The process of purchasing goods and services for government activity that includes a detailed establishment of the required materials, method of procurement, solicitation, financing, a selection of sources, contract management and other functions.

Any mechanism signed by a contracting officer providing government funds or other resources to an offeror

The act of an authorized representative of the Government by which the Government, for itself or as agent of another, assumes ownership of existing identified supplies tendered or approves specific services rendered as partial or complete performance of the contract

The process by which the efforts of all personnel responsible for an acquisition are coordinated and integrated through a comprehensive plan for fulfilling the agency need in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost. It includes developing the overall strategy for managing the acquisition.

Adequate price competition exists when two or more responsible offerors, competing independently, submit priced offers that satisfy the Government's expressed requirement

Contracting officer whose primary duties involve contract administration

A notice of projected Government construction requirements distributed to reach as many prospective offerors as practicable.

Advances of money by the Government to a prime contractor before, in anticipation of, and for the purpose of complete performance under one or more contracts.

A contractor's program that complies with Department of Labor regulations to ensure equal opportunity in employment to minorities and women.

To assign an item of cost, or a group of items of cost, to one or more cost objectives. This term includes both direct assignment of cost and the reassignment of a share from an indirect cost pool.

Requires that no officer or employee of the Government may create or authorize an obligation in excess of the funds available, or in advance of appropriations unless otherwise authorized by law.

Document used by the contracting officer to assign contractual responsibility to another Government official. The letter or memorandum specifies the official's authority and is signed by the Contracting Officer.

A contract entered into between the General Services Administration and a utility service supplier to cover utility service needs of Federal agencies within the franchise territory of the supplier. Each areawide contract includes an authorization form for requesting service, connection, disconnection, or change in service.

A review of an offeror's or contractor's books and financial records to evaluate reporting accuracy, financial risk, or cost reasonableness and report to the Contracting Officer or another Government official.

Two or more consolidated requirements for supplies or services, previously provided or performed under separate similar contracts, into a solicitation for a single contract that is likely to be unsuitable for award to a small business

A contractor"s final offer following the conclusion of discussions in relation to negotiated procurements

An offer to perform work at a specified cost as described in a contract that includes a complete proposal to do the work. Typically time sensitive and good for 30 to 60 days.

A written receipt, contract or invoice given by a carrier to the recipient or sender showing a list of goods delivered

An arrangement between the purchaser and a vendor to provide the purchaser's requirements for an item or service on an as-required basis. Time limited and with a maximum amount of money that can be spent at one time. Specifically identifies the people authorized to accept goods.

A financial agreement by a surety company that work will be completed as described in a contract

A general announcement of an agency's research interest including criteria for selecting proposals and soliciting the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government's needs.

In contract law, something of value. It may be money, an act, or a promise. It is one of the key elements required to have a binding contract.

A five-character identifying number used extensively withing the federal government

Assets, less liabilities, representing the ownership interest in business

A designated small business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both designated socially and economically disadvantaged, and eligible to receive federal contracts under the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program.

General Services Administration (GSA) officer who manages the Electronic and Information Technology (IT) business for the Office of Governmentwide Policy (OGP).

Any information or material, regardless of its physical form or characteristics, that is owned by, produced by or for, or under the control of the United States Government, and determined pursuant to Executive Order 12356, April 2, 1982 or prior orders to
require protection against unauthorized disclosure, and is so designated.

The deadline for all bid submissions

Any commission, percentage, brokerage, or other fee that is contingent upon the success that a person or concern has in securing a Government contract.

The organization responsible for ensuring that the contractor complies with the terms and conditions of the contract

General Services Administration (GSA) staff member, who signs purchase orders, thereby awarding orders to contractors.

The review and evaluation of the separate cost elements and profit in an offeror's or contractor's proposal (including cost or pricing data or information other than cost or pricing data), and the application of judgment to determine how well the proposed costs represent what the cost of the contract should be, assuming reasonable economy and efficiency

A cost-reimbursement contract that provides for a fee consisting of a base amount fixed at inception of the contract and an award amount that the contractor may earn in whole or in part during performance and that is sufficient to provide motivation for excellence in such areas as quality, timeliness, technical ingenuity, and cost-effective management. The amount of the award fee to be paid is determined by the Government's judgmental evaluation of the contractor's performance in terms of the criteria stated in the contract. This determination is made unilaterally by the Government and is not subject to the Disputes clause.

A cost-reimbursement contract that provides for the initially negotiated fee to be adjusted later by a formula based on the relationship of total allowable costs to total target costs. This contract type specifies a target cost, a target fee, minimum and maximum fees, and a fee adjustment formula. After contract performance, the fee payable to the contractor is determined in accordance with the formula. The formula provides, within limits, for increases in fee above target fee when total allowable costs are less than target costs, and decreases in fee below target fee when total allowable costs exceed target costs. This increase or decrease is intended to provide an incentive for the contractor to manage the contract effectively. When total allowable cost is greater than or less than the range of costs within which the fee-adjustment formula operates, the contractor is paid total allowable costs, plus the minimum or maximum fee.

Oral or written – informs the vendor that he/she is in default and how to correct it

Excludes contractor from government contracting and government approved subcontracting for a reasonable, specified period of time

The amount deducted from the contract sum by a change order

For contractors other than educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) is normally the agency responsible for performing Government contract audits

An award made by an employer to compensate an employee in a future cost accounting period or periods for services rendered in one or more cost accounting periods before the date of the receipt of compensation by the employee. This definition must not include the amount of year end accruals for salaries, wages, or bonuses that are to be paid within a reasonable period of time after the end of a cost accounting period.

An indefinite-delivery contract that provides for delivery of a definite quantity of specific supplies or services for a fixed period, with deliveries or performance to be scheduled at designated locations upon order.

A report or product that must be delivered to an agency to satisfy contractual agreements

The issuance or use of a policy, procedure, solicitation provision, contract clause, method, or practice of conducting acquisition actions of any kind at any stage of the acquisition process that is inconsistent with the FAR

An online Request for Quotation (RFQ) tool for commercial supplies and services offered by General Service Administration (GSA) Schedule contractors who are on GSAAdvantage.

For a solicitation amendment, change order, or administrative change, the effective date must be the issue date of the amendment, change order, or administrative change.

A General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract enabling federal consumers to purchase services related to environmental compliancy and protection.

The final consummation of a contract action including all formalities (e.g., signature and any necessary approvals) needed to complete the action

Process of using account receivables, through a fee, to leverage advance money from a financial institution

A price based on reasonable costs under normal competitive conditions and not on lowest possible cost.

A set of rules that govern executive agencies in acquiring goods and services.

An act by Congress that ensures advice rendered to the executive branch by the various advisory committees, task forces, boards, and commissions formed over the years by Congress and the president, be both objective and accessible to the public.

A document that replaces the Federal Property Management Regulation (FPMR) which details policies and regulatory requirements on managing property and administrative services.

A central repository of statistical information on federal contracting.

A government body created to prevent unfair methods of competition in commerce.

An activity that is sponsored under a broad charter by a Government agency (or agencies) for the purpose of performing, analyzing, integrating, supporting, and/or managing basic or applied research and/or development, and which receive 70 percent or more of its financial support from the Government

The complete receipt of any document by an agency before its close of business. Documents received after close of business are considered filed as of the next day

A solicitation that requires a “sealed" response

The buyer is responsible for the cost and risk of shipping

All responsible sources are permitted to compete for a solicitation

The single point where government business opportunities greater than $25,000 can be accessed electronically by the public, including synopses of proposed contract actions, solicitations and associated information

Materials, equipment, supplies, printing and IT hardware and software

Task order or delivery order contracts, operated by an executive agent designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for Information Technology (IT) established by one agency for government wide use.

A legally enforceable assurance of the quality or duration of a product or of work performed.

Federal type of contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period of time and is not specified until a delivery or task order is issued.

A .75% user fee built into General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract prices to cover the Federal Acquisition Service's (FAS) cost of operating the Multiple Award Schedule Program (MAS). The total revenue collected by the vendor as a result of the IFF is reported to the Office of Contract Management and sent to the FAS quarterly.

A material disagreement between the Government and the contractor which may result in a claim or is part of an existing claim

Joint negotiation of two or more termination settlement proposals from the same contractor under different contracts. or regulatory authority other than the FAR and its implementing and supplementing regulations

Any fee, money, credit, gift, gratuity, or compensation of any kind that is directly or indirectly provided to agency procurement or program officials by any contractor for the purpose of favorable treatment in connection with obtaining a contract

A place where individuals exchange their labor for compensation

A letter signifying an intention to enter in to a formal agreement, typically including the terms of that agreement

When large organizations are involved, most negotiators have limited authority. For example, Government negotiator authority is limited by the funds available and any required management approvals. However, negotiators using this tactic claim they have very little or no authority to negotiate a key issue or issues. Win/lose negotiators use limited authority to identify your negotiation limits without making any commitment or divulging any information themselves.

Progress payments are recouped by the Government through the deduction of liquidations from payments that would otherwise be due to the contractor for completed contract items.To determine the amount of the liquidation, a liquidation rate is applied to the contract price of contract items delivered and accepted.

Collecting and analyzing information about capabilities within the market to satisfy agency needs

Expression of mutual understanding of an issue without implying commitments by parties to the understanding

A minor change in the details of a provision or clause that is specifically authorized by the FAR and does not alter the substance of the provision or clause.

DOD agencies seek RFQ/RFP's from many contractors/vendors for construction services. Multiple awardees will be chosen to provide services to the government within a pre-defined dollar amount.

The estimated cost negotiated in a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract or the negotiated contract target cost in either a fixed-price incentive contract or a cost-plus-incentive fee contract

A response to a solicitation for bids stating that the respondent doesn't wish to submit an offer.

Any corporation, foundation, trust, or institution operated for scientific, educational, or medical purposes, not organized for profit, and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Property that cannot be removed after erection or installation without substantial loss of value or damage to the property or to the premises where installed

A written notification to a vendor stating that the vendor has received an award

Written communication issued by the owner to the contractor authorizing him/her to proceed with the work and establishing the date of commencement of the work

A bidder on a government solicitation.

A branch of the General Services Administration (GSA) that provides customers with workforce, organization, and workplace business solutions.

Indirect costs other than those related to general and administrative expense and selling expenses.

An evaluation of a prospective contractor's capability to perform a proposed contract

The procedures for obtaining goods and/or services including all activities from the planning steps and preparation and processing of a requisition, through receipt and acceptance of delivering and processing of a final invoice for payment

A third-party consultant or employee of the owner who coordinates the activities of the project. Assists with the development of specific strategies of the project, establishes time frames and benchmarks for the project, assists the owner in hiring other professional services, reviews plans and drawings and makes recommendations to the owner, monitors the budget of all phases of the project, assists the owner in closeout and prepares for occupancy

A document used by the owner to evaluate the professional capabilities of a business, agency or individual against a set of pre-established criteria that may be weighted on a numerical scale using a set of questions that allows the owner to determine the best business or agency to hire for the specific job. Normally does not include the cost of services. Designed to evaluate such criteria as previous work experience, the qualifications of the lead professional

A written complaint about an administrative action or decision brought by a bidder or offeror to the appropriate administrative section with the intention of receiving a remedial result.

A list of contractors whose capability to provide a service has been evaluated and approved based on detailed prequalification procedures

The composite of material attributes, including performance features and characteristic, of a product or service to satisfy a given need

The inspection, analysis and other relevant action taken to provide control over what is being done, manufactured or fabricated so that a desirable level of quality is achieved and maintained

A reduction in the unit price offered for large volume contracts

A prime contract for any product, service, or material (including controlled materials) placed by a Delegate Agency under the provisions of the DPAS in support of an authorized program and which require preferential treatment, and includes subcontracts and purchase orders resulting under such contracts.

A price that does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of a competitive business. Reasonable price can be established by market test, price or cost analysis, or the experience and judgment of the purchaser

A document submitted to one or more potential suppliers detailing project specifications and application procedures, and eliciting a response for supply of said products and services.

An internal document that a functional department (stores, maintenance) sends to the purchasing department containing details of materials to meet its needs, replenish stocks or obtain materials for specific jobs or contracts

A method of contracting that employs competitive bids, public bid opening, and awards. Award is made to that responsible bidder whose bid, conforming to the invitation for bids, will be most advantageous to the Government consider only price and price-related factors included in the invitation

A small business “set-aside" is the reserving of an acquisition exclusively for participation by small business concerns, as governed by FAR Part 19.

A purchasing mechanism used by DOD agencies as a form of solicitation requesting proposals from contractors / vendors. Only one awardee will be chosen. The awardee then is the sole provider of services as tasks orders are issued. SATOC's are usually awarded for multi years with a cap award amount.

A maximum level of average employment or annual revenue at which a firm can qualify as a small business.

A contract for the purchase of supplies or services that is entered into or proposed to be entered into by an agency after soliciting and negotiating with only one source

The process of identifying which offeror(s) will receive a contract in a competitive negotiated acquisition

Under a negotiated fixed-price supply, cost-reimbursement supply, research and development, or service contract, a contract clause permits the Contracting Officer to order the contractor to stop work, if a work stoppage is required for reasons such as advancement in the state-of-the-art, production or engineering breakthroughs, or realignment of programs

An individual possessing the prerequisite knowledge skills and abilities demonstrating competence in a field of endeavor

A notice of a proposed contract action exceeding $25,000 furnished by an agency for publication in the Commerce Business Daily as required by the Small Business Act

An order for services placed against an established contract or with government sources

A contract providing for the procurement of supplies/services on the basis of direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates and material at cost or at some bid percentage discount from manufacturer's catalog or list prices

A tentative plan offered to test the reaction of a particular audience.

A written proposal for a new or innovative idea that is submitted to an agency on the initiative of the offeror for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the government and that is not in response to a RFP (request for proposal), Broad Agency Announcement or any other government initiated solicitation or program

A systematic method to improve the “value" of goods or products and services by using an examination of function

In cost-volume-profit analysis, costs of each unit that remain constant no matter how many units are made in the relevant range of production. Total variable cost increases as the total number of units produced increases.

A secure web based system for electronic invoicing, receipt, and acceptance.