What is a Simplified Acquisition Procedure?
The US Federal Government utilizes Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), to consolidate the contracting process.
What are the benefits of simplified acquisition procedures?
The purpose of these simplified procedures is to vest contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden.
Purpose
SAPs are designed to make the acquisition process more efficient and economical, and to reduce the burden on agencies and contractors. They also help small businesses get a fair share of government contracts.
How it works
SAPs allow for informal quoting and competition procedures, such as oral quotes and direct price comparisons. Contracting officers may also choose the winner directly, rather than using a source selection team.
What’s included
SAPs can be used for a variety of purchases, including construction, research and development, and commercial items.
The Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT)
The current simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) for the US government is $250,000. This threshold is periodically adjusted.
The SAT is the amount at which purchases are subject to larger purchase requirements. For purchases between the micro-purchase threshold (MPT) and the SAT, authorized government buyers must use Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). SAPs are a contracting method that can result in faster contract awards and are cheaper to bid on.
The SAT can vary depending on the acquisition situation. For example, the SAT for acquisitions related to contingency operations, defense, or recovery from a disaster is $800,000 within the US and $1.5 million outside the US.
What must the co determine before making a simplified acquisition award?
Before making award, the contracting officer must determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable.
Which type of solicitation is typically used when using simplified acquisition procedures?
The simplified acquisition methods include use of the Government Purchase Card, Purchase Orders, and Blanket Purchase Agreements. The Contracting Officer solicits quotations from prospective contractors on these purchase items by issuing a “Request for Quotation” (RFQ).
* A blanket purchase agreement (BPA) is a simplified way for government agencies to buy recurring supplies or services from qualified vendors. BPAs can help reduce administrative work, save time, and streamline ordering procedures.