elefess Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) On a FFP type, Far Part 8 Best Value RFQ(in my office we don't designate LPTA or tradeoff when doing FAR Part 8), Source Selection must all the SSEB Members be from the PMO office? My thoughts: No, the SSEB Members must be personnel with the appropriate KSAs to be able to evaluate the quotes received. Special approval is only required if we want to use contractors to evaluate, which we do not in this situation. CO thoughts: If the person is no longer part of the PMO(they were employeed there previously and worked on the acquisition package), they should not be on the SSEB. I informed my PMO and they are asking for written policy or written guidance where this is stated. I work for the VA and our deskbook is silent. Edited May 21, 2014 by elefess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvanpup Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 I do not know (nor, really, care) what VA policy is or should be. However, note the difference between your question ("do all the SSEB Members need to be from the PMO office," i.e., are they required to be from the PMO office) and the CO thoughts ("they should not be on the SSEB"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elefess Posted May 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 I do not know (nor, really, care) what VA policy is or should be. However, note the difference between your question ("do all the SSEB Members need to be from the PMO office," i.e., are they required to be from the PMO office) and the CO thoughts ("they should not be on the SSEB"). I note the difference in the question and clarified "must" instead of "need". I provided the agency information in case anyone does know VA policy and has advice specific to VA, however I'm not requesting responses only from a VA perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vern Edwards Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 FAR states no rule about where government employees must work in order to be on an SSEB. Unless there is a rule about it in your agency FAR supplement or in some other agency policy statement, then there is no rule. If the CO is the source selection authority, then he or she can set a rule. See FAR 15.303( b )(1). If the PMO doesn't want to accept the CO's say-so, they can fight it out in higher management's office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elefess Posted May 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 Vern, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retreadfed Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 elefess, have you looked at FAR 37.204? To me, that indicates that the FAR contemplates that a preference is to be given to using evaluators from other agencies when the contracting agency does not have personnel to conduct the evaluation. This seems to support your position that members of the SSEB do not have to be from the PMO. If they did, 37.204 would not make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desparado Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 I would spin that around on your PMO and have them show you where the SSEB members MUST be from the PMO office. You can show where the VAAR and FAR are silent on the issue, so I would put it to them to prove their case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vern Edwards Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 Don't do that. Don't "spin it around." Comply with statute and regulation, but work with the PMO to find a mutually acceptable solution. It's their program and their funding. You should try to make them happy if it is legally possible to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elefess Posted May 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2014 Thank you for the input. The FAR reference at 37.204 supports the arguement that the SSEB members should be personnel with the appropriate knowledge regardless of the agency. We were able to come to a solution that kept all parties happy without violating any regulations or laws. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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