow when distributing solicitations to potential offerors in negotiated acquisitions.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Compliance: Contracting Officers must issue solicitations in accordance with specific procedures for availability (FAR 5.102), small business participation (FAR 19.202-4), and full and open competition (FAR Part 6).
- Cross-Part Authorization: The regulation explicitly permits the use of "master solicitations"—a technique defined in FAR Part 14 (Sealed Bidding)—for use in FAR Part 15 negotiated acquisitions.
- Procedural Integration: Issuance is not an isolated act but must integrate publicizing requirements and socio-economic policies.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that negotiated procurements maintain the same standards of transparency and accessibility as other acquisition methods.
- The allowance for master solicitations enables agencies to streamline the procurement process by using pre-established, standardized terms and conditions for repetitive requirements.