1. Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (1 of 3)
THIS IS A GENERAL REFERENCE ONLY – SEE NOAA APG CHAPTERS for specific guidance and references to applicable statute, regulation,
DOC policy, and NOAA policy.
Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (1 of 3)
Select Source Selection Process and Technique per FAR 15.1
Prepare Solicitation and Source Selection Plan IAW FAR 15 and all other applicable Parts of FAR, CAR, CAM, and the NOAA AGO Handbook for required reviews and issuance
Acquisition is above the SAT, determination has been made that Sealed Bidding is not appropriate (See FAR 6.401) and the Test Program at FAR 13.5 is not applicable
Review Market Research No No
Will the agency hold exchanges with industry prior to solicitation release?
Will the Advisory multi-step process at FAR be used?
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Yes
Yes
Follow procedures at FAR
If not using the combined synopsis solicitation at FAR , synopsis required by FAR 5.2 may be developed, reviewed, approved and issued prior to final solicitation approval
Return from multi-step process page
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Go to Multi-step process page
CS/CO
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Obtain required solicitation reviews and approvals in accordance with agency procedure:
NOAA AGO Handbook
Will the RFP be cancelled prior to receipt of proposals No
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Issue the Request for proposals (RFP) IAW FAR and FAR
When applicable, hold pre-proposal conference and/or site visits IAW FAR and solicitation provisions
When applicable, amend the RFP per FAR
Go to Map 3 of FAR 15
Yes
Follow procedures at FAR e and/or FAR
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer

2. Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (2 of 3)
THIS IS A GENERAL REFERENCE ONLY – SEE NOAA APG CHAPTERS for specific guidance and references to applicable statute, regulation,
DOC policy, and NOAA policy.
Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (2 of 3)
NOTE 1: The structure and composition of evaluation teams, including any tiered evaluation panel scheme, will depend on the nature of the acquisition, the applicability of formal source selection procedures, and direction from NOAA AGO and NOAA HQ
NOTE 2: FAR 15.4 Contract Pricing – Any of the proposal analysis techniques or any combination of the proposal analysis techniques at FAR may be used and may involve the use of field pricing or audit support. If field pricing assistance and/or audit assistance is/are required follow FAR and AGO guidance at
From
Map 1
FAR 15
Receive proposals in accordance with solicitation provisions and FAR and FAR
Record Abstract of proposals in accordance with the NOAA AGO Handbook p.59
Perform CS/CO review of the proposals for compliances with solicitation provisions
Evaluate initial proposals in accordance with evaluation criteria at RFP Section M and when applicable Source Selection Plan (See FAR 15.3, FAR 15.4, CAM 15.2 and NOAA AGO Handbook ) No
Will the agency make award without discussions?
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Yes
CS/CO/Evaluation Panels **SEE NOTE 1 and NOTE 2
Go to next page
Document competitive range determination and pre-negotiation objectives per FAR
Obtain required reviews, approvals, and concurrences for competitive range and pre-negotiations objectives in accordance with the Source Selection Plan and agency procedure:
NOAA AGO Handbook
Hold Discussions with Offerors in the competitive range per FAR (d) and issue pre-award notification to unsuccessful Offerors per FAR (a)(1).
Are “Communications with Offerors before establishment of the competitive range” necessary? No
Hold Communications IAW FAR (b)
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Yes
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Handle any pre-award debriefing requests and debriefings per FAR
If Offeror originally in the competitive range is no longer considered most highly rated, eliminate prior to receipt of proposal revisions per FAR (c)(5)
Receive final proposal revisions IAW FAR
Evaluate final proposal revision per RFP Section M, Source Selection Plan and applicable regulation and procedure
Are additional discussions/negotiations necessary?
Yes
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Go to Map 3
FAR 15 No

3. Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (3 of 3)
THIS IS A GENERAL REFERENCE ONLY – SEE NOAA APG CHAPTERS for specific guidance and references to applicable statute, regulation,
DOC policy, and NOAA policy.
Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 (3 of 3)
Yes
Hold clarifications per FAR (a)
From
Map 2
FAR 15
Are Clarifications necessary?
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer No
Document Pre-Post Negotiation IAW FAR Document Source Selection Decision IAW FAR , the RFP Criteria, the Source Selection Plan and applicable agency procedure in CAM 15.2 and the NOAA AGO Handbook
Obtain required award reviews and approvals in accordance with agency procedure:
NOAA AGO Handbook
Award to successful Offeror per FAR and FAR and create administrative record of award obligation in C* No
Is the pre-award notification for small business programs required?
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Yes
Issue pre-award notices IAW FAR (a)(2) 5 business days prior to award
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
FPDS Entry (obtain review and approval when required by local policy)
Issue required post award notices per FAR (b) , FAR 5.3 and notify Congressional and Public Affairs in accordance with agency procedure at NOAA AGO Handbook
Conduct Post-award Debriefing(s) per FAR
When applicable, handle post-award protest per FAR and FAR Part 33.1
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer No
Handle mistake IAW FAR
Is there a mistake(s) in the contractor’s proposal disclosed post award?
Map to APG
Post Award
Yes
Contract Specialist/
Contracting Officer

4. Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 – Multi-Step Process
THIS IS A GENERAL REFERENCE ONLY – SEE NOAA APG CHAPTERS for specific guidance and references to applicable statute, regulation,
DOC policy, and NOAA policy.
Contracting by Negotiation Process Map – Part 15 – Multi-Step Process
FAR 15 Map 1 of 3
Prepare pre-solicitation notice with description of scope and purpose and evaluation criteria per FAR (a)
Obtain required solicitation reviews and approvals in accordance with agency procedure:
NOAA AGO Handbook
Synopsize special pre-solicitation notice prepared per FAR (a)
Receive Information from respondents (i.e. capability statements) per special pre-solicitation notice
Evaluate information received in response to the special notice per FAR (a) and FAR (b) and stated criteria provided in the notice
Obtain required reviews and approvals in accordance with agency procedure:
NOAA AGO Handbook
Advise respondents IAW FAR (b)
Return to Part 15 Map 1 of 3