Request for Comments

GAO was asked to comment on a draft segment of the Federal Acquisition Regulation which sets out the factors which must be considered by the contracting officer in determining the competitive range. The proposed provision states that the contracting officer shall consider price and other factors, while the current Defense Acquisition Regulation provides that the competitive range shall be determined on the basis of price or cost and other factors. GAO assumed that the elimination of the word cost in the proposed regulation was not intended to eliminate the requirement that the proposed cost estimates be considered in determining the competitive range in cost-type procurements. However, if the intent was to eliminate consideration of cost, GAO strongly objects to the proposed regulation.