Overview
This section defines the scope of FAR Subpart 15.6, establishing the formal framework and administrative lifecycle for managing unsolicited proposals. It serves as the regulatory foundation for how executive agencies handle unique, innovative ideas submitted by external sources outside of the standard competitive solicitation process.
Key Rules
- Procedural Coverage: The subpart governs the entire lifecycle of an unsolicited proposal, specifically covering:
- Submission: The initial delivery of the proposal by the offeror.
- Receipt: The formal intake and acknowledgment by the government.
- Evaluation: The comprehensive review process to determine technical merit and agency need.
- Disposition: The final decision to either accept the proposal for contract award or reject it.
- Limitation of Scope: This subpart applies strictly to unsolicited proposals and does not govern responses to formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or other government-initiated solicitations.
Practical Implications
- Alternative Entry Point: It provides a structured "legal door" for contractors to pitch innovative solutions or proprietary technology that the government has not yet identified as a requirement.
- Standardization: Ensures that agencies follow a uniform process when evaluating unsolicited ideas, preventing arbitrary decision-making and ensuring that unique intellectual property is handled with appropriate confidentiality and regulatory oversight.