Contracting officers must post online J&As for noncompetitive procurement

Government contracting officers must ensure they post online justifications for acquisitions made through noncompetitive measures, what is commonly referred to as "sole source" contracts.

Under a final rule issued June 16 by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, contracting officers must ensure that a justification and approval for noncompetitive acquisitions are online within 14 days of contract award, unless a national security exemption applies.

The rule applies even to procurement made under simplified acquisition procedures--which allow for the acquisition of commercial items worth up to $5.5 million, provided that a contracting officer "reasonably expects" based on market research that offers will include only commercial items not worth more than that.

The rule does not apply to orders made under the General Services Administration's schedules program, but a future rule will require online justification and approvals for schedule orders above the simplified acquisition threshold, which is currently $100,000.

Contracting officers must post justification even if they didn't post the synopsis document leading to the acquisition, the rule states.

For more:
- read the final rule

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