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why should a large business respond to a sources sought notification


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When the government publishes a sources sought notice/synopsis, is there any good reason for a large business to respond?  

1  If the CO finds that there are sufficient small businesses to set the procurement aside, I don't see there is any advantage to the large business in having responded, as they will not be able to bid as a prime.  

2  If the CO finds that there are NOT sufficient small businesses, does a large business that answered the SSN have any advantage over a large business that did not respond to the SSN? (Leaving aside the possibility that the large business could give the CO information that meant the entire procurement strategy should be changed, i.e., the government should seek another technical solution or something like that.)

 

Thanks to all for opinions

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Guest Vern Edwards
9 minutes ago, contractor100 said:

If the CO finds that there are NOT sufficient small businesses, does a large business that answered the SSN have any advantage over a large business that did not respond to the SSN? 

None that I can think of.

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Guest PepeTheFrog
19 hours ago, contractor100 said:

When the government publishes a sources sought notice/synopsis, is there any good reason for a large business to respond?

Yes.

All too often, the Government does not understand the difference between a source sought notice (SSN) and request for information (RFI), and uses the two interchangeably. For that unfortunate reason, a large business might consider responding to a SSN.

Also, Jamaal Valentine brings up another reason.

Furthermore, assuming the Government is using the SSN to determine if a set-aside is appropriate: A large business might submit a response to the SSN (perhaps a "white paper") advocating against any type of set-aside.

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So, Jamaal and Pepe, you are saying that CO's actually read responses from large businesses to SSNs  - but how is that helpful to the large businesses?  Do they get on any kind of "short list" for the opportunity if it comes out large?  How does the CO's presumably favorable opinion of them transfer into an advantage in a subsequent open competition?

(This is assuming as I say that the large cannot offer some new solution, to sway the competition.)

If two qualified small businesses respond, how could the CO not set it aside, no matter what the large business wrote in their white paper?  Would the large business say, you know, that the small businesses that are liable to respond are not responsible?

 

Thanks so much to all, for your experience and advice!

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Just want to add, I frequently (at least 50 percent of the time) see SSNs saying things like "An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice."  

Does that mean this particular CO does not want to read anything that will not help her with the rule of two analysis?

Does that mean that if a CO has NOT written such a commentary, he wants to read marketing materials - carefully crafted and tailored of course- -  from large businesses?

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Guest PepeTheFrog
On 1/16/2017 at 10:47 AM, contractor100 said:

how is that helpful to the large businesses?

To influence the procurement method or provide information to the contracting agency.

On 1/16/2017 at 10:47 AM, contractor100 said:

Would the large business say, you know, that the small businesses that are liable to respond are not responsible?

The large business would say that small businesses are incapable of performing the work, or will perform inadequately, despite what the small businesses may say.

On 1/16/2017 at 11:10 AM, contractor100 said:

Does that mean that if a CO has NOT written such a commentary, he wants to read marketing materials - carefully crafted and tailored of course- -  from large businesses?

You are delving into mind-reading now.

The reason any business might respond to a SSN or RFI that seems to exclude that business is to influence the procurement method or provide information to the contracting agency. Read the tea leaves and make a decision to respond or not.

There is a small industry of contracting consultants who churn out these white papers, so at least some businesses think the effort is worthwhile.

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