Federal Acquisition Regulation; Contract Award Implementation AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

SUMMARY: This proposed rule is issued pursuant to the Federal

Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to expand the reasons for

establishing or maintaining alternative sources of supplies or

services, clarify approval authority for use of other than full and

open competition, allow acquisition of expert services to support

litigation by other than full and open competition and provide an

exception to synopsis requirements, make procedures for award without

discussion the same for Department of Defense and civilian agencies and

clarify procedures for use of source selection evaluation factors in

solicitations, require a determination that an option is likely to be

exercised before providing for evaluation of options, clarify notice of

award and debriefing procedures, allow nonprofit agencies for the blind

or severely disabled to use Government supply sources in performing

Javits-Wagner-O'Day contracts, clarify procedures for award to a source

identified in a statute, and identify new Federal Procurement Data

System reporting requirements.

This regulatory action was not subject to Office of Management and

Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before March 10, 1995 to be

considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to: -

General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (VRS), 18th & F

Streets, NW, Room 4037, Washington, DC 20405.

Please cite FAR case 94-701 in all correspondence related to this

case.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Rider, Contract Award Team

Leader, at (703) 614-1634 in reference to this FAR case. For general

information, contact the FAR Secretariat, Room 4037, GS Building,

Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAR case 94-701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-355,

provides authorities that streamline the acquisition process and

minimize burdensome Government-unique requirements. Major changes that

can be expected in the acquisition process as a result of Federal

Acquisition Streamlining Act implementation include changes in the

areas of Commercial Item Acquisition, Simplified Acquisition

Procedures, the Truth in Negotiations Act, and Introduction of the

Federal Acquisition Computer Network.

This notice announces proposed FAR revisions developed under FAR

Case 94-701, Contract Award Implementation, which implements the

following sections of the Act:

--Sections 1002 and 1052 amended 10 U.S.C. 2304(b) and 41 U.S.C. 253(b)

to--(1) ensure the continuous availability of a reliable source of

supply; (2) satisfy projected needs based on a history of high demand;

and (3) satisfy a critical need for medical, safety, or emergency

supplies, as reasons for establishing or maintaining alternative

sources. (Implementation at FAR 6.202.)

--Sections 1003 and 1053 amended 10 U.S.C. 2304(f)(1)(B)(i) and 41

U.S.C. 253(f)(1)(B)(i) to clarify the approval authority for use of

other than full and open competition. (Implementation at FAR 6.304.)

--Sections 1005 and 1055 amended 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3) and 41 U.S.C.

253(c) to add the acquisition of expert services for use in any

litigation or dispute involving the Federal Government as an exception

to use of full and open competition. (Implementation at FAR 6.302-5.)

Section 1055 also amended 41 U.S.C. 416(c) and 15 U.S.C. 637(c) to

provide an exception to the publication of notices in the Commerce

Business Daily for acquisition of expert services. (Implementation at

FAR 5.202, 5.301, and 6.302-3.)

--Sections 1011 and 1061 amend 10 U.S.C. 2305(a) and 41 253a to (1)

make procedures for award of contracts without discussion comparable in

Department of Defense and civilian agencies, (2) require solicitations

for competitive proposals to include all significant factors and

subfactors and whether they are more important, of equal importance or

less important than cost or price and (3) permit agencies to disclose

numerical weights assigned to evaluation factors at their discretion.

(Implementation at FAR 15.407, 15.605, 15.610, and 52.215-16.)

--Sections 1012 and 1062 amend 10 U.S.C. 2305(a) and 41 U.S.C. 253(a)

to require a determination that it is likely that an option will be

exercised before providing for evaluation of prices of options in

solicitations for contracts awarded using sealed bid procedures.

(Implementation at FAR 17.202 and 17.208.)

--Sections 1013 and 1063 amend 10 U.S.C. 2305(b) and 41 U.S.C. 253b to

require, within three days of contract award, notification to

unsuccessful offerors that a contract has been awarded and to allow

electronic transmission of the notice. (Implementation at FAR 14.407-1,

14.408-1, 15.1001, 15.1002 and 36.304.)

--Sections 1014 and 1064 amend 10 U.S.C. 2305(b) and 41 U.S.C. 253b to

(1) allow offerors to request a debriefing within three days of receipt

of notice of award and requires agencies, to the maximum extent

practicable, to conduct the debriefings within five days, and (2)

specify minimum requirements for content of the debriefings.

(Implementation at FAR 15.1003 and 36.607.)

--Section 1555 amends 40 U.S.C. 481 to allow nonprofit agencies for the

blind or severely disabled providing supplies or services under a

Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act contract to use Government supply sources in

performing the contract. (Implementation at FAR 51.101 and 51.102.)

--Section 7203 amends 10 U.S.C. 2304 and 41 U.S.C. 253 to state

Congressional policy regarding legislative requirements for award of a

new contract to a specific non-Federal Government entity.

(Implementation at FAR 6.302-5.)

--Section 1004 requires the Federal Procurement Data System to collect

from contracts in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold data

on awards to small and disadvantaged businesses using either set asides

or full and open competition, awards to businesses owned and controlled

by women, the number of offers received in response to a solicitation,

task order contracts and contracts for the acquisition of commercial

items. (Implementation at FAR 4.601.)

The FAR Council is interested in an exchange of ideas and opinions

with respect to the regulatory implementation of the Act. For that

reason, the Council is conducting a series of public meetings. However,

the Council has not scheduled a public [[Page 2473]] meeting on this

rule (FAR case 94-701) because of the clarity and non-controversial

nature of the rule. If the public believes such a meeting is needed

with respect to this rule, a letter requesting a public meeting and

outlining the nature of the requested meeting shall be submitted to and

received by the FAR Secretariat (see ADDRESSES caption) on or before

February 8, 1995. The FAR Council will consider such requests in

determining whether a public meeting on this rule should be scheduled.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The proposed rule is not expected to have significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of

the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. because it

affects internal operating procedures of the Federal Government. An

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore, not been

performed. Comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR

subparts will also be considered in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610 of the

Act. Such comments must be submitted separately and cite 5 U.S.C. 601,

et seq. (FAR case 94-701) in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed

changes to the FAR do not impose recordkeeping or information

collection requirements, or collections of information from offerors,

contractors, or members of the public which require the approval of the

Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Chapter 1

Government procurement.

Dated: December 29, 1994.

Edward C. Loeb,

Deputy Project Manager for the Implementation of the Federal

Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994.

Therefore, it is proposed that 48 CFR Chapter 1 be amended as set

forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Chapter 1 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42

U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

2. Section 4.601 is amended by redesignating existing paragraph (d)

as (e) and revising it; and adding a new paragraph (d) to read as

follows:

4.601 Record requirements.

* * * * *-

(d) In addition to the information described in paragraphs (b) and

(c) of this section, for procurements exceeding $25,000, the following

information shall be accessible:

(1) Awards to small disadvantaged businesses using either set-

asides or full and open competition.

(2) Awards to business concerns owned and controlled by women.

(3) The number of offers received in response to a solicitation.-

(4) Task or delivery order contracts.

(5) Contracts for the acquisition of commercial items.-

(e) This information shall be transmitted to the Federal

Procurement Data System in accordance with agency procedures.

PART 5--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

5.201 [Amended]-

3. Section 5.201 is amended in paragraph (a) by removing ``(15

U.S.C. 637(c))'' and inserting ``(15 U.S.C. 637(e))''.-

4. Section 5.202 is amended at the end of paragraph (a)(11) by

removing P``;or''; at the end of paragraph (a)(12) by removing the

period and inserting ``; or''; and by adding paragraph (a)(13) to read

as follows:

5.202 Exceptions.

* * * * *-

(a) * * *-

(13) The contract action is for the services of an expert to

support the Federal Government in any current or anticipated litigation

or dispute.

* * * * *-

5. Section 5.301 is amended at the end of paragraph (b)(5) by

removing P``or''; at the end of paragraph (b)(6) by removing the period

and inserting ``; or''; and by adding paragraph (b)(7) to read as

follows:

5.301 General.

* * * * *-

(b) * * *-

(7) The award is for the services of an expert to support the

Federal Government in any current or anticipated litigation or dispute.

* * * * *

PART 6--COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS-

6. Section 6.202 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1); at the

end of paragraph (a)(2) by removing ``or''; at the end of paragraph

(a)(3) by removing the period and inserting a semicolon; adding

paragraphs (a)(4) through (a)(6); and removing from paragraphs (b)(1)

and (b)(3) the word ``above'' and inserting ``of this section''. The

revised text reads as follows:

6.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.-

(a) * * *-

(1) Increase or maintain competition and likely result in reduced

overall costs for the acquisition, or for any anticipated acquisition;

* * * * *-

(4) Ensure the continuous availability of a reliable source of

supplies or services;-

(5) Satisfy projected needs based on a history of high demand; or-

(6) Satisfy a critical need for medical, safety, or emergency

supplies.

* * * * *-

7. Section 6.302-3 is amended by revising the heading and paragraph

(a)(2); and by adding paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:

6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or

research capability; or expert services.-

(a) * * *-

(2) Full and open competition need not be provided for when it is

necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources in

order (i) to maintain a facility, producer, manufacturer, or other

supplier available for furnishing supplies or services in case of a

national emergency or to achieve industrial mobilization, (ii) to

establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or

development capability to be provided by an educational or other

nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development

center, or (iii) to acquire the services of an expert for any current

or anticipated litigation or dispute.-

(b) * * *-

(3) Use of the authority in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this

subsection may be appropriate when it is necessary to acquire the

services of--

(i) An expert to---

(A) Assist the Government in the analysis, presentation, or defense

of any claim or request for adjustment to contract terms or conditions,

whether asserted by a contractor or the Government, which is in

litigation or dispute, or is anticipated to result in dispute or

litigation before any court, administrative tribunal, or agency, or -

(B) Participate in any part of an alternative dispute resolution

process, including but not limited to evaluators, factfinders, or

witnesses, regardless of whether the expert is expected to testify; or

-

(ii) A neutral person, e.g., mediators or arbitrators, to

facilitate the resolution [[Page 2474]] of issues in an alternative

dispute resolution process.

* * * * *

8. Section 6.302-5 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(1) and

adding paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows:

6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute.

* * * * *-

(c) Limitations. (1) This authority shall not be used to support

new awards to specified non-Federal Government entities unless a

provision of law specifically refers to 10 U.S.C. 2304(j) for armed

services acquisitions or section 303(h) of the Federal Property and

Administrative Services Act of 1949 for civilian agency acquisitions

and requires an agency to award a new contract to a named non-Federal

Government entity and specifically states that award to this entity

shall be made in contravention of the merit-based selection procedures

in subsection 7203(b) of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of

1994 (10 U.S.C. 2304(j) and section 303(h) of the Federal Property and

Administrative Services Act of 1949). However, this limitation does not

apply--

(i) When the work provided for in the contract is a continuation of

the work performed by the specified entity under a preceding contract;

or-

(ii) To any contract requiring the National Academy of Sciences to

investigate, examine, or experiment upon any subject of science or art

of significance to an executive agency and to report on those matters

to the Congress or any agency of the Federal Government.

* * * * *-

(3) The authority in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this subsection may be

used only for purchases of brand-name commercial items for resale

through commissaries or other similar facilities. Ordinarily, these

purchases will involve articles desired or preferred by customers of

the selling activities (but see 6.301(d)).

9. Section 6.304 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2) to read as

follows:

6.304 Approval of the justification.

(a) * * *-

(2) For a proposed contract over $100,000 but not exceeding

$1,000,000, by the competition advocate for the procuring activity

designated pursuant to 6.501 or an official described in paragraphs

(a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section. This authority is not delegable.

* * * * *

PART 14--SEALED BIDDING

10. Section 14.407-1 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(1) and

(d)(2) to read as follows:

14.407-1 General.

(a) * * * (1) by written or electronic notice, * * *

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) use of the Award portion of SF 33, SF 26, or SF 1447, does not

preclude the additional use of informal documents, including telegrams

or electronic transmissions, as notices of awards.

11. Section 14.408-1 is revised to read as follows:

14.408-1 Award of unclassified contracts.

(a)(1) The contracting officer shall as a minimum (subject to any

restrictions in 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4)--

(i) Notify each unsuccessful bidder in writing or electronically

within three days after contract award, that its bid was not accepted;

(ii) Extend appreciation for the interest the unsuccessful bidder

has shown in submitting a bid; and

(iii) When Award is made to other than a low bidder, state the

reason for rejection in the notice to each of the unsuccessful low

bidders.

(2) For acquisitions subject to the Trade Agreements Act or the

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (see

25.405(e)), agencies shall include in notices given unsuccessful

offerors from designated or NAFTA countries--

(i) The dollar amount of the successful offer; and

(ii) The name and address of the successful offeror.

(b) Information included in paragraph (a)(2) of this subsection

shall be provided to any unsuccessful bidder upon request except when

multiple awards have been made and furnishing information on the

successful bids would require so much work as to interfere with normal

operations of the contracting office. In such circumstances, only

information concerning location of the abstract of offers need be

given.

(c) When a request is received concerning an unclassified

invitation from an inquirer who is neither a bidder nor a

representative of a bidder, the contracting officer should make every

effort to furnish the names of successful bidders and, if requested,

the prices at which awards were made. However, when such requests

require so much work as to interfere with the normal operations of the

contracting office, the inquirer will be advised where a copy of the

abstract of offers may be seen.

(d) Requests for records shall be governed by agency regulations

implementing 48 CFR part 24, subpart 24.2.

PART 15--CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION

12. Section 15.407 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(4) to read

as follows:

15.407 Solicitation provisions.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(4) Insert in RFP's the provision at 52.215-16, Contract Award.

(i) If the RFP is for construction, the contracting officer shall

use the provision with its Alternate I or the provision with its

Alternate I or the provision with its Alternate I and Alternate II.

(ii) If the contracting officer intends to evaluate offers and make

award without discussions, use the basic provision with its Alternate

II.

* * * * *

13. Section 15.605 is amended by revising the heading, and

paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) to read as follows:

15.605 Evaluation factors and subfactors.

(a) The factors and subfactors that will be considered in

evaluating proposals shall be tailored to each acquisition and include

only those factors that will have an impact on the source selection

decision.

(b) The evaluation factors and subfactors that apply to an

acquisition and their relative importance are within the broad

discretion of agency acquisition officials. However, price or cost to

the Government shall be included as an evaluation factor in every

source selection. Quality also shall be addressed in every source

selection. In evaluation factors, quality may be expressed in terms of

technical capability, management capability, personnel qualifications,

prior experience, past performance, and schedule compliance. Any other

relevant factors and subfactors, such as cost realism, may also be

included.

* * * * *

(e) The solicitation shall clearly state the significant evaluation

factors and significant subfactors, including cost or price, cost or

price-related factors and subfactors, and non-cost or non-price-related

factors and subfactors, that will be considered in making the source

selection and their relative importance (see 15.406-5(c)). The

solicitation shall state whether all evaluation factors other than cost

or price, when combined, are (1) significantly more

[[Page 2475]] important than cost or price; (2) approximately equal to

cost or price; or (3) significantly less important than cost or price.

The solicitation may elaborate on the relative weights at the

discretion of the contracting officer. The solicitation shall inform

offerors of minimum requirements that apply to evaluation factors and

significant subfactors. Numerical weights may be used at the discretion

of the head of the agency. If numerical weights are used in proposal

evaluation, they may be disclosed in the solicitation on a case-by-case

basis. The solicitation may state that award will be made to the low

priced offeror that meets the solicitation's minimum criteria for

acceptable proposals.

* * * * *

14. Section 15.610 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to

read as follows:

15.610 Written or oral discussion.

(a) The requirement in paragraph (b) of this section for written or

oral discussion need not be applied in acquisitions--

(1) In which prices are fixed by law or regulation;

(2) Of the set-aside portion of a partial set-aside; or

(3) In which the solicitation notified all offerors that the

Government intends to evaluate proposals and make award without

discussion unless the contracting officer determines that discussions

(other than communications conducted for the purpose of minor

clarification) are considered necessary (see 15.407(d)(4)). Once the

Government states its intent to award without discussions, the

rationale for reversal of this decision shall be documented in the

contract file.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, the

contracting officer shall conduct written or oral discussion with all

responsible offerors who submit proposals within the competitive range.

The content and extent of the discussions is a matter of the

contracting officer's judgment, based on the particular facts of each

acquisition (but see paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section).

* * * * *

15.1001 through 15.1005 [Redesignated as 15.1002 through 15.1006]

15. Sections 15.1001 through 15.1005 are redesignated as 15.1002

through 15.1006, respectively; and a new 15.1001 is added to read as

follows:

15.1001 General.

This subpart applies to the use of competitive proposals, as

described in 6.102(b), and a combination of competitive procedures, as

described in 6.102(d). To the extent practicable, however, the

procedures and intent of this subpart, with reasonable modification,

should be followed for these acquisitions: broad agency announcements,

small business innovation research contracts and architect-engineer

contracts.

16. Newly designated section 15.1002 is amended by revising

paragraph (a), and the introductory text of paragraphs (b)(2) and

(c)(1); by removing paragraph (c)(2) and redesignating paragraph (c)(3)

as (c)(2); and by amending the newly designated paragraph (c)(2) by

removing ``15.1001(c)(1)(i)'' and inserting ``15.1002(c)(1)(i). The

revised text reads as follows:

15.1002 Notifications to unsuccessful offerors.

(a) General. Within three days of contract award, the contracting

officer shall notify, in writing or electronically, each offeror whose

proposal is determined to be unacceptable or whose offer is not

selected for award.

(b) * * *

(2) In a small business set-aside (see 48 CFR part 19, subpart

19.5), upon completion of negotiations and determinations of

responsibility, but prior to award, the contracting officer shall

notify each unsuccessful offeror in writing or electronically of the

name and location of the apparent successful offeror. The notice shall

also state that * * *-

(c) Postaward notices. (1) After award of contracts resulting from

solicitations exceeding the small purchase limitation in part 13, the

contracting officer shall notify unsuccessful offerors in writing or

electronically, unless preaward notice was given under paragraph (b) of

this section. The notice shall include--

* * * * *

17. Newly designated section 15.1003 is amended by revising the

first sentence to read as follows:

15.1003 Notification to successful offeror.

The contracting officer shall award a contract with reasonable

promptness to the successful offeror (selected in accordance with

15.611(d)) by transmitting written or electronic notice of the award to

that offeror (but see 15.608(b)). * * *

18. Newly designated section 15.1004 is revised to read as follows:

15.1004 Debriefing of offerors.

(a) When a contract is awarded on the basis of competitive

proposals, offerors, upon their written request received by the agency

within three days after the date the unsuccessful offeror receives

notice of contract award, shall be debriefed and furnished the basis

for the selection decision and contract award. When practicable,

debriefing requests received more than three days after the offeror

receives notice of contract award shall be accommodated. To the maximum

extent practicable, the debriefing should occur within five days after

receipt of the written request.

(b) Debriefings of successful and unsuccessful offerors may be done

orally, in writing, by electronic means, or any other method mutually

acceptable to both the offeror and the contracting officer.

(c) The contracting officer shall chair the debriefing session with

the support of individuals actually responsible for the evaluations.

(d) At a minimum, the debriefing information shall include--

(1) The Government's evaluation of the significant weaknesses or

deficiencies in the offeror's proposal;

(2) The overall evaluated cost and technical rating of the

successful and debriefed offerors;

(3) The overall ranking of all offerors when any ranking was

developed by the agency during the source selection;

(4) A summary of the rationale for award;

(5) For commercial end items delivered under the contract, the make

and model of the item being provided by the successful offeror; and

(6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions about whether source

selection procedures contained in the solicitation, applicable

regulations, and other applicable authorities were followed.

(e) The debriefing shall not include point-by-point comparisons of

the debriefed offeror's proposal with those of other offerors.

Moreover, debriefing shall not reveal any information exempt from

release under the Freedom of Information Act including--

(1) Trade secrets;

(2) Privileged or confidential manufacturing processes and

techniques; and-

(3) Commercial and financial information that is privileged or

confidential, including cost breakdowns, profit, indirect cost rates,

and similar information.

(f) The contracting officer shall include an official written

summary of the debriefing in the contract file.

(g) If, within one year of contract award, a successful protest

causes the agency to issue either a new solicitation or a new request

for best and final offers on the protested contract award, the

[[Page 2476]] agency shall make available to all offerors--

(1) Information provided in any debriefings conducted on the

original award about the successful offeror's proposal; and

(2) Other nonproprietary information that would have been provided

to the original offerors.

PART 17--SPECIAL CONTRACTING METHODS

19. Section 17.202 is amended by revising paragraph (a), and at the

end of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) by removing ``; or'' and inserting a

period. The revised text reads as follows:

17.202 Use of options.-

(a) Subject to the limitations of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this

section, for both sealed bidding and contracting by negotiation the

contracting officer may include options in contracts when it is in the

Government's interest. When using sealed bids, the contracting officer

shall make a written determination that there is a reasonable

likelihood that the options will be exercised before including the

clause at 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options, in the solicitation. (See

17.207(f) with regard to the exercise of options.)

* * * * *

20. Section 17.208 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (c)(4)

to read as follows:

17.208 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

* * * * *

(b) The contracting officer shall insert a provision substantially

the same as the provision at 52.217-4, Evaluation of Options Exercised

at Time of Contract Award, in solicitations when the solicitation

includes an option clause, the contracting officer has determined that

there is a reasonable likelihood that the option will be exercised, and

the option may be exercised at the time of contract award.

(c) * * *

(4) The contracting officer has determined that there is a

reasonable likelihood that the option will be exercised. For sealed

bids, the determination shall be in writing.

* * * * *

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION

21. Section 25.405 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as

follows:

25.405 Procedures.

* * * * *

(e) Within three days after a contract award for an eligible

product, agencies shall give unsuccessful offerors from designated or

NAFTA countries notice in accordance with 14.408-1 and 15.1002.

PART 36--CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS

22. Section 36.304 is amended by revising the introductory text to

read as follows:

36.304 Notice of award.

When a notice of award is issued, it shall be done in writing or

electronically, within three days of contract award, shall contain

information required by 14.407 and shall--

* * * * *

23. Section 36.607 is amended by designating the existing text as

paragraph (a) and adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:

36.607 Release of information on firm selection.

* * * * *

(b) Debriefings of successful and unsuccessful firms will be held

after final selection has taken place and will be conducted in

accordance with 15.1003(b) through (g). Note that 15.1003(d)(2) through

(d)(5) does not apply to architect-engineer contracts.

PART 51--USE OF GOVERNMENT SOURCES BY CONTRACTORS

24. Section 51.101 is amended at the end of paragraph (a)(1) by

removing ``or'' and at the end of paragraph (a)(2) by removing the

period and inserting ``; or'' and by adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as

follows:

51.101 Policy.-

(a) * * *

(3) A contract under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46 et

seq.) if (i) the nonprofit agency requesting use of the supplies and

services is providing a commodity or service to the Federal Government,

and (ii) the supplies or services received are directly used in making

or providing a commodity or service approved by the Committee for

Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to the Federal

Government (See 48 CFR part 8, subpart 8.7).

* * * * *

25. Section 51.102 is amended in paragraph (a) by revising the last

sentence to read as follows:

51.102 Authorization to use Government supply sources.

(a) * * * Except for findings under 51.101(a)(3), the determination

shall be based on, but not limited to, considerations of the following

factors:

* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

26. Section 52.215-16 is amended by revising the date in the clause

heading and paragraph (c); adding paragraph (h); by removing from

Alternate I ``15.407(d)(4)(ii)'' and inserting ``15.407(d)(4)(i)''; by

removing Alternate II; and by redesignating Alternate III as II and

revising it. The revisions read as follows:

52.215-16 Contract Award.

* * * * *

Contract Award (Date)

* * * * *

(c) The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a

contract after conducting written or oral discussions with all

responsible offerors whose proposals have been determined to be within

the competitive range. However, each initial offer should contain the

offeror's best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint.

* * * * *

(h) The Government may disclose the following information in post-

award debriefings to other offerors: (1) The overall evaluated cost and

technical rating of the successful offeror; (2) The overall ranking of

all offerors, if one was performed during the source selection; and (3)

for acquisitions of commercial items, the make and model of the item

being provided by the successful offeror.

* * * * *

Alternate II (Date). As prescribed in 15.407(d)(4)(ii), substitute

the following paragraph (c) for paragraph (c) of the basic provision:

(c) The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a

contract without discussions with offerors (except communications

conducted for the purpose of minor clarification). Therefore, each

initial offer should contain the offeror's best terms from a cost or

price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the

right to conduct discussions if later determined by the Contracting

Officer to be necessary.

[FR Doc. 95-296 Filed 1-6-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-34-P