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There is a prosolicitation posted on Fed Biz Opps that my company plans to respond to at the solicitation phase. We notice that the customer can save millions of dollars if they chose an alternate scope of work. We would like to formally ask the customer to revise the scope based on our recommendations. Is there a procedure for doing this prior to solicitation phase?

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Generally, if your firm were to assist the Government in forming its requirement, your firm would not be eligible to compete to perform the requirement also. See FAR Section 9.505 for an expanded explanation.

Perhaps ask the Government if it will consider including a Value Engineering clause in the contract. If your firm is successful in being awarded the contract, this avenue could provide your firm an opporunity to provide a VECP to the Government for consideration.

It's hard to imagine the Government relaxing its requirement prior to or during the solicitation phase at the prompting of an offeror who thinks that the Government's requirement is excessive and who states it can save the Government money. That sounds more like a sales pitch, which is appropriately at the proposal phase of the competitive process. Maybe consider offering two proposals, one that meets the Government's requirement, and an alternative proposal.

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You didn't state the purpose of the pre-solicitation notice. If they are inviting ideas, one suggestion is having them change the requirement statement to a higher, functional approach that accomodates multiple methods. That way your approach along with what's already contemplated could be evaluated together. I would call the CO and talk with them.

Otherwise you are caught between the rock and the hard place. If you get the agency to revise the way the requirement is stated, your competitors can offer the identicial thing. If you respond the way it is, most likely you will be non-responsive. You could propse and include an alternate solution, but the agency probably can't accept it with revising the solicitation. Or you can respond and hope to offer the alternative after award, which usually doesn't go very far.

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Guest Vern Edwards

There is a prosolicitation posted on Fed Biz Opps that my company plans to respond to at the solicitation phase. We notice that the customer can save millions of dollars if they chose an alternate scope of work. We would like to formally ask the customer to revise the scope based on our recommendations. Is there a procedure for doing this prior to solicitation phase?

There are no set procedures. Pick up the phone and call the CO. Tell him or her that you would like to make some recommendations. Ask if you can write a letter. Alternatively, send a letter without invitation and say that you're available to discuss.

Realistically, I doubt that you'll get a warm reception at this point in the process, but you have nothing to lose but a little time.

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Already stated by others but with regard to "alternate proposals" make sure the wording of the solicitation allow. If it does not it might be the middle ground to suggest to the CO with regard to amending the solictation if you elect to have the conversation with the CO that others have suggested.

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