Journey into FAR Part 15

In this program, we will examine--by means of practical exercises--how FAR Part 15 (Contracting By Negotiation) works as well as the life cycle of a negotiated procurement.

FAR Part 15 is the federal government’s “bread and butter” procurement method. It provides a comprehensive approach to conducting procurements in which contractors can propose unique, qualitative approaches to performance and in which cost of the government is not the only criterion upon which contract award is based. But with such great flexibility comes great complexity. For example, FAR Part 15 envisions: exchanges with prospective offerors prior to the receipt of proposals; the development and issuance of a competitive solicitation; the receipt and evaluation of proposals, including contract pricing; exchanges with offerors regarding the merits of their proposal submissions, including “negotiations”; the making of a source selection decision; contract award notification; and debriefings.

Many people think they are already well-versed in FAR Part 15 procurements. This class will make use of practical exercises to determine whether students can accurately recognize and resolve FAR Part 15 procurement issues in “real life” scenarios.