It eliminates unnecessarily complex and confusing guidance, getting back to the fundamentals of the ordering process while embracing flexibility and innovation.
The Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul continues apace! In August, the FAR Council issued 12 model deviations covering FAR parts 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 26, 33, 38, 40, 46, 49 and 51. To date, the FAR Council has issued model deviations for 28 parts, as well as corresponding changes to FAR parts 2 (Definitions of Words and Terms) and 52 (Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses) representing over half the total parts of the FAR. While all the FAR parts are important, it is significant to see the FAR Council’s revision to two of the more impactful FAR parts, 8 (Required Sources of Supplies and Services) and 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services). This blog will focus on the rewrite of FAR part 8.4 (Federal Supply Schedules), and what it means for the Federal Supply Schedule program, customer agencies and contractors.
The most consequential change to the revised FAR part 8 is the removal of the FAR 8.4 FSS ordering procedures and their relocation to a new General Services Acquisition Regulation, Subpart 538.71. The move to the GSAR is wholly consistent with GSA’s statutory authority for the program which derives primarily from the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. It also provides a sound, flexible framework for management of the program. The GSAR provides GSA with a platform whereby it can more rapidly and effectively adjust the ordering procedures and associated guidance to reflect and leverage changes in the federal market. It eliminates bureaucratic layers in the process of making updates to the contracting and ordering process for the FSS program. At the same time, transparency and accountability remain in balance as the GSAR changes ultimately do go through the public rule making process.