Subpart 7.1 -- Acquisition Plans
Market research, except for "sources sought" synopses, are the responsibility of program managers or the requiring activity. A "sources sought" synopsis should be issued as soon as the procurement package is received so contractors may respond while the justification is being written.
7.103 -- Agency-Head Responsibilities.
(e) Prepare written acquisition plans, for up to a five-year period, in accordance with dollar threshholds contained in the DFARS and acquisition plan approval levels at (h)(i) thru (iii). Update acquisition plans when required for milestone approval or when there is a change in the acquisition strategy.
(h)
(i) Acquisition plans for Army Acquisition Executive designated special interest programs require HQDA approval. Acquisition plans for special interest program shall be processed the same as other acquisition plans.
(ii) Program Executive Officers (PEOs) and Program Managers reporting directly to HQDA shall approve acquisition plans for programs assigned to them when the dollar value of contracts covered by the plan is estimated to exceed $15 million for any fiscal year/$30 million for all years including options. This approval authority may not be redelegated.
(iii) PARCs shall approve acquisition plans for all non-PEO acquisitions when the dollar value of contracts covered by the plan is estimated to exceed $15 million for any fiscal year or $30 million for all years including options. This approval authority may not be redelegated.
(iv) Acquisition plans below the thresholds in (h)(ii) and (iii) shall be approved in accordance with contracting activity procedures. Requests for approval of acquisition plans over the thresholds in (h)(ii) and (iii) must include the concurrence of the --
(A) Contracting officer;
(B) Local competition advocate;
(C) Local small and disadvantaged business utilization (SADBU) office or on-site SADBU official;
(D) Legal office; and
(E) Appropriate matrix elements from the supporting contracting activity.
(v) Strive to resolve non-concurrences by consensus at the lowest level. Elevate issues which cannot be resolved at the PEO or PARC level to the Army Acquisition Executive.
(k) Waivers shall be approved by the individual authorized to approve the plan.
7.103-90 -- Distribution of Written Acquisition Plans.
Acquisition plans which have not been approved shall not be released outside the PEO organization or supporting contracting activity without the authorization of the DASA(P).
7.104-90 -- Acquisition Planning System.
(a) Each HCA shall establish an acquisition planning (AP) system which includes all significant or sensitive contracting requirements anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year. Adequate planning includes effectively using resources, avoiding unbalanced year-end spending, appropriate interdisciplinary coordination, prioritizing requirements and ensuring overall quality of the acquisition process.
(b) The AP system shall include monetary thresholds, milestones and other parameters for all proposed contract actions that will be included in the AP system, including those proposed requirements for which formal acquisition plans are not required under DFARS 207.103(c).
(c) Acquisition lead-times shall allow sufficient time for development of acquisition strategy, preparation of solicitations (including any necessary coordination with requiring and technical elements), receipt and evaluation of bids or proposals, audits, negotiation, boards or business clearance reviews, source selection and preparation of contractual documents in an orderly and timely manner.
(d) Each HCA shall establish cut-off dates for submission of procurement requests requiring action by the end of the fiscal year to the contracting office. Cut-off dates may vary, depending upon the nature and dollar value of the required contracting action. Exceptions to established cut-off dates shall be held to a minimum and shall require authorization at a level not lower than the chief of the contracting office.
Subpart 7.2 -- Planning for the Purchase of Supplies in Economic Quantities
7.204 -- Responsibilities of Contracting Officers.
(a) Forward offerors' responses to the solicitation provision in FAR 52.207-4 to the requiring activity.
Subpart 7.5 -- Inherently Governmental Functions
(e) Requiring officials shall provide the contracting officer a written determination that none of the functions to be performed are inherently governmental. Disagreements regarding the determination shall be resolved by the PARC prior to issuance of the solicitation.