Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL)
Acquisition Policy Flash! 21-23
VA Acquisition Manual M815 Appendix A, Department of Veterans Affairs, Source Selection Guide
Purpose: Provide update to VAAM M815 Appendix A, Department of Veterans Affairs, Source Selection Guide.
Effective Date: Immediately.
Affected FAR Parts: FAR Part 15.
Background: In response to findings from OIG Report No. 19-00230-19 dated July 8, 2020, the Principal Executive Director and Chief Acquisition Officer for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction requires in any award made on a noncompetitive basis that the contracting officer obtain a written disclosure and certification by the program sponsor, contracting officer’s representative, and other staff involved in the procurement as appropriate, disclosing any personal or professional relationship between such staff and vendor personnel.
VAAM M815 Appendix A, Department of Veterans Affairs, Source Selection Guide, has been updated to include a Disclosure Agreement sample required for all awards made above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) on a non-competitive basis. Prior to any discussion involving such non-competitive requirements, all persons involved in the procurement must disclose any personal or professional relationship between such staff and offeror’s personnel by submitting the sample Disclosure Agreement for Non-Competitive Requirements to the contracting officer.
Applicability: This Acquisition Policy Flash applies to all VA contracting activities awarding contracts for Non-Competitive Requirements.
Action Required: Contracting Officers should follow VAAM M815 Appendix A for FAR Part 15 located on the Acquisition Knowledge Portal. Also, please be advised there is now procurement specific integrity training available and Contracting Officers should encourage all participants in both competitive and non-competitive acquisitions to take the training if they have not already done so. The following training is now available for the acquisition workforce: Understanding the Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) -- TMS Item ID # 4570827.
Additional Information: Direct any questions or comments regarding this Acquisition Flast to Procurement Guidance and Instruction Service (PGIS) via email at VAPGISMailbox@va.gov.
