Certificate of Competency

[SSKO]

We issued a small business set-aside solicitation for award of a CPFF contract. The solicitation required the offeror have a government approved accounting system at the time of award.

We also include the following information in Section L:

?If the offeror cannot provide adequate evidence of a government approved accounting system, the offeror can request the government initiate a "Preaward Survey of Prospective Contractor's Accounting System" to the Cognizant Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to request a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audit to assess the adequacy of a contractor's accounting system for accumulating costs under a prospective Government contract. The audit scope is limited to obtain an understanding of the design of the prospective accounting system and if it is acceptable for accumulating costs under a Government contract. DCAA will determine if the system will provide reasonable data for projection of costs to complete the contract. The offeror shall request the Preaward Survey prior to submission of a proposal to provide the maximum amount of time between audit and award?.

The offeror with the highest rated proposal does not have a government approved accounting system. We have initiated a Preaward Survey for the accounting system, however the review will not be completed in time for and end of the year award.

The offeror has stated it has a compliant accounting system that has been audited by a private accounting firm. They use QuickBooks Accounting System software that has been developed in conjunction with FAR regulations and designed to be compliant with all audit requirements.

Is it possible to ask the SBA to provide a Certificate of Competency to the Contracting Officer for this offeror by 30 September and would that certificate make the offeror responsible for award? I understand this is not the best method but I can?t think of any other possible way to find the offeror responsible.

Small businesses are in a catch 22 situation where they need an approved accounting system for award, but to undergo an audit it must be initiated by the Contracting Officer for a specific contract/requirement.

[Guest Vern Edwards]

Is it possible to ask the SBA to provide a Certificate of Competency to the Contracting Officer for this offeror by 30 September and would that certificate make the offeror responsible for award? I understand this is not the best method but I can?t think of any other possible way to find the offeror responsible.

Yes. It is possible to ask SBA for anything.