Contracting Cone

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FAR Based Strategies

Federal Supply Schedules – FAR 8.4
Commercial Items – FAR 12
Simplified Acquisitions – FAR 13
Contracting by Negotiation – FAR 15
IDIQ – FAR 16.5
Letter Contract – FAR 16.603
Agreements – FAR 16.7
Small Business – FAR 19
BAA – FAR 35.016
SBIR/STTR
Defense CSO Pilot Program

Non-FAR Based Strategies

Other Transactions (OT)
Procurement for Experimental
R&D Agreements

Contract Type Matrix

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) – FAR Part 35.016

BAAs are used to obtain proposals for basic and applied research and development to advance or evaluate cutting edge technologies, not related to a specific system or hardware requirement. BAAs should be used when meaningful solutions can be expected. BAAs are typically “open” and proposals accepted for a specified period of time. Proposals submitted in response to BAAs may or may not lead to contracts.

BAAs may be used for the award of science and technology proposals for the following: 

  • Basic research (budget activity 6.1)
  • Applied research (budget activity 6.2)
  • Advanced technology development (budget activity 6.3)
  • Advanced component development and prototypes (budget activity 6.4)

 

BAAs may be used to award FAR-based contracts or non-FAR based agreements.

 

Common Applications

  • Research & Development (R&D) studies
  • Prototypes
  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) efforts
  • Science & Technology (S&T) initiatives
  • Technology maturation

 

 

Pros

Cons
Increases knowledge in areas of strategic importance and technical capability to programs Limitations on use of BAAs increases burden on government to transition capability to acquisition programs
Streamlined evaluation process based on technical merit increases flexibility to select innovative capability solutions Intellectual property and data rights increases burden on government to ensure rights are explicit during transition to acquisition programs
  Cannot acquire products in quantity

 

Restrictions

  • Limited to basic and applied research
  • Must be funded using RDT&E funds
  • Cannot be used for specific system or hardware solution
  • Cannot be used for systems engineering and advisory services
  • Cannot be used for production

 

References