Best Value Continuum
An agency can obtain best value in negotiated acquisitions by using any one or a combination of source selection approaches. In different types of acquisitions, the relative importance of cost or price may vary. For example, in acquisitions where the requirement is clearly definable and there is minimal risk of unsuccessful contract performance, cost or price may play a dominant role in source selection. The less definitive the requirement, the more development work required, or the greater the performance risk, the more technical or past performance considerations may play a dominant role in source selection. Tradeoff Process and Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process are part of the Best Value Continuum.