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What are "Open Discussions"


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I was notified last week that our proposal was determined to be technically acceptable and within the competitive range.  The letter also said that open discussions would conclude in a week, then all offers to present their best price offer.

I haven't heard boo from the CO or representative since the original letter.  We have no questions for the contracting team as we are pretty confident in our pricing.  So my question is: what are open discussions for if the contracting team doesn't have questions?:unsure:

 

Much Appreciated!

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Newbie,

Are you assuming the CO has no questions because you haven't heard anything from him or are you stating your team has no questions for the CO? Either way if you have not heard anything further and it's been a significant amount of time, you might want to follow up with the CO.  

Discussions are held to negotiate price, schedule, technical requirements, identify deficiencies, weaknesses, etc. See FAR 15.306(d), in part below.

(d) Exchanges with offerors after establishment of the competitive range. Negotiations are exchanges, in either a competitive or sole source environment, between the Government and offerors, that are undertaken with the intent of allowing the offeror to revise its proposal. These negotiations may include bargaining. Bargaining includes persuasion, alteration of assumptions and positions, give-and-take, and may apply to price, schedule, technical requirements, type of contract, or other terms of a proposed contract. When negotiations are conducted in a competitive acquisition, they take place after establishment of the competitive range and are called discussions.

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Newbie,

You should assume that the agency is conducting discussions with someone else.  Someone else is getting an opportunity to improve its offer based on the discussions -- that someone else might end up getting the contract.  You will also get an opportunity to improve your offer by submitting a final proposal revision, but you will do it in the dark without the benefit of discussions.  Maybe you should ask the contracting officer for an opportunity to discuss your proposal, the Government's evaluation of it, and whether there is anything you can alter or explain to materially enhance your proposal's potential for award.  See FAR 15.306( d )( 3 ).

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