AIR FORCE FAR SUPPLEMENT
PART 5306 — Competition Requirements
Table of Contents
SUBPART 5306.2 — FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
5306.202 Establishing or Maintaining Alternative Sources
SUBPART 5306.3 — OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
5306.302-2 Unusual and Compelling Urgency
5306.302-4 International Agreement
5306.304 Approval of the Justification
[2019 Edition]
INTERIM CHANGE: See CPM 20-C-20
(b)(1) The Life Cycle Sustainment Plan(LCSP)/Acquisition Strategy approval authority is authorized to signand approve the Determination and Findings (D&F) required by FAR6.202(b)(1).
See SMC PGI 5306.301
(a)(2)(i)(1)See MP5301.601(a)(i).
(d) See MP5301.601(a)(i).
(c)(1) Contracting officers must notify SAF/AQCand their SCO as soon as practicable when contemplating the use ofthis authority for a J&A requiring Senior Procurement Executive(SPE) approval.
(d)(1)(ii) Theauthority to make this determination for the Air Force is the SCO orthe J&A approval authority, whichever is higher. This authoritymay not be further delegated.
See SMC PGI 5306.302-2.
(c) Limitations. The document referredto in DFARS 206.302-4(c) must be titled, “InternationalAgreement Competitive Restrictions (IACR).” The authority toprepare an IACR is delegated from the HCA to the contracting officer(see MP5301.601(a)(i)). The contracting officer mustinclude the IACR and a copy of the associated Letter of Offer andAcceptance, once completed, in the contract file.
See AF PGI 5306.302-4.
(a) Solicitations forother than full and open competition may be released prior to justification approval, except see FAR6.305(c) and the asterisked paragraph belowthe table at 5306.304(a) .
(a) All contract actions that meet the definition of a bridge action at AFFARS 5302.101 require awritten, approved J&A document in accordance with 5306.304(a) . All bridge action J&As shall be identified as a “bridge actionJ&A” as indicated in the J&ATemplate . A modification for theextension of services, executed in accordance with FAR clause52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, is not considered a bridge action unless or until the total six month extension period allowedby the clause is exceeded.
(b) All signed J&As for bridge actions shall be emailed to therequiring activity’s PEO, Flag Officer, or civilian equivalent andthe competition advocate. The transmittal document or emailmust provide the circumstances that led to the need for a bridge action and include a plan to avoid a bridge action goingforward.
(c) A J&A for the consecutive use of a bridge contract action (forreasons other than a protest) for the same program or requirement,shall include authorization by the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE)when the original and subsequent bridge actions total an amount equalto or greater than $10M. The transmittaldocument or email must provide the circumstances that led to the needfor a bridge action and include a plan to avoid a bridge action goingforward. SPE approval of repeat bridge actions must be requested bythe PEO for acquisition programs or by the MAJCOM Commander or ViceCommander for non-PEO requirements. Contracting officers shallforward a copy of the signed J&A and transmittal document oremail to the competition advocate.
(d) ReportingRequirements: The MAJCOM/DRU/AFRCO/AFSpRCO/SMC competition advocateshall submit quarterly and annual reports on bridge action awards andtrack progress in decreasing the number of bridge actions awardedeach FY. Reports shall be submitted to SAF/AQC within 30 days of the end of each quarter using the Bridge Action Reporting Tool .
(a) Contracting Officersmay use the Justification and Approval template.
(a) INTERIM CHANGE: See CPM20-C-20.
Justification Value | Approval Authority | Delegability |
$700K | Chief of the Contracting Office | Delegable to contracting officer, consistent with warrant level |
> $700K $13.5M | Competition Advocate | Not further delegable |
> $13.5M $93M | PEO/Head of Procuring Activity * / Designated Alternate if they meet the criteria in FAR 6.304(a)(3). If they do not meet the criteria in FAR 6.304(a)(3) = Senior Procurement Executive | Delegable to Flag/General Officer or civilian SES |
> $93M** | Senior Procurement Executive | Not further delegable |
*For the Air Force, in accordance with FAR 2.101, procuring activityis synonymous with contracting activity.
**J&Asfor actions exceeding $93M must be coordinated with the DAS(C) or theADAS(C) and approved by the SPE). The contracting officer mustsubmit justifications requiring approval by the SPE simultaneously toSAF/AQ and to SAF/AQCafter coordination by the SCO. Allow 18 days for staffing and SPEapproval after receipt by SAF/AQ. J&A packages submitted to SAF/AQ shall include an electronicStaff Summary Sheet (eSSS)in the body of the email or as an attachment (Word document only). Include the approved acquisition strategy (or a draft acquisitionstrategy if the strategy document has not been approved) with the J&Apackage, and list each attachment under “Tabs” on the eSSSusing the exact electronic file name (e.g., ACE Acquisition Strategy)of the corresponding attachment. If a J&A supports anindefinite-delivery type contract, see AFFARS 5316.504(c)(1)(ii)(D) for processing instructions. The SCO may authorize solicitation release after the justification isreviewed for adequacy and forwarded to SAF/AQ and SAF/AQC. Submit questions or concerns regarding processing a J&A for SPEapproval to SAF/AQC.
(4) Changes recommended during the staffing process must beadjudicated by the contracting officer in coordination with SAF/AQCprior to submitting the J&A to the SPE for approval.
(e) Prior tocontract award: After a J&A has been approved, but prior tocontract award, if the dollar value of the contract is expected toexceed the original J&A approval authority, the contractingofficer must submit an amended J&A to the appropriate approvingauthority for approval. The amended J&A shall identify thedollar increase from the initial, approved J&A.
(f) After contract award: When a proposed contract action is for new workoutside the scope of the original contract, the contracting officermust submit a new J&A as a stand-alone document to theappropriate approving authority based on the dollar value of thecontract action for the new work. New work should not commence untilthe new J&A is approved unless authorized in accordance with FAR6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency. See 5343.102-90regarding contract scope considerations.
(g) A new J&Ais not required for:
(1) a decrease in the dollar value or scope of the effort; or
(2) an increase in the estimated dollar value of in-scope work,except as described in (e) above.
See AFMC PGI 5306.304.
See SMC PGI 5306.304.
(a) The DAS(C) isthe designated Air Force Competition Advocate General. AFTC is thecompetition advocate for AFOTEC. The following organizations aredesignated as Air Force procuring/contracting activities:
Air Combat Command(ACC)
Air Education andTraining Command (AETC)
Air Force GlobalStrike Command (AFGSC)
Air Mobility Command(AMC)
Air Force MaterielCommand (AFMC)
Air Force SpaceCommand (AFSPC)
Pacific Air Forces(PACAF)
United States AirForces in Europe (USAFE)
Air Force District ofWashington (AFDW)
Air Force ReserveCommand (AFRC)
Air Force SpecialOperations Command (AFSOC)
USAF Academy (USAFA)
Air Force OperationalTest and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC)
Space and MissileSystems Center (SMC)
Air Force RapidCapabilities Office (AFRCO)
Space RapidCapabilities Officer (SpRCO)
(b) These organizations are authorized to further designate subordinate organizations as procuring activities subject to the requirements of FAR6.501 and MP5306.502, Air Force Competition andCommercial Advocacy Program.
See AFMC PGI 5306.501.
See MP5306.502, Air ForceCompetition and Commercial Advocacy Program.
See SMC PGI 5306.502.
See USAFA PGI 5306.502.
2019 Edition 5306-