As required by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, on June 3, 2015, the FAR Council introduced a proposed change to the FAR contract bundling requirements. 80 Fed. Reg. 31,561-01. The proposed rule aims to improve small business participation in federal contracting by clarifying existing FAR regulations that discourage agency utilization of contracting bundling. The proposed rule would require increased reporting, parses the definitions of “bundling” and “consolidating” of contracts, and requires agencies to publicly justify their decisions to bundle requirements or consolidate contract vehicles. This definitional distinction between bundling of requirements and consolidation of contracts is intended to discourage agencies from combining unrelated requirements or contracts into a single award.
Under the proposed rule, agencies that bundle contracts or requirements in excess of $2 million will face greater notification and reporting requirements. If an agency wants to bundle two existing contracts, it must first notify small businesses at least 30 days beforehand of its intent to bundle its contracts. Agencies will also be required to provide public notice of the agency’s bundling policy and a list of and rationale for any bundled requirements for which the agency solicited offers or issued an award. If adopted, the proposal’s enhanced notification requirements may afford small business contractors an opportunity to protest an agency’s improperly bundled contracts.
Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/415754/Government+Contracts+Procurement+PPP/Proposed+Contract+Bundling+Changes+Aim+To+Increase+Small+Business+Contracting
