FAC-C Professional cheat sheet

Acquisition planning integrates requirements, market research, competition strategy, contract type, funding, risk, and schedule before solicitation.

FAR Part 7 requires written acquisition plans for acquisitions above specified thresholds and for designated acquisitions; plan content scales with complexity and risk.

Full and open competition is the default; other than full and open competition requires a justification and approval under FAR Part 6.

Fixed-price contracts are suitable when requirements are well-defined and performance risk is low; cost-reimbursement contracts are used when uncertainties preclude firm pricing and cost monitoring is feasible.

The bona fide needs rule permits obligation of appropriated funds only for a legitimate need arising in the period of availability.

Severable services are funded by the period of performance and cannot be funded with appropriations that expire before the service period ends.

The rule of two requires a small business set-aside when at least two responsible small businesses are expected to submit offers at fair market prices.

Procurement integrity rules restrict disclosure of source selection information and employment discussions with competing offerors.

Market research methods include sources sought notices, requests for information, industry days, market databases, and review of prior acquisitions and commercial products.

A statement of work specifies detailed tasks and methods; a performance work statement states outcomes and quality standards; a statement of objectives allows offerors to propose performance approaches.

An invitation for bids is used in sealed bidding and awards on price; a request for proposals is used in negotiated acquisitions and permits evaluation of nonprice factors.

The Uniform Contract Format organizes negotiated solicitations and contracts into Parts I through X with sections A through M.

Evaluation factors and their relative importance must be stated in the solicitation; price or cost must be evaluated in negotiated acquisitions.

A brand name or equal specification must state salient characteristics and requires fair evaluation of equivalent products that meet those characteristics.

Small business set-aside types include small business, 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business.

A solicitation amendment issued before closing must be provided to all participants; material changes may require extending the response deadline.

A competitive range consists of offerors with a reasonable chance of award; exchanges with those offerors can improve proposals and clarify deficiencies.

Clarifications address minor or clerical issues and do not permit proposal revisions; discussions permit offerors to revise proposals.

Award without discussions is allowed only when the solicitation states that intention and proposals are acceptable without exchanges.

Best value tradeoff permits nonprice factors to outweigh price when consistent with solicitation criteria and documented in the award decision.

Lowest price technically acceptable awards go to the lowest-priced technically acceptable offer without a price-technical tradeoff.

Price reasonableness can be established through competition, comparison with market prices, cost analysis, or another approved technique.

A debriefing explains the evaluation basis to unsuccessful offerors and is required when requested in competitive negotiated acquisitions.

Definitization sets final price, terms, and conditions for an undefinitized contract action within regulatory limits.

A contracting officer's representative monitors performance and recommends acceptance but has no authority to change price, terms, or scope.

A quality assurance surveillance plan identifies performance standards, surveillance methods, sampling, and documentation requirements.

Bilateral modifications are signed by both parties and are used when consideration or mutual agreement is required.

Unilateral modifications are issued under the changes clause; the contractor must perform and may seek an equitable adjustment.

A cardinal change is outside the general scope of the contract and requires a new procurement rather than a modification.

Inspection and acceptance confirm that deliverables conform to contract requirements; acceptance obligates payment and may start warranty terms.

The Prompt Payment Act requires timely payment of proper invoices and interest on late payments according to contract terms.

Past performance assessments are recorded in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System, and contractors may submit comments or rebuttals.

Contract closeout verifies final payment, obtains required releases, and disposes of contract records after completion.