Contracting Cone

The procedures in FAR Part 13 provide streamlined processes to acquire supplies and services, including construction, research and development, and commercial items, for which the aggregate amount does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

FAR Subpart 13.5 authorizes the use of simplified procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding stated amounts in FAR 13.500(c), including options, if the contracting officer reasonably expects, based on the nature of the supplies or services sought, and on market research, that offers will include only commercial items.

The purpose of these simplified procedures is to vest contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry (10 U.S.C. §3205 and §3206 and 41 U.S.C.3305, 3306, and Chapter 37, Awarding of Contracts.

When acquiring commercial items using the procedures in this part, the requirements of FAR Part 12 apply subject to the order of precedence provided at FAR 12.102(c). This includes use of the provisions and clauses in FAR Subpart 12.3.

There are three main contracting strategies within FAR Part 13:

Resources

• FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items
• FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures
• FAR Subpart 13.5  Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services
• DFARS Part 213 Simplified Acquisition Procedures
• Class Deviation – Micro-Purchase Threshold, Simplified Acquisition Threshold, and Special Emergency Procurement Authority, Defense Pricing and Contracting, Aug 2018