B.  Where To Post Justifications

Comment: One respondent stated that "agencies shall use GSA e-Buy to post RFQs, eliminating FedBid, thus assuring adequate notice and competition." Another respondent stated that e-Buy should be used consistently for FSS purchases because "(u)se of FedBizOpps invites additional interest outside of the FSS community and creates confusion as to whether the acquisition is conducted under FAR parts 8, 13, 15, etc. procedures."

Response: Agencies are required to post brand-name justifications or documentation to (1) the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) system at www.fedbizopps.gov with the solicitation or (2) the e-Buy system at http://www.ebuy.gsa.gov with the RFQ when using the GSA's FSS. The interim rule applied the posting requirement to acquisitions exceeding $25,000 that use brand-name specifications, including simplified acquisitions, sole-source procurements, and multiple-award FSS orders. If an agency uses a third-party system such as FedBid for posting notices or soliciting offers for orders under the multiple-award FSS, the official posting location is still e-Buy. If publication of the justification or documentation with the solicitation is inappropriate because one of the exceptions in FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(ii) or 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(C) applies, then agencies should retain a copy of the justification or documentation in the contract file.