[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 1] [Revised as of October 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR7.105] [Page 110-114] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION PART 7_ACQUISITION PLANNING--Table of Contents Subpart 7.1_Acquisition Plans Sec. 7.105 Contents of written acquisition plans. In order to facilitate attainment of the acquisition objectives, the plan must identify those milestones at which decisions should be made (see [[Page 111]] paragraph (b)(19) below). The plan must address all the technical, business, management, and other significant considerations that will control the acquisition. The specific content of plans will vary, depending on the nature, circumstances, and stage of the acquisition. In preparing the plan, the planner must follow the applicable instructions in paragraphs (a) and (b) below, together with the agency's implementing procedures. Acquisition plans for service contracts or orders must describe the strategies for implementing performance-based contracting methods or must provide rationale for not using those methods (see subpart 37.6). (a) Acquisition background and objectives--(1) Statement of need. Introduce the plan by a brief statement of need. Summarize the technical and contractual history of the acquisition. Discuss feasible acquisition alternatives, the impact of prior acquisitions on those alternatives, and any related in-house effort. (2) Applicable conditions. State all significant conditions affecting the acquisition, such as (i) requirements for compatibility with existing or future systems or programs and (ii) any known cost, schedule, and capability or performance constraints. (3) Cost. Set forth the established cost goals for the acquisition and the rationale supporting them, and discuss related cost concepts to be employed, including, as appropriate, the following items: (i) Life-cycle cost. Discuss how life-cycle cost will be considered. If it is not used, explain why. If appropriate, discuss the cost model used to develop life-cycle-cost estimates. (ii) Design-to-cost. Describe the design-to-cost objective(s) and underlying assumptions, including the rationale for quantity, learning- curve, and economic adjustment factors. Describe how objectives are to be applied, tracked, and enforced. Indicate specific related solicitation and contractual requirements to be imposed. (iii) Application of should-cost. Describe the application of should-cost analysis to the acquisition (see 15.407-4). (4) Capability or performance. Specify the required capabilities or performance characteristics of the supplies or the performance standards of the services being acquired and state how they are related to the need. (5) Delivery or performance-period requirements. Describe the basis for establishing delivery or performance-period requirements (see subpart 11.4). Explain and provide reasons for any urgency if it results in concurrency of development and production or constitutes justification for not providing for full and open competition. (6) Trade-offs. Discuss the expected consequences of trade-offs among the various cost, capability or performance, and schedule goals. (7) Risks. Discuss technical, cost, and schedule risks and describe what efforts are planned or underway to reduce risk and the consequences of failure to achieve goals. If concurrency of development and production is planned, discuss its effects on cost and schedule risks. (8) Acquisition streamlining. If specifically designated by the requiring agency as a program subject to acquisition streamlining, discuss plans and procedures to: (i) Encourage industry participation by using draft solicitations, presolicitation conferences, and other means of stimulating industry involvement during design and development in recommending the most appropriate application and tailoring of contract requirements; (ii) Select and tailor only the necessary and cost-effective requirements; and (iii) State the timeframe for identifying which of those specifications and standards, originally provided for guidance only, shall become mandatory. (b) Plan of action--(1) Sources. Indicate the prospective sources of supplies or services that can meet the need. Consider required sources of supplies or services (see Part 8) and sources identifiable through databases including the Governmentwide database of contracts and other procurement instruments intended for use by multiple agencies available at http://www.contractdirectory.gov. Include consideration of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, [[Page 112]] HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns (see part 19), and the impact of any bundling that might affect their participation in the acquisition (see 7.107) (15 U.S.C. 644(e)). When the proposed acquisition strategy involves bundling, identify the incumbent contractors and contracts affected by the bundling. Address the extent and results of the market research and indicate their impact on the various elements of the plan (see part 10). (2) Competition. (i) Describe how competition will be sought, promoted, and sustained throughout the course of the acquisition. If full and open competition is not contemplated cite the authority in 6.302, discuss the basis for the application of that authority, identify the source(s), and discuss why full and open competition cannot be obtained. (ii) Identify the major components or subsystems. Discuss component breakout plans relative to these major components or subsystems. Describe how competition will be sought, promoted, and sustained for these components or subsystems. (iii) Describe how competition will be sought, promoted, and sustained for spares and repair parts. Identify the key logistic milestones, such as technical data delivery schedules and acquisition method coding conferences, that affect competition. (iv) When effective subcontract competition is both feasible and desirable, describe how such subcontract competition will be sought, promoted, and sustained throughout the course of the acquisition. Identify any known barriers to increasing subcontract competition and address how to overcome them. (3) Source-selection procedures. Discuss the source-selection procedures for the acquisition, including the timing for submission and evaluation of proposals, and the relationship of evaluation factors to the attainment of the acquisition objectives (see subpart 15.3). (4) Acquisition considerations. (i) For each contract contemplated, discuss contract type selection (see part 16); use of multiyear contracting, options, or other special contracting methods (see part 17); any special clauses, special solicitation provisions, or FAR deviations required (see subpart 1.4); whether sealed bidding or negotiation will be used and why; whether equipment will be acquired by lease or purchase (see subpart 7.4) and why; and any other contracting considerations. Provide rationale if a performance-based contract will not be used or if a performance-based contract for services is contemplated on other than a firm-fixed-price basis (see 37.102(a) and 16.505(a)(3)). (ii) For each order contemplated, discuss-- (A) For information technology acquisitions, how the capital planning and investment control requirements of 40 U.S.C. 11312 and OMB Circular A-130 will be met (see 7.103(t) and part 39); and (B) Why this action benefits the Government, such as when-- (1) The agency can accomplish its mission more efficiently and effectively (e.g., take advantage of the servicing agency's specialized expertise; or gain access to contractors with needed expertise); or (2) Ordering through an indefinite delivery contract facilitates access to small business concerns, including small disadvantaged business concerns, 8(a) contractors, women-owned small business concerns, HUBZone small business concerns, veteran-owned small business concerns, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. (5) Budgeting and funding. Include budget estimates, explain how they were derived, and discuss the schedule for obtaining adequate funds at the time they are required (see subpart 32.7). (6) Product or service descriptions. Explain the choice of product or service description types (including performance-based contracting descriptions) to be used in the acquisition. (7) Priorities, allocations, and allotments. When urgency of the requirement dictates a particularly short delivery or performance schedule, certain priorities may apply. If so, specify the method for obtaining and using priorities, allocations, and allotments, and the reasons for them (see subpart 11.6). [[Page 113]] (8) Contractor versus Government performance. Address the consideration given to OMB Circular No. A-76 (see subpart 7.3). (9) Inherently governmental functions. Address the consideration given to OFPP Policy Letter 92-1 (see subpart 7.5). (10) Management information requirements. Discuss, as appropriate, what management system will be used by the Government to monitor the contractor's effort. (11) Make or buy. Discuss any consideration given to make-or-buy programs (see subpart 15.407-2). (12) Test and evaluation. To the extent applicable, describe the test program of the contractor and the Government. Describe the test program for each major phase of a major system acquisition. If concurrency is planned, discuss the extent of testing to be accomplished before production release. (13) Logistics considerations. Describe-- (i) The assumptions determining contractor or agency support, both initially and over the life of the acquisition, including consideration of contractor or agency maintenance and servicing (see subpart 7.3) and distribution of commercial items; (ii) The reliability, maintainability, and quality assurance requirements, including any planned use of warranties (see part 46); (iii) The requirements for contractor data (including repurchase data) and data rights, their estimated cost, and the use to be made of the data (see part 27); and (iv) Standardization concepts, including the necessity to designate, in accordance with agency procedures, technical equipment as standard so that future purchases of the equipment can be made from the same manufacturing source. (14) Government-furnished property. Indicate any property to be furnished to contractors, including material and facilities, and discuss any associated considerations, such as its availability or the schedule for its acquisition (see part 45). (15) Government-furnished information. Discuss any Government information, such as manuals, drawings, and test data, to be provided to prospective offerors and contractors. (16) Environmental and energy conservation objectives. Discuss all applicable environmental and energy conservation objectives associated with the acquisition (see part 23), the applicability of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement (see 40 CFR part 1502), the proposed resolution of environmental issues, and any environmentally-related requirements to be included in solicitations and contracts. (17) Security considerations. For acquisitions dealing with classified matters, discuss how adequate security will be established, maintained, and monitored (see subpart 4.4). For Information Technology acquisitions, discuss how agency information security requirements will be met. (18) Contract administration. Describe how the contract will be administered. In contracts for services, include how inspection and acceptance corresponding to the work statement's performance criteria will be enforced. (19) Other considerations. Discuss, as applicable, standardization concepts, the industrial readiness program, the Defense Production Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, foreign sales implications, and any other matters germane to the plan not covered elsewhere. (20) Milestones for the acquisition cycle. Address the following steps and any others appropriate: Acquisition plan approval. Statement of work. Specifications. Data requirements. Completion of acquisition-package preparation. Purchase request. Justification and approval for other than full and open competition where applicable and/or any required D&F approval. Issuance of synopsis. Issuance of solicitation. Evaluations of proposals, audits, and field reports. Beginning and completion of negotiations. Contract preparation, review, and clearance. Contract award. (21) Identification of participants in acquisition plan preparation. List the individuals who participated in preparing [[Page 114]] the acquisition plan, giving contact information for each. [48 FR 42124, Sept. 19, 1983, as amended at 50 FR 1735, Jan. 11, 1985; 50 FR 52429, Dec. 23, 1985, and 51 FR 27116, July 29, 1986; 53 FR 17856, May 18, 1988; 53 FR 34226, Sept. 2, 1988; 60 FR 28495, May 31, 1995; 60 FR 48237, Sept. 18, 1995; 61 FR 2628, Jan. 26, 1996; 62 FR 40236, July 25, 1997; 62 FR 44814, Aug. 22, 1997; 62 FR 51230, 51270, Sept. 30, 1997; 63 FR 70267, Dec. 18, 1998; 64 FR 72442, Dec. 27, 1999; 65 FR 60544, Oct. 11, 2000; 67 FR 56118, Aug. 30, 2002; 67 FR 70522, Nov. 22, 2002; 68 FR 43862, July 24, 2003; 68 FR 60005, Oct. 20, 2003; 70 FR 57452, 57454, Sept. 30, 2005]