DoD, NASA, GSA Propose Rule to Facilitate Govt-Industry Communication During Acquisition Process

The Defense Department, NASA and the General Services Administration have proposed a rule that seeks to encourage and facilitate communication between government procurement officials and industry during the acquisition process.

The three agencies said in a Federal Register notice posted Tuesday the proposed regulation would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation in order to enforce a provision of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act.

DoD, NASA and GSA seek information on procedures and policies that aim to promote communication between government and industry in various phases of the federal acquisition process.

These phases include market research, acquisition planning, solicitation and contract award.

The agencies also want feedback on whether it would be beneficial to ask contracting officers to carry out discussions with potential vendors “after establishing the competitive range for contracts of a high dollar threshold.”

Comments to the proposed rule are due Jan. 30, according to the notice.