FCC Source Selection & SSEB Process 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of establishing an evaluation team with 'Technical Evaluators' separate from the 'Price/Cost Evaluators' in source selection?
- To reduce the number of people who read each proposal
- To ensure price does not unduly influence the technical evaluation (Correct answer)
- To meet the minimum staffing requirement under FAR Part 15
- To speed up the evaluation by dividing the work alphabetically
Correct answer: To ensure price does not unduly influence the technical evaluation
Separating technical and price evaluators ensures that technical merit is assessed independently without bias from proposed costs.
Question 2: In a source selection, when may an agency conduct 'oral presentations' as a substitute or supplement to written proposals?
- Only when the contract value exceeds $10 million
- When authorized by the SSP and when the information can be evaluated during the presentation (Correct answer)
- Only for sole-source acquisitions to reduce paperwork
- When the agency lacks sufficient time to read written proposals
Correct answer: When authorized by the SSP and when the information can be evaluated during the presentation
FAR 15.102 permits oral presentations when authorized in the acquisition plan and when the methodology allows effective evaluation during the session.
Question 3: What document does the SSA use to communicate the source selection decision and its rationale to all parties?
- The Pre-Negotiation Business Clearance Memorandum
- The Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD) (Correct answer)
- The Contracting Officer's Final Decision (COFD)
- The Request for Final Proposal Revisions (RFPR)
Correct answer: The Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD)
The Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD) is the official record in which the SSA documents the rationale for the award decision.
Question 4: Under FAR 15.306, what is the key distinction between 'clarifications' and 'discussions' during source selection?
- Clarifications allow offerors to revise their proposals; discussions do not
- Discussions are limited to price issues only; clarifications cover technical issues
- Clarifications resolve minor ambiguities without allowing proposal revisions; discussions allow revisions (Correct answer)
- There is no meaningful distinction — both terms are used interchangeably in FAR
Correct answer: Clarifications resolve minor ambiguities without allowing proposal revisions; discussions allow revisions
Clarifications are limited communications that do not permit offerors to revise their proposals, while discussions allow offerors to make substantive revisions.
Question 5: What is a 'significant weakness' in federal proposal evaluation?
- Any weakness identified in the technical volume of a proposal
- A flaw that appreciably increases the risk and could be grounds for a rating of 'marginal' (Correct answer)
- A weakness so severe it renders the proposal technically unacceptable
- A weakness in the price volume that results in an unrealistically low bid
Correct answer: A flaw that appreciably increases the risk and could be grounds for a rating of 'marginal'
A significant weakness is a flaw that appreciably increases risk and may alone or in combination with other weaknesses result in a rating of marginal or unacceptable.
Question 6: During discussions, what must the Contracting Officer communicate to each offeror whose proposal is in the competitive range?
- The ratings assigned to all competing offerors' proposals
- All deficiencies, significant weaknesses, and adverse past performance information on which the offeror has not had an opportunity to comment (Correct answer)
- The government's maximum budget for the requirement
- The names of evaluators reviewing their specific proposal
Correct answer: All deficiencies, significant weaknesses, and adverse past performance information on which the offeror has not had an opportunity to comment
FAR 15.306(d) requires the CO to identify and discuss deficiencies, significant weaknesses, and adverse past performance information with each competitive range offeror.
Question 7: After discussions conclude, what must the Contracting Officer request from all competitive range offerors?
- A best and final offer (BAFO) submitted orally
- Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs) by a common cutoff date (Correct answer)
- A revised price volume only, no technical revisions allowed
- An updated past performance questionnaire from references
Correct answer: Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs) by a common cutoff date
FAR 15.307 requires the CO to request Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs) from all competitive range offerors with a common cutoff date for submission.
FCC Source Selection & SSEB Process 3
What is the primary purpose of establishing an evaluation team with 'Technical Evaluators' separate from the 'Price/Cost Evaluators' in source selection?