Agencies Told to Set Aside More Orders for Small Firms
November 3, 2011
Agencies need to seriously consider setting aside task and delivery orders for small businesses, according to a new interim rule, as procurement officials try to help the companies in the expansive world of multiple-award contracts.
Regulators have revised the Federal Acquisition Regulation to match the fluctuation toward task- and delivery-order contracts, such as governmentwide acquisition contracts, blanket purchase agreements, and even agency-wide contracts. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has pushed those types of vehicles in an effort to bulk buy and lower prices.
Officials released an interim rule Nov. 2 about the FAR revisions. The rule took effect the same day.