Description:
This session examines how FAR Part 15 has been fundamentally reshaped under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), shifting from a default, catch-all process to a more targeted tool used only when specific conditions are met. Participants will explore when Part 15 is required, how it integrates with Part 12 for commercial acquisitions, and why proper acquisition strategy selection is now more critical than ever.
The session highlights key structural and procedural changes to negotiated procurements, including simplified definitions, increased flexibility in clarifications and exchanges, and a more practical approach to competitive ranges and negotiations. Emphasis is placed on how contracting officers can exercise judgment to streamline evaluations while maintaining fairness and transparency.
Beyond Part 15, the session expands into related FAR areas impacted by the overhaul. Participants will examine how Part 39 promotes modular contracting and controlled risk-taking in information technology acquisitions, how Part 36 aligns construction with commercial practices, and how Part 37 has been reorganized to better support service-based acquisitions with clearer lifecycle structure and reduced duplication.
Throughout the session, the focus remains on operational impact, including how these changes affect solicitation development, evaluation strategies, negotiations, and overall acquisition execution. Special attention is given to the cultural shift away from defaulting to complex processes and toward selecting the simplest effective acquisition pathway based on the requirement.
For practitioners, this session provides a practical roadmap for navigating negotiated procurements and related acquisition areas under the RFO, enabling faster decisions, smarter strategies, and more effective mission outcomes.
Who Should Attend This Session:
Contracting officers, contract specialists, acquisition planners, program managers, and other federal acquisition professionals who manage or oversee task order contracts, schedule orders, or IDIQ/BPA vehicles.
Prerequisites:
Working knowledge of the FAR, familiarity with government supply schedules, and understanding of basic acquisition planning concepts.
What You'll Learn:
- Determine when FAR Part 15 must be used, and when it must not, based on commerciality, availability, and acquisition value
- Apply streamlined negotiation techniques, including clarifications, exchanges, and competitive range decisions, with greater flexibility and precision
- Distinguish between deficiencies, clarifications, and negotiations, and understand how each impacts evaluation and award decisions
- Integrate Part 15 with Part 12 for commercial acquisitions to achieve faster, more efficient outcomes
- Leverage modular contracting and risk management principles in Part 39 to improve information technology acquisitions
- Navigate updates to Parts 36 and 37 to better align construction and service contracting with commercial practices and lifecycle-based acquisition strategies
Credits: 1.5 CPE/CLP credits for participation
Cost: $55 Members/$69 Non-members
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