1. Contracting Officer Podcast Slides
Knowledge & Insights From Contracting Officers

2. What are Simplified Acquisition Procedures?
Episode 051
What are Simplified Acquisition Procedures?
Original Air Date: November 2, 2015
Hosts: Kevin Jans & Paul Schauer

3. Formatting notes
Hyperlinks: Blue font indicates hyperlinks – presentation must be in ‘Slide Show’ mode to activate the link
Red bold font indicates a point of emphasis
Green bold font indicates CO’s personal comment or perspective

4. Introduction
What is FAR Part 13.5 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures?
A special way to use Simplified Acquisition Procedures
Saves both government AND industry time and money
Can be a better way to get more done, faster and cheaper.

5. What are the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) – FAR Part 13?
The “SAP” threshold is $150,000
FAR – Policy
Agencies shall use SAP as much as “practicable”
For small businesses only
SAP still promotes competition (FAR )
To the extent “practicable” and “consider at least 3 sources”

6. SAP for Certain Commercial Items
FAR Part 13.5 – Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items
authorizes SAP to buy up to $6.5M (it’s actually $7M but the FAR hasn’t caught up yet) if CO expects that offers will include only commercial items
Goal is to allow use of SAP procedures to buy commercial items
It even mentions
“flexibility”
“maximizing efficiency and economy”
“minimizing burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry”
Most operational contracting offices (non-systems offices) use this

7. SAP for Commercial Items
FAR (a) can even be used for sole source procurements
SAP acquisitions are exempt from the requirements in FAR Part 6
But it still needs to be justified, in writing by the CO, and approved
The approvals get higher as price increases

8. SAP for Commercial Items
How does FAR 13.5 streamline the procurement?
The only documentation required is FOUR items: (FAR (b))
Brief written description of procedures used in awarding the contract, including the fact that the procedures in FAR Subpart 13.5 were used
Number of offers received
A tailored explanation of basis for contract award decision
Any justification approved under paragraph (a) of this section.
Was a “test program” for over a decade
As of FY15, it’s permanent

9. When does FAR Part 13.5 (SAP) happen?
Acquisition Time Zones (from Podcast Episode 003)
Requirements Zone
Market Research Zone
… skips much of the RFP Zone
… skips much of the Source Selection Zone
NOTE: Only available for COMMERCIAL ITEMS

10. Why are Simplified Acquisition Procedures important?
It's permanent - Use it!
It can be faster and cheaper for both sides
Very helpful when buying commercial goods and services
The government buys a LOT of consumable items
We see these in a LOT of client RFPs

11. Why Should Government Care?
It’s an agile contracting strategy already in the FAR
It’s permanent now so it really is worth investing the time to understand and use
If you buy a lot of commercial goods and services
This should be your first stop
There are commercial, you should consider it.

12. Why Should Industry Care?
Are you a small business? You should know about this.
Does your target customer use FAR 13.5?
It has some key differences
For example, a debriefing is NOT required (those apply to FAR 15)
SAP tilts the 80/20 Rule a bit
Not as much process
Industry: Don’t get caught flat-footed

13. Summary FAR 13.5 is now permanent, so let’s get to know it…and use it
Is what you buy OR sell
Commercial?
Results in less than $7M contracts?
If yes, then this is worth knowing.
Let’s get more done!

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