Don Mansfield's Blog
Don Mansfield on federal procurement.
Describing Contract Type: Watch What You Say
Consider the following exchange between two people: Quote Speaker 1 (asking Speaker 2): What type of car do you drive, foreign or domestic? Speaker 2: I drive a red car. Obviously, Speaker 2's answer is not responsive to Speaker 1's question. Speaker 1 wanted to know about a part
Don Mansfield · Sep 1, 2022
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 8: Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity
In this episode, the Acquivores discuss President Biden's recent Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity.
Don Mansfield · Jun 14, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 7: Audit of Other Transactions Awarded Through Consortiums
In this episode, the Acquivores discuss the recent DoD IG Audit Report on Other Transactions Awarded Through Consortiums. Is DoD's use of OTs transparent enough? Are the awards competitive? Or is the IG looking at them through the lens of the FAR?
Don Mansfield · Jun 3, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 6: Who's Who in the DoD Acquisition Zoo?
In this episode, Jennifer provides a good overview of the organizational structure of DoD Acquisition. Nick says he can see things clearer than he ever has before, but laments the complexity. Don wonders if DoD is taking diversity and inclusion seriously.
Don Mansfield · May 24, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 5: The Contract Management Standard
In this episode, the Acquivores share their thoughts on the Contract Management Standard (CMS) and its usefulness. They also discuss DoD's gaffe in interpreting the CMS when developing the new DoD Contracting Competency Model.
Don Mansfield · Apr 16, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 4: Training Contracting Officers
In this episode, the Acquivores discuss Nick's blog post about DoD's new "Back-to-Basics" initiative for training, the varying levels of discretion that contracting officers have, and what the future holds. Jennifer remains optimistic, while Don thinks we're better off training r
Don Mansfield · Apr 1, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 3: Contracting in the Time of Coronavirus
In episode 3, the Acquivores discuss developments in Federal contracting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Don Mansfield · Mar 20, 2021
Acquivore Podcast, Episode 2 - Prescribing "Statement of Work Language": An Evasion of DoD Clause Control Policy?
DoD implemented a Clause Control Policy in 2015 that would require the same degree of transparency in the development and use of "local clauses" by the military departments and defense agencies as FAR and DFARS clauses (see PGI Case 2015-P003 and attached). Specifically, local cl
Don Mansfield · Mar 2, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast Episode 1: Why Won’t Contracting Officers Settle Questioned Direct Costs?
In the premiere episode, the Acquivores discuss DoDIG Audit Report No. DODIG-2021-047 (“Evaluation of Department of Defense Contracting Officer Actions on Questioned Direct Costs”).
Don Mansfield · Feb 16, 2021
The Acquivore Podcast
1.000 Scope The purpose of this post is to promote The Acquivore Podcast. 1.001 Definitions As used in this post— Acquivore means an animal whose mental diet consists chiefly of Federal acquisition. The term includes acquiholics, acquiphiles, acquinauts, acquidemics, and acquiman
Don Mansfield · Feb 4, 2021
13 Reasons Why SAP is Simpler
“How do you do simplified acquisition?” is a common question I hear from acquisition personnel that are more familiar with using FAR part 15 procedures to solicit offers and award contracts. The question presupposes that there is a regulated set of procedures that one must follow
Don Mansfield · Jul 30, 2020
Problem of the Day--Withdrawal of Proposals
Scenario: Acme Corporation responds to two different RFPs issued by the Government. RFP 1 is for commercial items and contains the untailored version FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items. Acme responds to RFP 1 with Proposal 1. RFP 2 is for noncommercial items
Don Mansfield · Jun 5, 2020
Plain Language Writing Contest--Winners
I've chosen the winners of the Plain Language writing contest. The following entry from @Jamaal Valentine was the acceptable entry with the best readability score: Quote If events beyond the government's reasonable control interrupt normal receipt of offers, and prevent change of
Don Mansfield · Jan 12, 2019
Problem of the Day--Pricing Delivery Incentives
Assume you are soliciting quotes for an item of supply. Suppliers A, B, and C each sell the item for about $100/unit. However, the probability of late delivery is different for each supplier. Supplier A has a 31% chance of delivering late, Supplier B has a 21% chance of deliverin
Don Mansfield · Jan 2, 2019
Plain Language Writing Contest
I invite you to participate in a plain language writing contest. To participate, re-write the passage below in plain language and post your entry in the comments section below. Here is the passage: Quote If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processe
Don Mansfield · Dec 13, 2018
Problem of the Day--Pricing Contingencies
Assume that you are pricing a firm-fixed-price contract using cost analysis. The prospective contractor has included a contingency of $100,000 in its cost proposal of the type described at FAR 31.205-7(c)(1): Quote Those that may arise from presently known and existing conditions
Don Mansfield · Nov 29, 2018
Are Small Business Concerns "Nontraditional Defense Contractors?"
To answer the title question--most likely yes, for DoD. A recent DFARS final rule, Procurement of Commercial Items (DFARS Case 2016-D006), added the following definition at DFARS 202.101: Quote “Nontraditional defense contractor” means an entity that is not currently performing a
Don Mansfield · Mar 29, 2018
Acquisition Mentoring Program Survey
A former student of mine is part of a team conducting a survey to gauge interest in a Mentoring program for Acquisition. If you work in federal acquisition and work for a federal agency (including DoD), please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The more junior you are, th
Don Mansfield · Feb 15, 2018
New FAC Contains Wonderful Thanksgiving Surprise
It's been almost 10 months since the FAR Council issued the last Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC). The streak of inactivity will be broken on November 6 when FAC 2005-96 will be published. The FAC contains a single rule that removes the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Rule. But th
Don Mansfield · Nov 4, 2017
FAR/DFARS/DoD Class Deviations Provision and Clause Matrix
I always thought that the FAR Matrix was a good idea that was poorly executed. To begin with, it's notorious for containing errors. Second, most of the entries in the "Principle Type and/or Purpose of Contract" columns are "A", Required when applicable, which means you have to lo
Don Mansfield · Oct 6, 2016
Should Training Classes Be Required?
It’s time we rethink our approach to the training problem. Our traditional approach is to dictate a blueprint of training classes that must be followed in order to obtain prescribed levels of certification. To put it in acquisition terms, we’ve been using a design specification.
Don Mansfield · Aug 1, 2016
Has Your Office Been Infiltrated?
In January 1944, the Office of Strategic Services, a wartime intelligence agency and predecessor to the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), issued Strategic Services Field Manual No.3 (Simple Sabotage Field Manual) to its agents to aid the Allied war effort in Europe. The p
Don Mansfield · Jun 20, 2016
Consolidated FAR/DFARS/DFARS PGI/DoD Class Deviations
I'm looking for feedback on a tool that I'm creating for DoD. Basically, it would be a single document that would contain the FAR, DFARS, DFARS PGI, and DoD Class Deviations. The concept is similar to that used in the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM), whe
Don Mansfield · Mar 4, 2016
Thinking Critically About Word Choice: Is "Tradecraft" the Right Word?
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be ma
Don Mansfield · Oct 16, 2015
FAR 52.212-1 Tailored for SAP (Final Version)
In a earlier blog entry, I posted a draft version of the provision at FAR 52.212-1 tailored for simplified acquisition procedures and requested comments. First, I'd like to thank everyone who provided comments. I believe the final version (below) is an improvement over the draft.
Don Mansfield · Aug 19, 2015