[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: 48CFR35.008]

[Page 705]
 
            TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM
 
                CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
 
PART 35_RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTING--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  35.008  Evaluation for award.

    (a) Generally, an R&D contract should be awarded to that 
organization, including any educational institution, that proposes the 
best ideas or concepts and has the highest competence in the specific 
field of science or technology involved. However, an award should not be 
made to obtain capabilities that exceed those needed for successful 
performance of the work.
    (b) In R&D contracting, precise specifications are ordinarily not 
available. The contracting officer should therefore take special care in 
reviewing the solicitation evaluation factors to assure that they are 
properly presented and consistent with the solicitation.
    (c) When a small business concern would otherwise be selected for 
award but is considered not responsible, the SBA Certificate of 
Competency procedure shall be followed (see subpart 19.6).
    (d) The contracting officer should use the procedures in subpart 
15.5 to notify and debrief offerors.
    (e) It is important to evaluate a proposed contractor's cost or 
price estimate, not only to determine whether the estimate is reasonable 
but also to provide valuable insight into the offeror's understanding of 
the project, perception of risks, and ability to organize and perform 
the work. Cost or price analysis, as appropriate (see 15.404-1(c)), is a 
useful tool.

[48 FR 42352, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 62 FR 51271, Sept. 30, 1997]