Conditions: You are assigned as a Contingency Contracting Officer (CCO) and have access to current acquisition regulations, local procedures, and required automation and office supplies. You have been assigned to write a source selection plan for a construction acquisition that will be a negotiated
procurement conforming to the policy set forth in FAR Part 15.
Standards: Planned, prepared and executed a source selection plan for a construction contract requirement compliant with Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures (DoD-SSP) and Procurement Instruction Letter (PIL) 2008-11, Contract Source Selection Guidance.
Performance Steps:
1. Identify the Source Selection Organization (SSO) Members.
NOTE: In a formal source selection, the SSO generally consists of the Source Selection Authority (SSA), a Source Selection Advisory Council (SSAC), and a Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB). Informal source selections typically do not include the SSAC as part of the SSO.
SSA: The SSA may be the Contracting Officer (KO), or in large dollar or complex procurements, an individual at one level (or more) above the KO. For most USACE procurements the SSA will be an 1102 or 51C KO. Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (PARC) approval is required when appointing a non-1102/51C SSA or when using formal source selection procedures. (See PIL 2010-04, NCO
Document Review and Approval Matrix.)
SSAC: Typical members include senior members of Program Management, Engineering, Construction, Small Business, and Counsel. Other technical disciplines and/or the customer may also be included.
The SSAC should consist of those most able to provide advice to the SSA regarding the source selection process.
SSEB: The SSEB is usually comprised of multiple groups of evaluators who are responsible for evaluating specific areas of the proposal against the Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements. The precise structure of the SSEB is a matter within the SSA’s discretion. Typical SSEBs have at least a technical evaluation and cost team. For complex acquisitions SSEBs may also have past performance, small business utilization and risk analysis teams. To ensure independent analysis SSEB teams usually review only that area of the RFP assigned to them.
NOTE: Typical members include project managers (PM), engineers, construction field office personnel and the customer / requiring activity / end user. Inclusion of evaluators from key constituencies on the SSEB ensures that (a) the Board is populated with appropriately skilled personnel, and (b) the viewpoints of these constituencies are taken into consideration during the SSEB assessment of proposals.
NOTE: As a result of many factors, some Divisions / Districts / customers are faced with the possibility of using Non-Government Personnel (NGP) to support the source selection process which may include writing documents (e.g., Memoranda for Record (MFR), source selection plan, source selection
document, and etc), providing subject matter expertise for specific technical factors and sub factors, and supporting other functions as needed. However, documents being processed by NGPs must identify NGP involvement (e.g., signatory on documents) and at no time should NGPs be voting members of the SSO.
Note too that any NGPs performing advisory and assistance services such as noted here require written approval of the Regional PARC and each offeror, before those sources may be identified as members of the SSO and used to evaluate or analyze any specific aspect of a proposal. For identification purposes, when processing source selection documents for PARC review and approval, NGPs should include in their signature block the company’s name (e.g., contractor) and the Division / District supported, if
Chapter 2, p 34
preparing documents. Please refer to DoD Source Selection Procedures, Para 1.4.5 and Regional PARC Memorandum – RPM-08-01, Use of Non-Government Personnel to Participate as Non-Voting Technical Advisors to a Source Selection Evaluation for further guidance and instructions.
NOTE: See also Task 2-9, ACC 51C Level One Proficiency Guide.
2. Determine Evaluation Criteria. See Task 2-1; Develop an Acquisition Plan for a Construction Contract.
NOTE: Ensure your evaluation factors mirror the criteria and requirements in the solicitation sections 00110, Instructions to Offerors, and 00120 Evaluation of Offers. In addition, ensure that evaluation criteria do not conflict with General Requirements and/or Technical Specifications or Provisions of the RFP.
3. Prepare a comprehensive Source Selection Plan IAW the DoD-SSP.
4. Prepare Evaluation Sheets for the Board to document their ratings and justification to support the assigned rating. The evaluation sheets will help you determine how easy it will be to evaluate the criteria you have selected. You will be able to identify overly complex criteria and streamline them in the RFP.
However, when preparing the evaluation sheets, ensure that the criteria match the RFP wording exactly – do not try to abbreviate or simplify them on the evaluation sheets.
NOTE: The Source Selection Plan should be completed prior to issuance of the RFP and updated whenever amendments are issued that change the solicitation.
5. Obtain Source Selection Plan Approval: Obtain signature of all stakeholders identified in the plan as having approval authority. Typically this will include the SSA, PM, KO, Attorney Advisor and Small Business Specialist. There may be other technical elements that need to sign the plan and higher level approving officials if the dollar value of the plan warrants.
NOTE: See PIL 2010-04, Document Review and Approval Matrix to determine whether higher level approval is necessary.
Evaluation Preparation and Guidance: Provide the Soldier with references, URL links and samples of construction source selection plans.
Performance Measures: GO NO-GO
1. Identified the members of the SSO and explained their role in Source Selection _____ ______
2. Prepared a source selection plan for a construction requirement _____ ______
3. Obtained approval for the subject plan _____ ______
4. Distributed the approved plan in accordance with USACE policy and documented _____ ______
the solicitation/contract file.
References: (See DVD for References)
Open the NCO Contracting website at https://kme.usace.army.mil/CoPs/Contracting/default.aspx.
Accessing this site first will allow the hyperlinks to open.
1. DoD Source Selection Procedures, 4 MAR 2011
2. FAR/DFARS/AFARS/EFARS Part 15.3, Source Selection 3. PIL 2008-11 Contract Source Selection Guidance, 29 JUL 08 4. PIL 2010-04 PARC Document Review and Approval Matrix
5. RPM-08-01, Use of Non-Government Personnel to Participate as Non-Voting Technical Advisors to a Source Selection Evaluation
6. SSP – Full and Open Design-Bid-Build Template 7. SSP – Full and Open Design-Build Template 8. SSP – LPTA Template
Chapter 2, p 36 Task 2-4