Chapter 5 DEFINITIONS

Competition: When used in relation to the award of a contract, competition includes both "full and open competition" and other types of competition between a limited number of sources. A justification and approval is normally required when only a limited number of responsible sources are permitted to compete for contract award.

Competition Advocate: An individual designated by the head of each agency to serve as an advocate for competition for the agency and each procuring activity in accordance with Section 20 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act. The job of the competition advocate is to promote "full and open competition" and challenge barriers to such competition.

Class Justification & Approval: A J&A providing authority for a class (or group) of contracts for the same or related supplies or services that require essentially identical justifications.  The contracting officer must make a written determination that an individual contract action may be awarded within the scope of a class J&A before such actions are awarded (FAR 6.303-1(c)).

Full & Open Competition: When used with respect to contract actions, means that all "responsible" sources are permitted to compete (FAR 6.1).  Small business set-asides, 8(a) competitions, and so forth are considered full and open competition (FAR 6.2).

International Agreement:  An agreement between the United States and a foreign government or international organization.  An international agreement may be a treaty, Letter of Offer and Acceptance, Memorandum of Agreement, etc.

International Agreement Competitive Restrictions (IACR): A document that may be prepared pursuant to DFARS 206.302-4(c) which authorizes the use of other than full and open competition under the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(4).

Individual Justification & Approval:  A J&A that applies to an individual contract (as opposed to a class or group of contracts).  A J&A for a contract made on an individual basis supports the instant contract award and all in-scope contract actions taken pursuant to that contract as described in the approved J&A.

Justification & Approval (J&A): The document used most frequently to approve the use of other than full & open competition.  The J&A includes a 13-part justification and a signature page.  

Market Research: Approach used before acquiring goods and services to determine if sources exist to meet the agency's requirements or whether or not commercial items or non-development items either exist or can be modified to meet the agency's needs.

Other Contracting: Those contracting actions, not in a PEO/DAO portfolio, taken to support acquisition programs, maintain and repair fielded weapon systems, and support Air Force operations. The term includes, but is not limited to, contracts for local purchase and other operational support; replenishment spares; programmed depot maintenance; weapon system modifications which do not involve significant development; contractor logistics support; manpower and support; and science and technology (i.e., research, exploratory development or advanced development, and not intended for a system specific application (6.1, 6.2, or 6.3A funds)). This term does not include those efforts or acquisitions that have been assigned to AFPEO/CM. (reference AFFARS 5302.101).

Other Than Full & Open Competition (OTF&OC): Any sole source or limited competition contract action that does not provide an opportunity for all responsible sources to submit proposals.

Responsible: When used in reference to making award to a prospective contractor (i.e., the offeror selected for award), a "responsible" contractor must:  (a) have adequate financial resources, or the ability to obtain them; (b) be able to comply with the required or proposed delivery/performance schedule; (c) have a satisfactory performance record; (d) have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; (e) have the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills, or the ability to obtain them; (f) have the necessary production, construction, technical equipment and facilities, or the ability to obtain them; and (g) be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under the applicable laws in regulations. In short, a responsible contractor is one who is capable of performing the contract and who has a satisfactory record of past performance and integrity (reference FAR 9.104-1). In the context of "full and open competition", the government is generally prohibited from predetermining the responsibility of prospective offerors and thereby limiting competition to a pre-selected group.

Senior Procurement Executive (SPE): The senior individual in an agency responsible for acquisition. In the Air Force, the SPE is the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (ASAF(A)).

Sole Source: A contract action that is entered into, or proposed to be entered into, after soliciting and negotiating with only one source.  Sole source and limited types of competition are both considered to be "other than full and open competition" IAW 10 USC 2304.

Sources Sought Synopsis: A notice published in FedBizOpps for the purposes of identifying sources capable of satisfying the government's requirements.  Although the notice includes "screening criteria", the criteria are not used to "qualify" potential sources or to exclude potential competitors.  The purpose of screening respondents is to allow the government to assess the potential competitive base, to determine whether a J&A is required, or whether various set-asides are appropriate.