GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ACQUISITION MANUAL (GSAM)

## Part 507—Acquisition Planning

### Subpart 507.1—Acquisition Plans

#### 507.103 Agency-head responsibilities.

(a) The HCA must ensure that requirements personnel:

(1) Promote and provide for full and open competition by following the procedures in:

(i) FAR part 10 for conducting market research.

(ii) FAR part 11 and GSAM part 511 for describing agency needs.

(2) Through market research and description of agency needs as described in FAR parts 10 and 11 and GSAM part 511, encourage offers of commercial items or, if suitable commercial items are not available, nondevelopmental items, to meet agency needs.

(3) Follow the principles in FAR part 7, GSAM part 507 and GSA Order, Acquisition Planning (OGP 2800.1) (see Appendix 507A), as appropriate, for each acquisition that requires either a limited or comprehensive acquisition plan.

(4) Consider using metric measures consistent with 15 U.S.C. 205 et seq. during the acquisition planning phase. See GSAM 511.002 and GSA Order, GSA Metric Program (ADM 8000.1C).

(5) Follow the procedures in FAR part 23, GSAM part 523, and GSA Order, GSA Affirmative Procurement Program (OGP 2851.1) (see Appendix 523A) to specify needs and develop plans, drawings, work statements, specifications, or other product descriptions that promote use of environmentally preferable and energy-efficient products and services.

(6) Do not initiate any purchase request for performance of an inherently governmental function by a contractor (See FAR 7.5 and GSAM 507.5).

(7) Use knowledge gained from prior acquisitions to further refine requirements and acquisition strategies. Seek increased use of performance-based contracting methods and fixed-price contracts in follow-on acquisitions for services.

(8) To the maximum extent practicable, both:

(i) Structure contract requirements to facilitate competition by and among small business concerns.

(ii) Avoid unnecessary and unjustified bundling that precludes small business participation as contractors (FAR 7.107).

(9) Coordinate with the contracting officer in performance of these responsibilities.

(b) The HCA may designate an official to make the determination required by FAR 37.204 and GSAM 537.2 prior to issuance of a solicitation for advisory and assistance services involving the analysis and evaluation of proposals submitted in response to a solicitation.

(c) You have responsibility for:

(1) Coordinating with requirements personnel to ensure effective market research and description of agency needs that meet the objectives in paragraph (a) above.

(2) Promoting and providing for full and open competition or, as provided in FAR part 6, maximum practicable competition.

(3) Following the principles in FAR part 7, GSAM part 507 and GSA Order, Acquisition Planning (OGP 2800.1) (see Appendix 507A), as appropriate, for each acquisition that requires either a limited or comprehensive acquisition plan.

(4) Reviewing, prior to contracting, both:

(i) The acquisition history of the supplies and services.

(ii) The description of the supplies, including, when necessary for adequate description, a picture, drawing, diagram, or other graphic representation.

(5) Unless the HCA designates another official, making the determination required by FAR 37.204 and GSAM 537.2 prior to issuing a solicitation for advisory and assistance services involving the analysis and evaluation of proposals submitted in response to a solicitation.

(6) Not entering into any contract for performance of an inherently governmental function by a contractor.

(7) Using knowledge gained from prior acquisitions to further refine requirements and acquisition strategies. Seek to enable increased use of performance-based contracting methods and fixed-price contracts in follow-on acquisitions for services.

### Subpart 507.3—Contractor Versus Government Performance

#### 507.307 Appeals.

GSA Order, Implementation of the OMB Circular A-76 Productivity Improvement Program (ADM P. 5400.40) contains appeal procedures.

### Subpart 507.5—Inherently Governmental Functions

#### 507.503 Policy.

(a) Concurrent with the transmittal of each statement of work or any modification to a statement of work, the requirements official must provide you a written determination that none of the functions to be performed are inherently governmental. The determination must address the degree to which conditions and facts restrict the discretionary authority, decision-making responsibility, or accountability of Government officials using the contractor services or work products.

(b) The HCA resolves any disagreement regarding the requirements official’s determination, following the guidelines in FAR 7.5. The HCA may delegate this authority to a level not lower than the contracting director.