courtnet

It seems to me that if you want to make price equal to all other factors combined, then one can diminish the non-price evaluation factors to subfactors under a capability factor. This allows the capability factor to be equal to the price factor, with the subfactors listed in a descending order of importance. I know of no other way to make the math work.

Thanks all. After a little research (yes ? I should have done this first), here?s what I found: 1. Cibinic & Nash "Competitive Negotiations" GWU Reference Book, page 483, Oral Presentations Para 4. Exchanges with Government Team: "The present regulations make it clear that agency officials may ask questions and seek further detail. This is consistent with prior decisions, NAHB Research Found, Inc, Comp. Gen. Dec. B-219344, 85-2 CPD." Although I know the FAR describes the oral presentation process as an open dialogue amoungst the parties, I couldn?t find ?regulations that make it clear that agency officials may ask questions and seek further detail.? 2. Also called out in Para 4 above, Case Development Alternatives, Inc, File B-279920 Date Aug 6 1998: "..Offerors were told...they would be required to make an oral presentation followed by a brief, fact-finding interview process." ... "The interview process will be limited to questions concerning information requested in the BAFO... No discussions or an other form of negotiations will take place." "...the record shows that the questions asked are in the nature of clarifications --- they merely request additional detail concerning information already presented..." "For example,...(offeror) reduced by ten the number of Bosnian lending professionals that it would use under the contract. During the oral interview the firm was asked to describe any changes that this reduction would require in the way the lending staff was deployed and organized. Other questions included requests for elaboration on the reasons for selecting particular personnel and on arguments made and postions taken to support a particular approach...."

Interested in "pop-quiz" format for oral presentations. A typical pop quiz question might be "Please describe your courseware development process." There would be several others, all used to determine level of understanding. Of particular interest is the desire to ask real time follow up questions as the oral presentation proceeds (maybe ask follow-up questions after each of several questions). An example follow-up question might be "In your description of courseware development, you mentioned "X." Could you expand on what X entails, and what benefit it brings?" Do you believe the answers to these types of follow up questions constistute discussions? Why?

I?ve been bouncing this one around the office and have gotten some funny looks, though it seems perfectly logical to me. Here?s the hypothetical: We have a procurement to solicit and award a 16.5 MAC with, say, 6 contracts. The RFP states the Government will evaluate proposals and award contracts without discussions. After evaluations, if we find only 3 proposals awardable without discussions (no signicant flaws, otherwise very good proposals), do you see a problem with awarding these 3 immediately, then setting a competitive range and entering discussions with the most highly rated proposals determined from the remaining offers? Assume we announced our intent to take this approach in the RFP.