5.1.7  Communicate with Industry

Communicate openly, early, and often with industry before the solicitation is released.  This will enable you to obtain feedback on what industry understands the effort to be.  A nightmare scenario is to receive several offers, each of which appears to propose on an effort that is different from the others.  This could result in a long, complicated source selection that opens the Government to the potential for protest.  The program office must be careful that all firms receive the same information and that communication is open and fair to all.  Development of a sound requirements package often requires detailed market research and communications with industry.  During this period, acquisition and requirements professionals must interact with industry in ways that ensure all interested parties are treated in an even-handed manner.  It is crucial that potential offerors are treated in a manner that prevents them from gaining an unfair competitive advantage.  For ACAT programs entering SDD that utilize a CR or FPI contract type, ensure that detailed exchanges or deliberations between the Government and potential offerors occur during the solicitation development phase regarding program cost estimates and the methods of estimating such costs.  Available in the AFFARS Library are memos from SAF/AQ and USD/(AT&L)/DPAP which emphasize the importance of communications before and during source selections.