Effective 22 September 2023, the FAR will contain a new provision: 52.201-1, Acquisition 360: Voluntary Survey. This provision will contain a link to a survey for vendors to complete where they can provide voluntary feedback to state how satisfied they are with various aspects of the acquisition process. 

Background: As discussed in the Federal Register notice (located here), “DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to encourage use of voluntary feedback mechanisms, where appropriate, to support continual improvement of the acquisition process. Understanding how contractors experience the Federal marketplace is critical to the Government's ability to build and maintain a healthy, diverse, and resilient supplier base that can help Federal agencies use acquisition as a catalyst to address the needs of our Nation. While many agencies periodically seek feedback from their contractors, there are no Government-wide mechanisms for agencies to collect and consider this information in a consistent and organized manner. This final rule fills an important gap in Government-vendor communications by providing a standardized tool for voluntary vendor feedback.”

The following are a few of the topics the vendor survey will address:

How satisfied were you (the vendor), about the Agency’s: 

• Vendor engagement methods
• Industry day effectiveness
• Understanding of the industry marketplace
• Clarity of the final requirements
• Ability to keeping offerors informed of delays in the acquisition process
• Ability to write a clear solicitation and instructions to submit offers
• Selection of the appropriate contract type
• Selection of source selection methodology
• Resolution of issues/concerns
• Response to requests for information at debriefing

The prescription for the provision will be located at FAR 1.102-3(b), “Contracting officers are encouraged to insert the provision 52.201–1, Acquisition 360: Voluntary Survey, in accordance with agency procedures.” 

Making this vendor survey part of the solicitation is an unprecedented move which will give industry a more effective voice in addition to helping to ensure best practices for future acquisition outcomes.