FAR Part 11 Flashcards
Describing Agency Needs
FAR Part 11
Describing Agency Needs
Overview of FAR Part 11 - Describing Agency Needs
Purpose: Establishes policies and procedures for determining agency needs (FAR 11.000).
Key Sections:
11.1 Selecting and Developing Requirements Documents
11.2 Using and Maintaining Requirements Documents
11.3 Acceptable Material
11.4 Delivery or Performance Schedules
11.5 Liquidated Damages
11.6 Priorities and Allocations
11.7 Variation in Quantity
11.8 Testing
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.1 - Selecting and Developing Requirements Documents
Purpose: Establishes the need for accurate and thorough requirements documents (FAR 11.101).
Key Points:
Requirements must be clearly defined to ensure effective procurement (FAR 11.101(a)).
Use of performance-based acquisition methods where possible (FAR 11.101(b)).
Coordination with stakeholders to ensure requirements are complete and achievable (FAR 11.102).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Instructor Dialogue
“FAR Part 11 focuses on the policies and procedures for determining and describing agency needs.
This part helps mitigate risks by ensuring that requirements are clearly defined and properly documented.
By following these guidelines, agencies can ensure that procurement processes are efficient and meet the intended goals.”
Subpart 11.1 - Selecting and Developing Requirements Documents
Instructor Dialogue
Subpart 11.2 focuses on the use and maintenance of requirements documents.
It’s essential to regularly review and update these documents to ensure they remain relevant and compliant with current policies.
This practice helps mitigate risks by preventing outdated or incorrect requirements from affecting procurement outcomes.”
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.2 - Using and Maintaining Requirements Documents
Purpose: Ensures requirements documents are kept up-to-date and relevant (FAR 11.201).
Key Points:
Regular review and update of requirements documents (FAR 11.201(a)).
Ensuring consistency with current policies and regulations (FAR 11.201(b)).
Maintaining clear and accessible documentation for all stakeholders (FAR 11.201(c)).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.2 - Using and Maintaining Requirements Documents
Instructor Dialogue:
Subpart 11.2 focuses on the use and maintenance of requirements documents.
It’s essential to regularly review and update these documents to ensure they remain relevant and compliant with current policies.
This practice helps mitigate risks by preventing outdated or incorrect requirements from affecting procurement outcomes
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.3 - Acceptable Material
Purpose: Defines the standards for acceptable materials in procurement (FAR 11.301).
Key Points:
Specifications must reflect the minimum needs of the agency (FAR 11.301(a)).
Consideration of commercial standards and practices (FAR 11.301(b)).
Ensuring materials meet environmental and safety regulations (FAR 11.302).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.3 - Acceptable Material
Instructor Dialogue
Subpart 11.3 establishes standards for acceptable materials in procurement.
Specifications should reflect the agency’s minimum needs and consider commercial standards. Ensuring that materials meet environmental and safety regulations is crucial for reducing risks associated with non-compliance and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of procured items.”
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.4 - Delivery or Performance Schedules
Purpose: Establishes guidelines for setting delivery and performance schedules (FAR 11.401).
Key Points:
Schedules must be realistic and achievable (FAR 11.401(a)).
Consideration of contractor capabilities and workload (FAR 11.402).
Flexibility to accommodate unforeseen circumstances (FAR 11.403).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.4 - Delivery or Performance Schedules
Instructor Dialogue
Subpart 11.4 provides guidelines for setting realistic and achievable delivery and performance schedules.
Considering contractor capabilities and allowing for flexibility can help mitigate risks associated with delays and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.”
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.5 - Liquidated Damages
Purpose: Provides a mechanism to compensate for delays in contract performance (FAR 11.501).
Key Points:
Establishing liquidated damages clauses in contracts (FAR 11.502).
Calculation of liquidated damages based on potential harm (FAR 11.503).
Enforcement of liquidated damages to incentivize timely performance (FAR 11.504).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.5 - Liquidated Damages
Instructor Dialogue
Subpart 11.5 introduces the concept of liquidated damages, which serve as a mechanism to compensate for delays in contract performance.
By including liquidated damages clauses and calculating potential harm, agencies can incentivize timely performance and mitigate risks associated with project delays
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.6 - Priorities and Allocations
Purpose: Ensures prioritization of contracts that support national defense and other critical needs (FAR 11.601).
Key Points:
Implementation of the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) (FAR 11.602).
Prioritizing contracts that support national defense and critical infrastructure (FAR 11.603).
Coordination with relevant agencies to ensure proper allocation of resources (FAR 11.604).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.6 - Priorities and Allocations
Instructor Dialogue:
Subpart 11.6 ensures that contracts supporting national defense and other critical needs are prioritized appropriately.
The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) helps agencies allocate resources effectively, mitigating risks associated with shortages or delays in critical supplies and services
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.7 - Variation in Quantity
Purpose: Allows for flexibility in contract quantities to accommodate production variances (FAR 11.701).
Key Points:
Establishing acceptable variation ranges in contracts (FAR 11.702).
Addressing the impact of quantity variations on pricing and delivery (FAR 11.703).
Ensuring transparency and fairness in handling quantity variations (FAR 11.704).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.7 - Variation in Quantity
Instructor Dialogue:
“Subpart 11.7 addresses variations in contract quantities, allowing for flexibility to accommodate production variances.
Establishing acceptable variation ranges and addressing their impact on pricing and delivery helps mitigate risks and ensures transparency and fairness in contract performance.”
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.8 - Testing
Purpose: Ensures that products meet required standards through rigorous testing (FAR 11.801).
Key Points:
Implementing testing requirements in contracts (FAR 11.802).
Conducting inspections and tests to verify compliance (FAR 11.803).
Using testing results to inform acceptance or rejection of products (FAR 11.804).
FAR Part 11: Describing Agency Needs
Subpart 11.8 - Testing
Instructor Dialogue:
Subpart 11.8 focuses on the importance of testing to ensure that products meet required standards.
By implementing testing requirements, conducting thorough inspections, and using the results to inform acceptance or rejection, agencies can mitigate risks associated with non-compliant or substandard products.”
DescribingAgencyNeeds
Agencies shall specify needs using
market research in a manner designed to promote full and open
competition, or maximum practicable competition
when using simplified acquisition procedures, with due regard to the nature of the supplies or services to
be acquired; and only include restrictive provisions or conditions to the extent necessary to satisfy the needs of the agency or as authorized by law.
Acquisition officials should state requirements with respect to an acquisition of supplies or services in terms of:
- Functions to be performed,
- Performance required, or
- Essential physical characteristics.
Preference for Commercial Items
Acquisition officials should define requirements in terms that enable and encourage offerors to supply
commercial items, or,
to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency’s needs are not available, non-developmental items, in response to the agency solicitations.
Offerors of commercial items and non-developmental items should be provided an opportunity to compete
in any acquisition to fil such requirements. Prime contractors and subcontractors at all tiers should be required to incorporate commercial items or non- developmental items as components of items supplied
to the agency.
Requirements (in appropriate cases) should be modified to ensure that they can be met by commercial items or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency’s needs are not available, non-developmental items.
Weightsa n dMeasures
The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 designates the metric
system as the
preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.
Its use is required except to the extent that such use is impracticable or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or
loss of markets to United States firms.
Consideration of Sustainable Acquisition
Various statutes and executive orders require consideration of sustainable acquisition, including
energy-efficient and water-efficient products and services that may utilize renewable energy technologies, recovered materials, bio-based products, and other environmentally preferable products and services, including EPEAT-registered
electronic products.