Overview
FAR 5.301 establishes the requirements for contracting officers to publicize contract awards and justifications through the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE). It ensures transparency in federal spending by mandating the synopsis of specific award types, particularly those involving trade agreements, subcontracting opportunities, or non-competitive justifications.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Synopsis: Contracting officers must synopsize awards exceeding $25,000 that are covered by international trade agreements or are likely to result in subcontracts.
- Specific Orders: Orders under Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) or task/delivery orders exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) must be synopsized if they were awarded via limited-source justifications or without providing a fair opportunity.
- Justification Posting: Agencies must publicly post the justifications for "other than full and open competition," limited-source FSS orders, and specific task order exceptions to fair opportunity.
- Timing: For acquisitions covered by trade agreements, synopses must be submitted to the GPE no later than 60 days after the award.
- Exceptions: Public notice is not required for actions involving national security, unsolicited research proposals (where disclosure would reveal intellectual property), SBIR awards, perishable subsistence, or specific utility services.
Practical Implications
- Subcontracting Visibility: This section provides a vital mechanism for small and mid-sized businesses to identify prime contractors for potential subcontracting opportunities on awards over $25,000.
- Public Accountability: The requirement to post justifications for non-competitive awards forces agencies to provide a transparent, legally defensible rationale for bypassing full and open competition, which can be monitored by the public and competitors.