Source Selection & SSEB Process Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Source Selection & SSEB Process flashcards as text
What is the role of a 'Subject Matter Expert (SME)' who is not a formal SSEB member in the source selection process?
Answer: SMEs provide technical input to assist evaluators but do not make evaluation judgments
SMEs provide specialized technical knowledge to assist formal SSEB evaluators but do not independently evaluate or rate proposals.
What is 'price realism analysis' and when is it typically required?
Answer: An analysis to assess whether proposed prices are realistic for the work, typically used on cost-reimbursement or performance-based fixed-price contracts
Price realism analysis evaluates whether proposed prices are realistic and consistent with the offeror's technical approach, commonly applied to cost-reimbursement and certain fixed-price acquisitions.
What must an agency do to protect the confidentiality of source selection information?
Answer: Stamp all evaluation documents 'SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE' and limit access to need-to-know personnel
Source selection information must be marked and protected, with access limited to those with a legitimate need to know as required by FAR 3.104.
When is a 'down-select' strategy used in a phased source selection?
Answer: When the agency narrows the competitive field in early phases before requesting detailed proposals from a smaller group
A phased or down-select strategy progressively narrows the competitive field, requiring full proposals only from offerors who demonstrate viability in earlier phases.
What is the significance of the 'tradeoff' determination in a best-value source selection where a higher-priced offeror is selected?
Answer: The SSA must document why the technical superiority is worth the price premium to the government
When selecting a higher-priced offeror, the SSA must clearly articulate in the SSDD why the technical advantages justify the additional cost to the government.
Under FAR 15.505 and 15.506, what is the key difference between a 'preaward' and 'postaward' debriefing?
Answer: Preaward debriefings are for excluded offerors before award; postaward debriefings are for unsuccessful offerors after award
Preaward debriefings are provided to offerors excluded from the competitive range before contract award, while postaward debriefings occur after award for unsuccessful offerors.
What action should an SSEB member take if they discover a potential organizational conflict of interest (OCI) with one of the offerors after evaluation has begun?
Answer: Immediately recuse themselves and notify the Contracting Officer
An SSEB member who identifies a potential OCI must immediately recuse themselves from further evaluation and report the conflict to the Contracting Officer.