2.4.3.2.6  Tradeoffs

The following sub-paragraphs relate to tradeoffs in general and do not correspond to a particular sub-paragraph in the template.  

-  State How Tradeoffs Will Be Evaluated

In addition to clearly stating the factors/subfactors that will be used to evaluate offers and the relative importance of these criteria, it is mandatory to state in Section M of the solicitation how the tradeoffs will be evaluated.  This will allow potential offerors to better gauge where to concentrate their efforts (and dollars) in their proposal preparation.  It will also allow the Government to select from among high quality proposals to achieve a best value decision and award the contract(s) that will successfully meet user requirements in an affordable manner.

-  Thresholds, Objectives, and Extras

If provided for in the Evaluation Factors section of the solicitation, proposals exceeding threshold/objective requirements in a manner that offers tangible benefit to the Government may receive higher ratings.  Tradeoffs can include the evaluation of stated objectives (desires or extras) as well as other items not specifically identified as thresholds (minimums) or objectives.  The user must decide whether or not exceeding objectives has value, and the Government team must decide and state how they will evaluate performance in excess of objectives.  Likewise, it is important to state if extras that are not on the objective list will or will not receive credit in the evaluation.

-  Prioritize Objectives

Objectives can be prioritized or grouped to show those that will receive more favorable consideration than others or that may be considered with equal favor.

-  Be Clear

The more clearly the Government identifies tradeoffs, taking into account the proposed technical and business approaches and affordability, the better able the SSA will be to use sound business judgment in performing the integrated assessment necessary to achieve a best value decision.

-  One Approach (an example)

One approach regarding tradeoffs is to provide narrative in Section M which discusses the parameters for tradeoff and the "bottom-line" regarding those parameters; that is, how far the Government will go in its consideration of tradeoffs before reaching a limit beyond which it will not be willing to tradeoff.  One example of this is to identify two factors, (say a Mission Capability subfactor and Price) and discuss their importance relative to each other, or, if approximately equal, the upper and lower limits of how much the Government is willing to trade one for the other.