Far Part 8Required Sources of Supplies and Service

Required Sources of Supplies and Services• Priorities for use of mandatory Government sources.• Federal Supply Schedules• Acquisition from Federal Prison Industries• Acquisition from Nonprofit Agencies Employing People Who are

Blind or Severely Disabled• Acquisition of Helium• Acquisition of Printing and Related Supplies• Leasing of Motor Vehicles

8.002 -Priorities for use of mandatory Government sources • Supplies• Inventories of the requiring• Excess from other agencies• Federal Prison Industries• Purchase from a Procurement List maintained by the Committee

for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled• Wholesale supply sources, such as stock programs of the General

Services Administration (GSA), the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and military inventory control points.

8.002 - Priorities for use of mandatory Government sources • Services• Services that are on the Procurement List maintained by the

Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled• This also applies when contractors purchase the supplies or services

for Government use.• Federal Prison Industries

8.1 – Excess Personal Property• When practicable, agencies must use excess personal property

as the first source of supply for agency and cost-reimbursement contractor requirements.

• You can find this information through• Reviewing excess personal property catalogs and bulletins issued

by the GSA• Personal contact with the GSA • Submission of supply requirements to the regional offices of GSA• Examination and inspection of reports and samples of excess

personal property

8.4 - Federal Supply Schedules• The Federal Supply Schedule program is also known as the

GSA Schedules Program or the Multiple Award Schedule Program

• It is directed and managed by GSA and provides Federal agencies with a simplified process for obtaining commercial supplies and services at prices associated with volume buying.

8.4 - Federal Supply Schedules• GSA schedule contracts require all schedule contractors to

publish an “Authorized Federal Supply Schedule Pricelist” • This list contains all supplies and services offered by a schedule

contractor• GSA offers an on-line shopping service called GSA Advantage!• You can place orders against schedules and search for part

numbers here

8.404 – Use of Federal Supply Schedule• Parts 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), Part 14 (Sealed

Bidding), Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation), and Part 19 (Small Business Programs) do not apply to orders placed against the federal supply schedules.

• For orders over 500k the requiring agency shall make a determination that use of the Federal Supply Schedule is the best approach

8.404 - Use of Federal Supply Schedule & Acquisition Planning• Orders against the Federal Supply • Are not exempt from the development of acquisition plans• Must comply with all FAR requirements for a bundled contract• Must, whether placed by the requiring agency, or on behalf of the

requiring agency, be consistent with the requiring agency’s statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the acquisition of the supply or service

8.405-1 – Ordering procedures for supplies not requiring a statement of work (SOW)

• Orders at, or below, the micro purchase threshold:• May be placed with any Federal Supply Schedule contractor that

can meet the agency’s needs• Ordering activities should attempt to distribute orders among

contractors.

• Orders exceeding the micro purchase threshold, but not the simplified acquisition threshold• Should be placed with the schedule contractor that can provide

the best value.

8.405-1 – Ordering procedures for supplies not requiring a statement of work

• For proposed orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold• Each order shall be placed on a competitive basis• The ordering activity CO shall provide an RFQ with a description

of the supplies to be ordered• The CO shall post the RFQ on e-Buy (GSA’s electronic RFQ system)

to provide all contractors an opportunity to submit a quote

8.405-2 – Ordering procedures for supplies requiring a statement of work

• Orders at, or below, the micro-purchase threshold:• May be placed with any Federal Supply Schedule contractor that

can meet the agency’s needs• Ordering activities should attempt to distribute orders among

contractors.

8.405-2 – Ordering procedures for supplies requiring a statement of work

• Orders exceeding the micro purchase threshold, but not the simplified acquisition threshold• The ordering activity shall develop a statement of work• The ordering activity shall provide the RFQ (including the

statement of work and evaluation criteria) to at least three schedule contractors that offer services that will meet the agency’s needs or document the circumstances for restricting consideration to fewer than three schedule contractors

• The ordering activity shall specify the type of order(i.e., firm-fixed-price, labor-hour) for the services identified in the statement of work (should use firm fixed price when appropriate)

8.405-2 – Ordering procedures for supplies requiring a statement of work• For orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold• Each order shall be placed on a competitive basis• The ordering activity contracting officer shall provide an RFQ that

includes a SOW and evaluation criteria• The CO shall

• Post the RFQ on e-Buy • Provide the RFQ to as many schedule contractors as practicable• Should try and ensure that at least three contractors respond

• Finally, the CO should ensure all quotes received are fairly considered and award is made in accordance with the evaluation criteria in the RFQ.

8.405-3 – Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)• Used to fill repetitive needs for supplies or services• BPAs shall address the frequency of ordering, invoicing,

discounts, requirements (e.g., estimated quantities, work to be performed), delivery locations, and time.

• No single-award BPA with an estimated value exceeding $103 million (including any options), may be awarded unless• It is determined that only one source can provide them• It is necessary in the public interest to award the BPA to a single

source for exceptional circumstances

8.406-1 – Order Placement• Ordering activities may place orders orally, except for—• Supplies and services not requiring a statement of work

exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold;• Services requiring a statement of work (SOW); and• Orders containing brand-name specifications that exceed

$25,000.

8.5 – Acquisition of Helium• This subpart concerns the acquisition of liquid or gaseous

helium by Federal agencies or by Government contractors or subcontractors for use in the performance of a Government contract.

• Agencies and their contractors and subcontractors must purchase major helium requirements from Federal helium suppliers, to the extent that supplies are available.

• The CO must forward the following information to the Bureau of Land Management within 45 days of the close of each fiscal quarter:• The name of any company that supplied a major helium

requirement.• The amount of helium purchased.• The delivery date(s).• The location where the helium was used.

8.6 - Acquisition from Federal Prison Industries, Inc.• Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI) is also referred to as

UNICOR• FPI provides training and employment for prisoners through

the sale of its supplies and services to Government agencies • FPI diversifies its supplies and services to minimize adverse

impact on private industry.• Supplies and services can be viewed at www.unicor.gov• Before purchasing an item of supply listed in the FPI Schedule,

conduct market research to determine whether the FPI item is comparable to supplies available from the private sector that best meet the Government’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery.

8.6 - Acquisition from Federal Prison Industries, Inc.• Purchase from FPI is not mandatory and a waiver is not

required if—• The contracting officer makes a determination that the FPI item

of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that best meet the Government’s needs in terms of price, quality, and time of delivery; and

• The item is acquired in accordance with 8.602(a)(4);• Public exigency requires immediate delivery or performance;• Suitable used or excess supplies are available;• The supplies are acquired and used outside the United States;• Acquiring listed items totaling $3,000 or less;• Acquiring items that FPI offers exclusively on a competitive (non-

mandatory) basis, as identified in the FPI Schedule; or• Acquiring services.

8.7 – Acquisition from Nonprofit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled• Procurement priority in relation to Federal Prison Industries• Supplies:

• Federal Prison Industries, Inc. • AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies.• Commercial sources.

• Services:• AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies.• Federal Prison Industries, Inc., or commercial sources.

8.8—Acquisition of Printing and Related Supplies

• Government printing must be done by or through the Government Printing Office (GPO) unless—• The GPO cannot provide the printing service • The printing is done in field printing plants operated by an

executive agency • The printing is acquired by an executive agency from allotments

for contract field printing • The printing is specifically authorized by statute to be done other

than by the GPO.

8.11 – Leasing of Motor Vehicles• “Leasing” means the acquisition of motor vehicles, other than

by purchase from private or commercial sources• CO shall:• Ensure that vehicles requested are of maximum fuel efficiency

and minimum body size, engine size, and equipment (if any) necessary to fulfill operational needs, and meet prescribed fuel economy standards

• Certify that the requested passenger automobiles (sedans and station wagons) larger than small, subcompact, or compact vehicles are essential to the agency’s mission

• Internal approvals have been received• The GSA has advised it cannot furnish the vehicle