[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 48, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 48CFR34.005-2]

[Page 699]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 34_MAJOR SYSTEM ACQUISITION--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart 34.0_General
 
Sec.  34.005-2  Mission-oriented solicitation.

    (a) Before issuing the solicitation, whenever practicable and 
consistent with agency procedures, the contracting officer should take 
the actions outlined in subparagraphs (1) and (2):
    (1) Advance notification of the acquisition should be given the 
widest practicable dissemination, including publicizing through the 
Governmentwide point of entry (see subpart 5.2) and should be sent to as 
wide a selection of potential sources as practicable, including smaller 
and newer firms, Government laboratories, federally funded research and 
development centers, educational institutions and other not-for-profit 
organizations, and, if it would be beneficial and is not prohibited, 
foreign sources.
    (2) If appropriate, hold a presolicitation conference (see 15.201) 
and/or send copies of the proposed solicitation to all prospective 
offerors for their comments. After evaluation of these comments, the 
solicitation should be revised, if appropriate.
    (b) The contracting officer shall send the final solicitation to all 
prospective offerors. It shall--
    (1) Describe the nature of the need in terms of mission capabilities 
required, without reference to any specific systems to satisfy the need;
    (2) Indicate, and explain when appropriate, the schedule, 
capability, and cost objectives and any known constraints in the 
acquisition;
    (3) Provide, or indicate how access can be obtained to, all 
Government data related to the acquisition;
    (4) Include selection requirements consistent with the acquisition 
strategy; and
    (5) Clearly state that each offeror is free to propose its own 
technical approach, main design features, subsystems, and alternatives 
to schedule, cost, and capability goals.
    (c) To the extent practicable, the solicitation shall not reference 
or mandate Government specifications or standards, unless the agency is 
mandating a subsystem or other component as approved under agency 
procedure.

[48 FR 42351, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 50 FR 1744, Jan. 11, 1985; 
50 FR 52429, Dec. 23, 1985; 62 FR 51271, Sept. 30, 1997; 66 FR 27414, 
May 16, 2001]