Overview
This section mandates the inclusion of FAR provision 52.207-4 in solicitations for supplies to encourage offerors to provide information on cost-effective purchase quantities, while outlining specific exceptions to this requirement.
Key Rules
- Prescription: Contracting officers must insert the provision at 52.207-4, Economic Purchase Quantity—Supplies, in all solicitations for supplies unless an exception applies.
- GSA Exception: The provision is not required for solicitations under the General Services Administration’s multiple award schedule (MAS) contract program.
- Data Availability Exceptions: The provision may be omitted if the contracting officer determines the Government already possesses the necessary data or if the data is otherwise readily available.
- Requirement Inflexibility Exception: The provision is not required if the contracting officer determines it is impracticable for the Government to vary its future requirements based on different quantity increments.
Practical Implications
- This provision allows the Government to leverage contractor expertise to identify "price breaks" or more economical lot sizes that could result in lower unit prices.
- Contracting officers must perform a brief assessment of their existing market research and the flexibility of their agency's demand before deciding to omit the provision.