Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
()
or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Community
The goals of this Community are to facilitate knowledge sharing across the acquisition community and to serve as the central clearinghouse for service acquisition policy and guidance information, training opportunities and best practices to support both the Defense Acquisition Workforce and the DoD workforce performing services acquisition functions.
| 120 |
Best Practices / Lessons Learned
The Department of the Navy Best Practices Handbook for the Management of Services Acquisition for FY2024.
SRRB assesses the Mission Need, Strategic Alignment, Issues and Risks, Workforce Analysis, Relationship to other Requirements, Projected Cost, Prioritization, Contract and Work Functions (see DoD Handbook of Contract Function Checklists for Service Acquisitions), Metrics.
MFTs: Track SRRB approval and SRRB Chair guidance/mandates and include in the Acquisition Strategy
The Department of the Air Forces uses a Requirements Approval Document (RAD) process described in DAFI 63-138.
Placing Category Management into Dept. of Navy (DON) Acquisition Policies Raises Awareness/Compliance
SRRBs will be used to help the Department identify the best methodology for forecasting budget needs for service contracts across Future Years Defense Program. (Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy)
Best Practices (from FY24 Acquisition of Services Panel Wrap-up)
Definition of Best Practices: Best practices, as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 37.501, are techniques that agencies may use to help detect problems in the acquisition, management and administration of service contracts. For DoD, the Services Acquisition Pathway is a great start to learn about the DoD 7-Step SA process as is DAU's Service Acquisition Mall. For federal civilian agencies, see Steps to Performance-Based Acquisition (SPBA).
Pathway Gates. Select each for Best Practices and Lessons Learned.
Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy maintains best practices derived from Competitive Peer Reviews and Sole Source Peer Reviews.
Industry Best Practices are unique and innovative ways industry makes sound business decisions and contracts for services they need. Best Practices are not legal documents, but may be viewed as persuasive guidance in the management and administration of government contracts.
DAU's Powerful Examples Collection:
Strategic Sourcing: Air Force Uses Data Driven Decision Making to Improve Enterprise Sourcing
Guides
Inflation and Escalation Best Practices for Cost Analysis
Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card
Funds Management Platinum Card. A reference source for anyone dealing with the financial management aspects of the Defense acquisition process.
Back to Basics (BtB) BTB significantly streamlined the certification framework and re-focused training resources for the Defense Acquisition Workforce.
Want to Preview DAU On Line Training courses? Select Preview Training
Services Acquisition Knowledge Area
DoD Handbook for the Training and Development of the Services Acquisition Workforce, July 14, 2017. Provides DoD** recommended training for the Services Acquisition Functional Area.
**For civilian agencies please visit the Federal Acquisition Institute for more information on training.
DAU Credentials. DAU deployed the first four credentials in FY2020, including two Acquisition of Services credentials. There are 60+ credentials available!
DAU Partnerships. Defense Acquisition University works with over fifty external colleges and universities in granting credit to workforce members who have completed DAU courses. Partnerships provide opportunities to maximize academic accomplishments by receiving credit for DAU courses toward an undergraduate, graduate, or certificate program.
DAU Equivalency Program. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) provides the opportunity for other organizations (colleges and universities, DoD schools, other federal agencies, commercial vendors, and professional societies) to offer courses, programs or certifications which DAU will accept as equivalent to one or more DAU courses if, upon evaluation of the organization's materials and standards, they adequately address the DAU course learning outcomes for a select DAU course(s).
| Credentials for DoD Acquisition and Non-Acquisition Workforce Performing Services Acquisitions |
Total CLPs |
|---|---|
| CACQ 001 Services Acquisition Team Member: Non-Acquisition Workforce |
39 |
| CACQ 002 Services Acquisition Team Member: Acquisition Workforce |
50 |
| CACQ 013 Functional Services Manager (FSM) |
45 |
| CACQ 007 Category Management Overview |
12 |
| Credentials recommended for Contracting Functional Area with a Services Contracting Assignment |
Total CLPs |
|---|---|
| CCON 003 Proposal Analysis Credential |
70 |
| CCON 008 Commercial Acquisition Credential |
33 |
| CCON 019 Negotiations Credential |
33 |
| CCON 025 Contracting for Services |
41 |
| CLM 023 DAU AbilityOne Training |
1 |
| CACQ 002 Services Acquisition Team Member: Acquisition Professional Team Members Credential |
50 |
| CACQ 007 Category Management Credential |
12 |
ACQ1650 Defense Acquisition of Services - (7 hrs online)
ACQ2551 Services Acquisition Management Tools - (9 hours online)
ACQ265 Mission Focused Services Acquisition - 5 days virtual instructor led training (VILT) and in-person ILT
ACQ305 Services Acquisition Management Office - 3.5 days instructor led training (ILT) or Virtual ILT
ACQ 0061 IGCE for Services Acquisition (2 hours online)
ACQ 0030 Overview of Acquisition Ethics (1 hours online)
BFM 0020 Program Execution (3 hours online)
CON 0040 Market Research (3 hours online)
CLC 011 Contracting for the Rest of Us (2 hours online)
CON 0130 Services Acquisition (3 hours online)
CON 0140 Art & Science of Contracting (2 hours online)
CON 0590 Management of Subcontracting Compliance (4 hours online)
CON 0640 Wage Determinations (1 hour online)
CLC 106 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with a Mission Focus (6 hours online)
CLC 108 Strategic Sourcing Overview (2 hours online)
CON 7600 Introduction to Incentive Contracting (2 hours online)
CLC206 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in a Contingency Environment (1 hour online)
CLC 222 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Online Training (32 hours online)
CLE 028 Market Research for Engineering and Technical Personnel (2 hours online)
CLE 083 Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) (2 hours online)
PMT 0160 Cost Estimating (5 hours online)
PMT 0170 Risk Management (8 hours online)
7-Step Service Acquisition Process
Service Acquisition Portfolio Groups (Wings)
| CAT # | Workshop | Days |
|---|---|---|
| WSM 012 | Services Acquisition Workshop (SAW) WSM 012. The SAW is typically a 3-4 four-day workshop for an intact MFT conducted at team's location using the team's documentation. It is a facilitated, hands-on workshop designed to help the MFT work through the seven-step service acquisition process. For more information, see DAU's SAW Talking Paper. |
3.5* |
| WSM 009 | Work Statement Workshop (SOW, SOO, PWS) WSM 009. Provides an overview of the function of the Work Statement in the acquisition process and a procedure for planning, developing, and writing Work Statements. |
4 |
| WSM 014 | Acquisition Strategy Development Workshop (ASDW) |
3-4.5 |
| WSM 002 | Risk Management Workshop |
1 |
| WSC 032 | Source Selection Simulation |
4 |
| WSA 004 | Cloud Services Workshop |
3 |
*SAWs may be tailored to address the needs of the Multi-Functional Team (MFT).
Surveillance reports provide a basis for communicating interim contractor performance or identified problems. A recent finding of the DoDIG was that CORs were not submitting surveillance reports in accordance with their Designation Letter. (See Audit of the Oversight of ENCORE III Information Technology Service Task Orders (DODIG-2023-067)) DoDI 5000.72 requires CORs to submit surveillance reports to communicate contractor performance to contracting officers. For timely surveillance reports, a monthly report is desirable and should be in the COR Designation Letter. CORs need to report performance problems immediately because many remedies are time sensitive and delays may cause harm to the U.S. Government and limit remedies.
From DPC's Best Practices derived from competitive peer reviews:
Incentives. Best Practice – Use incentives when there are clear, measurable performance metrics or critical dates that are important to the program.
Lessons Learned
O Incentives work: On the plus side they focus contractors on what the program considers most important. On the down side, they may cause contractors to pay less attention to the areas that aren’t incentivized.
O Incentives need to be achievable. Contractors will only focus on achieving an incentive as long as they believe it is achievable.
O Schedule incentives are a two edged sword and their interaction with contract type is important. If achievable and in a fixed price contract, they work well. If used in a cost type contract, they may cause the contractor to chase the schedule and ignore costs.
O Consider the use of incentives. Discussion should include whether or not performance beyond the specification requirements is of value to the warfighter and whether simply changing the specification based on offers or the use of incentives is the better option.
O Consider the effects schedule, technical and cost incentives have on each other. Contract type makes a huge difference in developing incentives.
O Consider whether the proposal describes how the offeror will achieve the aspects of the contract that are being incentivized.
PGI 201.602-2: A COR shall be appointed for services contractors. However, Contracting Officers may exempt service contracts from this requirement when the following three conditions are met:
(1) The contract will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures;
(2) The requirement is not complex; and
(3) The contracting officer documents the file, in writing, with the specific reasons why the appointment of a COR is unnecessary.
| Don't Say | Say |
|---|---|
| a and/or b | a, b, or both |
| accompany | go with |
| accomplish | carry out OR do |
| accorded | given |
| accordingly | so |
| accrue | add OR gain |
| accurate | correct OR exact OR right |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is authorized to contract with local law enforcement agencies to provide additional patrols during peak recreation seasons. USACE Lakes and Rivers Nashville District (LRN) uses Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) to award a firm-fixed price, commercial service contract for each project location (24 total contracts). Most contracts include a base period of performance and 2 or 3 option years to maintain continued patrols. What types of acquisition methods are other Districts / Agencies using to contract with local law enforcement agencies? OR is anyone contracting private security companies?
AFBIT Lite is a tool that pulls contracts from FPDS, but on version lets you look for nearby organizations doing similar work based on zip code. The tool is an online version of Tableau and is a bit clunky to use, but it's easier in my opinion than the advanced search on FPDS.Gov. The closest contract (W9124P20C0012) for PSC S206 is out of Huntsville, an Army contract with Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Inc. You can find AFBIT Lite with a search on DAU.edu.
Hi Everyone,
I would like to provide a standard template for Security Risk Assessments that small businesses can use to comply with their TRICARE credentialing agreements with the Defense Health Agency. The only SRA tool I know of for federal healthcare programs is provided by HHS:
https://www.healthit.gov/topic/privacy-security-and-hipaa/security-risk-assessment-tool
Does the DoD have anything of their own?
All the best,
David Bychkov, PhD
Visiting Professor
Have you ran into OTA's before? If OTA's (Other Transactional Agreement) are not subject to the FAR? What guidance do we adhere to for OTA's in regards to GFP?
Any help or point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
DAU has different live events for questions just like this! Check out DAU Event - OT Huddle or DAU Event - OTA Today: Introduction to the Updated DOD OT Guide. All DAU events are at Events (dau.edu).
I have limited experience with OTs from R&D efforts. DAU has an OT Community here: Pages - Other Transactions Community Homepage (dau.edu). I looked and didn't see anything for property. You can talk to your agreements officer, but if its a services acquisition, I wouldn't recommend using an OT.
GAO Bid Protest Report contains statistics and analysis for FY22. A summary of the most prevalent grounds for sustaining protests is included. Of the protests resolved on the merits during FY22, GAO sustained 13% of those protests. Our review shows that the most prevalent reasons for sustaining protests during the 2022 fiscal year were: (1) unreasonable technical evaluation; (2) flawed selection decision; and (3) flawed solicitation. It is important to note that a significant number of protests filed with our Office do not reach a decision on the merits because agencies voluntarily take corrective action in response to the protest rather than defend the protest on the merits. Agencies need not, and do not, report any of the myriad reasons they decide to take voluntary corrective action.
CCON 025 recently deployed. You may want to try earning this credential even if not in the contracting career field. Check out my blog and follow the link to the concept card for CCON 025.
Surveillance reports provide a basis for communicating interim contractor performance or identified problems. A recent finding of the DoDIG was that CORs were not submitting surveillance reports in accordance with their Designation Letter. (See Audit of the Oversight of ENCORE III Information Technology Service Task Orders (DODIG-2023-067)) DoDI 5000.72 requires CORs to submit surveillance reports to communicate contractor performance to contracting officers. For timely surveillance reports, a monthly report is desirable and should be in the COR Designation Letter. CORs need to report performance problems immediately because many remedies are time sensitive and delays may cause harm to the U.S. Government and limit remedies.
Section 1004 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA; P.L. 117-81) established the 14-member Commission to examine the effectiveness of the PPBE process, consider alternatives, and make legislative and policy recommendations. On July 18, 2024, the Congressional Research Service published Defense Primer: Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Process, an update on the commission's work including a recommendation to replace the PBBE process with a stream-lined Defense Resourcing System (DRS).
For more information, see the Senate's site, Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform.
Memorandum provides guidance on Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) file review requirements. Look for this content to be added to future updates to the DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI), and Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5000.72, DoD Standard for Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Certification.
Memo addresses “Audit of the DoD’s Implementation and Oversight of the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program” Report No. DoDIG-2023-078, which identified deficiencies in contractor implementation and
subsequently COR oversight of CUI training requirements as applied to contractors.
Centralized Unique Program identifier (CUPID) Implementation Memo dtd. April 3, 2024.
Program owners must register their acquisition programs, regardless of the acquisition pathway selected, in the Defense Acquisition Visibility Environment (DAVE) located at
To see if your program is in DAVE, visit the Acquisition Enablers Public Website.
CUPID will allow program-related data to be easily discovered, linked retrieved and referenced. This is a refinement of the legacy Program Number or PNO.
The DFARS PGI will be updated to establish the requirements for the FPDS reporting. Effective immediately, contracting personnel shall enter the CUPID 3-position code in field 8B, DoD Acquisition Program.
In addition, the Procurement Data Standard (PDS) and Purchase Request data Standard (PRDS) have been modified to allow the CUPID to be identified as a reference number in contracts and purchase requests.
The prior term Acquisition Program Unique Identifier is now obsolete and should NOT be used.
Vision: DOD is a data-centric organization that uses data at speed and scale for operational advantage and increased efficiency.
Focus Areas: The strategy emphasizes the need to work closely with users in the operational community, particularly the warfighter. Initial areas of focus include:
Check out the FACT SHEET for DOD Data Strategy: Unleashing Data to Advance the National Defense Strategy with 8 guiding principles:
and 4 Essential Capabilities and 7 Goals!
DoD Data StrategySection 809 directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to explore the use of consumption-based solutions to address DoD needs. In particular, the pilot program is to result in contracts and other agreements for "anything-as-a-service," which is defined as a model under which a technology-supported capability is provided using any combination of software, hardware or equipment, data, and labor services. Importantly, under this pilot program, the "anything-as-a-service" capability provided to DoD must be metered and billed based on actual usage of fixed-price units. Additionally, no later than June 30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense must provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the implementation of the pilot program. As Congress's Joint Explanatory Statement emphasizes, this pilot program is another effort to promote continuous competition and better business practices at the DoD.
Contract Protest Diagnostic Tool is a Data-Driven Application to Proactively Identify Contracting Errors and Mitigate Protest Exposure developed by MITRE in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Includes a protest knowledge center
Best Practices / Lessons Learned
The Department of the Navy Best Practices Handbook for the Management of Services Acquisition for FY2024.
SRRB assesses the Mission Need, Strategic Alignment, Issues and Risks, Workforce Analysis, Relationship to other Requirements, Projected Cost, Prioritization, Contract and Work Functions (see DoD Handbook of Contract Function Checklists for Service Acquisitions), Metrics.
MFTs: Track SRRB approval and SRRB Chair guidance/mandates and include in the Acquisition Strategy
The Department of the Air Forces uses a Requirements Approval Document (RAD) process described in DAFI 63-138.
Placing Category Management into Dept. of Navy (DON) Acquisition Policies Raises Awareness/Compliance
SRRBs will be used to help the Department identify the best methodology for forecasting budget needs for service contracts across Future Years Defense Program. (Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy)
Best Practices (from FY24 Acquisition of Services Panel Wrap-up)
Definition of Best Practices: Best practices, as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 37.501, are techniques that agencies may use to help detect problems in the acquisition, management and administration of service contracts. For DoD, the Services Acquisition Pathway is a great start to learn about the DoD 7-Step SA process as is DAU's Service Acquisition Mall. For federal civilian agencies, see Steps to Performance-Based Acquisition (SPBA).
Pathway Gates. Select each for Best Practices and Lessons Learned.
Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy maintains best practices derived from Competitive Peer Reviews and Sole Source Peer Reviews.
Industry Best Practices are unique and innovative ways industry makes sound business decisions and contracts for services they need. Best Practices are not legal documents, but may be viewed as persuasive guidance in the management and administration of government contracts.
DAU's Powerful Examples Collection:
Strategic Sourcing: Air Force Uses Data Driven Decision Making to Improve Enterprise Sourcing
Guides
Inflation and Escalation Best Practices for Cost Analysis
Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card
Funds Management Platinum Card. A reference source for anyone dealing with the financial management aspects of the Defense acquisition process.
Back to Basics (BtB) BTB significantly streamlined the certification framework and re-focused training resources for the Defense Acquisition Workforce.
Want to Preview DAU On Line Training courses? Select Preview Training
Services Acquisition Knowledge Area
DoD Handbook for the Training and Development of the Services Acquisition Workforce, July 14, 2017. Provides DoD** recommended training for the Services Acquisition Functional Area.
**For civilian agencies please visit the Federal Acquisition Institute for more information on training.
DAU Credentials. DAU deployed the first four credentials in FY2020, including two Acquisition of Services credentials. There are 60+ credentials available!
DAU Partnerships. Defense Acquisition University works with over fifty external colleges and universities in granting credit to workforce members who have completed DAU courses. Partnerships provide opportunities to maximize academic accomplishments by receiving credit for DAU courses toward an undergraduate, graduate, or certificate program.
DAU Equivalency Program. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) provides the opportunity for other organizations (colleges and universities, DoD schools, other federal agencies, commercial vendors, and professional societies) to offer courses, programs or certifications which DAU will accept as equivalent to one or more DAU courses if, upon evaluation of the organization's materials and standards, they adequately address the DAU course learning outcomes for a select DAU course(s).
| Credentials for DoD Acquisition and Non-Acquisition Workforce Performing Services Acquisitions |
Total CLPs |
|---|---|
| CACQ 001 Services Acquisition Team Member: Non-Acquisition Workforce |
39 |
| CACQ 002 Services Acquisition Team Member: Acquisition Workforce |
50 |
| CACQ 013 Functional Services Manager (FSM) |
45 |
| CACQ 007 Category Management Overview |
12 |
| Credentials recommended for Contracting Functional Area with a Services Contracting Assignment |
Total CLPs |
|---|---|
| CCON 003 Proposal Analysis Credential |
70 |
| CCON 008 Commercial Acquisition Credential |
33 |
| CCON 019 Negotiations Credential |
33 |
| CCON 025 Contracting for Services |
41 |
| CLM 023 DAU AbilityOne Training |
1 |
| CACQ 002 Services Acquisition Team Member: Acquisition Professional Team Members Credential |
50 |
| CACQ 007 Category Management Credential |
12 |
ACQ1650 Defense Acquisition of Services - (7 hrs online)
ACQ2551 Services Acquisition Management Tools - (9 hours online)
ACQ265 Mission Focused Services Acquisition - 5 days virtual instructor led training (VILT) and in-person ILT
ACQ305 Services Acquisition Management Office - 3.5 days instructor led training (ILT) or Virtual ILT
ACQ 0061 IGCE for Services Acquisition (2 hours online)
ACQ 0030 Overview of Acquisition Ethics (1 hours online)
BFM 0020 Program Execution (3 hours online)
CON 0040 Market Research (3 hours online)
CLC 011 Contracting for the Rest of Us (2 hours online)
CON 0130 Services Acquisition (3 hours online)
CON 0140 Art & Science of Contracting (2 hours online)
CON 0590 Management of Subcontracting Compliance (4 hours online)
CON 0640 Wage Determinations (1 hour online)
CLC 106 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with a Mission Focus (6 hours online)
CLC 108 Strategic Sourcing Overview (2 hours online)
CON 7600 Introduction to Incentive Contracting (2 hours online)
CLC206 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in a Contingency Environment (1 hour online)
CLC 222 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Online Training (32 hours online)
CLE 028 Market Research for Engineering and Technical Personnel (2 hours online)
CLE 083 Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) (2 hours online)
PMT 0160 Cost Estimating (5 hours online)
PMT 0170 Risk Management (8 hours online)
7-Step Service Acquisition Process
Service Acquisition Portfolio Groups (Wings)
| CAT # | Workshop | Days |
|---|---|---|
| WSM 012 | Services Acquisition Workshop (SAW) WSM 012. The SAW is typically a 3-4 four-day workshop for an intact MFT conducted at team's location using the team's documentation. It is a facilitated, hands-on workshop designed to help the MFT work through the seven-step service acquisition process. For more information, see DAU's SAW Talking Paper. |
3.5* |
| WSM 009 | Work Statement Workshop (SOW, SOO, PWS) WSM 009. Provides an overview of the function of the Work Statement in the acquisition process and a procedure for planning, developing, and writing Work Statements. |
4 |
| WSM 014 | Acquisition Strategy Development Workshop (ASDW) |
3-4.5 |
| WSM 002 | Risk Management Workshop |
1 |
| WSC 032 | Source Selection Simulation |
4 |
| WSA 004 | Cloud Services Workshop |
3 |
*SAWs may be tailored to address the needs of the Multi-Functional Team (MFT).
| Report # | Title | Key Words |
|---|---|---|
| DODIG-2023-067 | Audit of the Oversight of ENCORE III Information Technology Service Task Orders | Training, Oversight, COR, technical experience, voucher approval |
| DODIG-2024-055 | Audit of the DoD’s Oversight of Cost-Plus-Award-Fee Contract | CPAF |
| Report # | Title | Key Words |
|---|---|---|
| GAO-24-900483 | GAO, Performance and Accountability Report, FY23. Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Defense | Priority Recommendations |
| GAO-24-106528 | Defense Contracts: Better Monitoring Could Improve DOD's Management of Award Lead Times | PALT Tracker |
| GAO-24-106129 | DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE: DOD Needs Better Insight into Risks from Mergers and Acquisitions | Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Consolidation, Defense Industrial Base (DIB) |
| GAO-24-107272 | GAO Overview: FraudNet Activity Report for FY2023. FraudNet Website | Fraud, Waste, Abuse, Mismanagement |
| GAO-24-105358 | DOD FRAUD RISK MANAGEMENT: Enhanced Data Analytics Can Help Manage Fraud Risks | Fraud, Data Analytics |
| GAO-24-105980 | ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Agencies Have Begun Implementation but Need to Complete Key Requirements | Artificial Intelligence |
| GAO-24-107270 | Revolving Funds: Key Features | Revolving funds, working capital funds |
| GAO-24-105645 | Artificial Intelligence: Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Workforce Management | Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, workforce |
| GAO-24-105506 | GAO Agile Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Adoption and Implementation [Reissued with revisions on Dec. 15, 2023] | Agile software development, auditors |
| GAO-21-267R | SERVICE ACQUISITIONS: DOD's Report to Congress Identifies Steps Taken to Improve Management, But Does Not Address Some Key Planning Issues | Budget, PPBE, Service Acquisition |
| GAO-20-104 | DoD Utilities Privatization: Improved Data Collection and Lessons Learned Archive Could Help Reduce Time to Award | utility, services, contracts, time to award |
| GAO-24-900538 | Bid Protest Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2023 | Protests |
| GAO-20-220SP | Bid Protest Annual Report to Congress for FY19 | Protests |
| GAO-19-248SP | Bid Protest Annual Report to Congress for FY18 | Protests |
| GAO-19-556 | Defense Workforce: Steps Needed to Identify Acquisition Training Needs for Non-Acquisition Personnel | Services Acquisition Training |
| GAO-18-237SP | Bid Protest Annual Report to Congress for FY17 | Protests |
| GAO-17-398 | Service Contracts: Agencies Should Take Steps to More Effectively Use Independent Government Cost Estimates | IGCE, Cost Estimating, Service contracts |
| GAO-16-119 | DOD Service Acquisition: Improved Use of Available Data Needed to Better Manage and Forecast Service Contract Requirements | Services Acquisition Requirements, PPBE |
| GAO-12-681 | SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: Effective Practices and Federal Challenges in Applying Agile Methods | Agile Software Development |
| GAO-01-295 | Contract Management: No DOD Proposal to Improve Contract Service Costs Reporting | Professional Services, PSC |
[Return to Policy and Guidance Page]
This Electronic tools, or e-tools page provides a select list of available online tools and resources relating to the acquisition of services. NOTE: more tools may be found by selecting "Resources" and selecting tools catalog from the DAU home page.
DAU AI Toolkit A new AI resource - Artificial Intelligence Resources
Joint Appointment Module (JAM) and the Surveillance and Performance Monitoring (SPM) Module (formerly the Contracting Officer Representative Tracking (CORT) Tool) within the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE). JAM and SPM are web-accessible applications designed to perform two primary functions:
Contracting Subway Map; excellent resource to accompany the 7-Step Services Acquisition Process
Corrective Action Plan Evaluation Worksheet. DCMA tool to evaluate Contractor Corrective Action Plans (CAPs). Provides evaluative questions to assist in assessing CAPs and a better documented oversight process.
Guidance on Using Incentive and Other Contract Types
GSA's Buy.GSA.GOV Pricing site. Includes prices paid, the IGCE tool, hourly labor ceiling rates.
GSA's Supplier Base Dashboard
JAM and SPM on the DoD Procurement Toolbox
Market Research Guidebooks and Tools
Product Support Business Case Analysis (BCA) Guidebook Updated June 2024! A substantial revision to the 2014 version and includes fact of life updates and new content on the Adaptive Acquisition Framework pathways, Regional Sustainment Framework, Product Support BCA process steps, and Product Support BCA revalidation.
DoD IT Business Case Analysis (BCA) Template
Provision and Clause Matrix. The Provision and Clause matrix is a spreadsheet of all FAR, DFARS, Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) provisions and clauses. It also includes guidance on the use of provisions and clauses contained in DoD class deviations. A help video is available by following the link provided in the DAU Tools catalog.
Stakeholder relationships quick reference guide
Market Research ACQuipedia Article - Also use to find training, related ACQuipedia articles, and other resources such as SD-5 Market Research, or the Market Intelligence Guide.
Common Financial Terms Glossary
Level-Up Your Market Research Game: Strategies and Hacks You’ll Want to Use - 2022 Guidebook from Mitre
Market Research Report Guide for Improving the Tradecraft in Services Acquisition - 2017 Market Research Guide
Market Research Template. Word Document template based on the 2017 Market Research Guide above with updated links and guidance.
Market Research Methods Tool - This tool provides for different methods that can be used to help in both your strategic or tactical market research for a requirement.
STEP 3, Market Research - Detailed steps and a video on the Service Acquisition Mall. Easily navigate through the 7-Step Services Acquisition Process.
Substantive changes to Title 10 were made on January 1, 2022. For services acquisition, the crosswalk from the old sections to new with their links is provided in the Table below:
| Chapter 341 | Retitled in 2022 | Chapter 341 | Acquisition of Services Generally |
| 2329 | Procurement of services: data analysis and requirements validation | 4506 | Procurement of services: data analysis and requirements validation |
| 2330 | Procurement of services: data analysis and requirements validation | 4501 | Procurement of contract services: management structure |
| 2330 | Procurement of services: data analysis and requirements validation | 4502 | Procurement of contract services: senior officials responsible for management of acquisition of contract services |
| 2330a | Procurement of services: tracking of purchases | 4505 | Procurement of services: tracking of purchases |
| 2331 | Procurement of services: contracts for professional and technical services | 4507 | Procurement of services: contracts for professional and technical services |
| N/A | N/A | 4508 | Contractor performance of acquisition functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions |
| N/A | N/A | 4509 | Contracts for advisory and assistance services: cost comparison studies |
| Chapter 343 | Acquisition of Services (Repealed) | N/A | Repealed |
Access the FAR and Defense FAR Supplement (Acquisition Central)
FAR 7.5: Inherently Governmental Functions
FAR 8.4: Federal Supply Schedules
FAR 8.603: Purchase Priorities
FAR 8.7: Acquisition from Non-Profit Agencies Employing People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
FAR 12: Acquisition of Commercial Items
FAR 16.1: Selecting Contract Types
FAR 16.5: Indefinite-Delivery Contracts
FAR 16.504: Indefinite Quantity Contracts
FAR 19.804 Evaluation, Offering and Acceptance
FAR 31.201-2: Determining Allowability
31.205 Selected costs. (and information on when allowable or unallowable)
FAR 35: Research and Development Contracting
FAR 36.6: Architect-Engineer Services
FAR 37.2: Advisory and Assistance Services
FAR 37.4: Nonpersonal Health Care Services
FAR 37.5: Management Oversight of Service Contracts
FAR 37.6: Performance-Based Acquisition
FAR 38: Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contracting
FAR 39.104: Information Technology Services
DFARS 208.4: Federal Supply Schedules
DFARS 212: Acquisition of Commercial Items - General
DFARS PGI 212: Acquisition of Commercial Items
DFARS 216.5: Indefinite-Delivery Contracts
DFARS 219.7: The Small Business Subcontracting Program
DFARS 219.5: Set Asides for Small Business
DFARS 236.6: Architect-Engineer Services
DFARS 237: Service Contracting
DFARS 239: Acquisition of Information Technology
DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM. The purpose of this document is to provide DoD and other Federal personnel involved in the acquisition process with practical guidance on using market research to ensure the acquisition of products and services that will best serve the government's needs. Use the link below to download a copy of the SD-5
SD-5, Market Research (dated 2018)
A list of metrics organized by Demand Management, Supplier Management, and Process Management useful for any acquisition, but particularly services acquisitions.
RIO training slides used for SAWs.
Presentation of highlights from the PWS Writing Guidelines. Can't remember when to use e.g. versus i.e.? Check the writing guidelines!
See also Work Statement Writing Guidelines - Summary for a two page quick reference AND the Official DoD Plain Language Website.
The Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) PMR program is designed to enhance the performance of the Department’s contracting function. DCMA leads PMRs at Other Defense Agencies (ODAs) and 4th Estate Contracting Activities using teams of volunteers from the Contracting Competency throughout the Department. The reviews assess:
Each FY, the best practices and lessons learned are combined into an annual Newsletter that is distributed Department-wide. The annual Newsletters dating back to FY 2014 are available
Provides a practical common sense approach to procuring Advisory and Assistance Services with best practices. The guide, dated 2000, was prepared by the Inspections and Evaluation Roundtable at the request of the Inspection and Evaluation Committee.
Paper provides answers to these questions: