Unsolicited Proposals

An Unsolicited Proposal is a written application for a new or original idea submitted to a federal agency on the initiative of the offeror for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the government.

Each agency is responsible for reviewing unsolicited proposals that are relevant to their mission areas.

• Title
• The legal name and address of the organization and specific division or campus identification, if part of a larger organization
• Type of organization: e.g., profit, nonprofit, educational, Historically Black College or University, Minority Institution, small business, small disadvantaged, small woman owned, etc.
• Name and telephone number of the technical and business personnel who may be contacted during evaluation or negotiation
• Description of Product(s) or Services(s)
• Period of Performance (Including Base Period and Options)
• Identification of proprietary data to be used only for evaluation purposes
• Names of other Federal, State, or local agencies or parties receiving the proposal or funding the proposal effort
• Place of Performance
• Date of submission
• Proposed Price or Total Estimated Cost for the Effort
• Proposal Validity Period (6-month minimum suggested)
• Signature of person authorized to represent and contractually obligate your organization (unless the signature appears on the proposal itself)

• Identification of any proprietary data, organizational conflicts of interest, security clearances, or environmental impacts (if applicable)
• Reasonably complete discussion stating objectives of the effort
• Method of approach and extent of effort to be employed
• Nature and extent of the anticipated results
• The way the work will help to support accomplishment of the agency’s mission
• Key personnel information who would be involved, including alternates
• Brief description of facilities to be used
• Type of support needed from the agency (e.g., Gov property or personnel resources)
• Type of contract preferred (e.g., fixed price, cost plus)
• Brief description of the organization, previous experience, relevant past performance
• Sufficient detail for proposed price or total estimated cost to allow meaningful evaluation
• Name/Signature and Date of Authorized Offeror Representative

There is no specific length requirement for proposals; however, every effort should be made to keep them concise and focused on substantive material essential for a complete understanding of the project.

An unsolicited proposal will be undergoing an initial review by the coordinating office to ensure that the proposal meets all the criteria established in FAR Subpart 15.606-2.

If the unsolicited proposal is found to meet all the specified criteria, it will then be sent to the technical organization within the Agency that is determined to be the office of primary interest in the proposed discipline area.

If accepted, the offeror will be notified in writing; however, only if there is interest and funding available, either current year or potential future year funding, will further contact be made by a CO.

When an unsolicited proposal is accepted, the negotiation and award will be made by a Contracting Officer.

The bulk of rejections are the result of the Agency’s current or projected mission goals or nonavailability of funds. The department will retain a single record copy of a proposal that does not result in an award will be retained for three months, unless the circumstances described in FAR 15.609(c).