New Competition Requirements Will Increase Procurement Lead Times

From Commander, Fleet & Industrial Supply Centers Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISC) announced May 18 that new competition requirements have lengthened procurement lead times.

A Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP) memo dated April 27 requires that all competitive solicitations over $150,000 to include commercial item procurements, orders against the General Service Administration (GSA) federal supply schedule, and multiple award contracts be advertised for a minimum of 30 days and receive effective competition (two or more offers).

"These new competition requirements are expected to yield better prices but have also increased the minimum lead times for competed delivery and task orders by at least 31 to as much as 45 days," said Robin Green, Field Contracting Operations manager

Customers are being urged to submit RCPs as early as possible to ensure award of FY11-funded actions by Sept. 30 and to allow timely award of FY12 contracts.

For new/follow-on contracts, the required submission dates are as follows: more than $25 million (Jan. 3); $5million to $25 million (March 1); $1 million to $5 million (April 29); and $150,001 to $1 million ( June 1).

The RCP submission date for annual rental or maintenance (ARM) contracts over $150,000 is June 1. RCPs for ARM contracts $150,000 or less must be submitted by Aug. 8.

Procurement requests for delivery/task orders over $150,000 must be submitted by June 13; however, RCP submission no later than June 1 is highly encouraged. The deadline for exercise of option actions in any amount is June 27.

RCPs are due no later than Aug. 8 for purchase/delivery orders $25,001 to $150,000 and Aug. 22 for purchase/delivery orders $25,000 or less.

RCP due dates will be more strictly enforced this fiscal year due to impacts of the late passing of the FY11 budget coupled with the new competition requirements.

Although the final RCP due date for delivery and task orders over $150,000 is June 13, customers are strongly encouraged to submit RCPs to their servicing FISC no later than June 1 to minimize risk and allow sufficient time to meet the new competition requirements.

"Due to expected heavy end of fiscal year workload, longer procurement lead times and fixed contracting workforce, it is critical for customers to develop solid work requirements, plan, and communicate their projected FY11 procurement project list early with their servicing FISC," said Green. "This will allow the FISC contracting departments to better plan to meet customer needs."

COMFISCS provides an array of integrated global logistics support and contracting services to Navy and Joint operational units across all warfare enterprises. The command is responsible for facilitating best business practices and efficiencies across the seven FISCs headquartered in San Diego, Calif.; Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Yokosuka, Japan; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Bremerton (Puget Sound), Wash.; and Sigonella, Italy; and for optimizing the performance of base supply functions and standardizing levels of service across 11 regions and 70 Navy installations.

Comprised of more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals, COMFISCS operates as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., COMFISCS is part of a worldwide network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.