INSTRUCTIONS
Federal Contracting
Week 4: Acquisition Streamlining
Since the passage of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA), the preference within the Federal Government has shifted from the acquisition of items developed exclusively for the Government to the acquisition of commercial items. This change was necessary to take full advantage of available and evolving technological innovations in the commercial sector. The Government’s increased reliance on commercial items is essential for providing solutions that increase capabilities. Moreover, the competitive pricing of the commercial marketplace is advantageous to the Government. A commercial item is any item, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public, or offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public. Items that are available to the general public that have minor modifications are also considered commercial items. Services such as installation, maintenance, repair, and training are also commercial items if they are offered to the general public or used in support of a commercial item.
Simplified acquisition procedures (SAP) are the methods prescribed in FAR Part 13 for purchasing supplies or services. They are designed for relatively simple Government requirements, and their use is subject to designated dollar thresholds. Examples of items commonly purchased using SAP include office supplies, computer software, and grounds keeping services.
Complete the following learning activities:
Learning Activity #1
You work for a Contractor and your company has been building a “widget” for the government for years. One day you discover a commercial use for the item and start marketing it. Does your product now qualify as a “commercial item”? Why or why not? Is the answer clear?
Learning Activity #2
What are some of the ways that Simplified Acquisitions (FAR Part 13) differ from those that are not?
*Please use at least two of the following references
REFERENCES
Federal Acquisition Regulation
FAR | Acquisition.GOV. (2019). Acquisition.gov; ACQ.gov. https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far
Problems Persist with Commercial Item Rule.
BARNETT, K., BYRD, B., & WORKMASTER, J. (2018). Problems Persist with Commercial Item Rule. National Defense, 102(773), 14–15.
Cost Analysis between SABER and Design Bid Build Contracting Methods. Journal of Construction Engineering & Management
Henry, E., & Brothers, H. S. (2001). Cost Analysis between SABER and Design Bid Build Contracting Methods. Journal of Construction Engineering & Management, 127(5), 359. https://doi.org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2001)127:5(359)
All-Source Bidding: Extending Integrated Competition to Utility Resource Procurement.Henderson, Philip. 2018. “All-Source Bidding: Extending Integrated Competition to Utility Resource Procurement.” The Electricity Journal 31 (4): 1–9. Doi:10.1016/j.tej.2018.04.007.