Overview
FAR 52.201-1, "Acquisition 360: Voluntary Survey," provides a mechanism for actual and potential offerors to submit anonymous feedback to the government regarding the preaward and debriefing phases of a specific procurement.
Key Rules
- Voluntary Participation: Offerors are encouraged, but not required, to provide feedback via a standardized survey link (https://www.acquisition.gov/360).
- Submission Timeline: Feedback can be submitted during the procurement process and up to 45 days after contract award.
- Anonymity and Protection: Responses are anonymous unless the participant chooses to self-identify; the survey results do not provide any legal rights or grounds for protest.
- Source Selection Integrity: The Contracting Officer is strictly prohibited from reviewing the survey data until after the contract has been awarded and cannot consider the feedback in the award decision.
Practical Implications
- Process Improvement: This provision allows industry partners to report inefficiencies or positive experiences in the bidding process, helping agencies refine their acquisition strategies.
- Risk-Free Communication: Because the Contracting Officer cannot access the data until after the award, offerors can provide candid feedback without fear of retaliation or negative impact on their current proposal evaluation.