MP5306.5 - COMPETITION ADVOCATES

Parent topic: MP5306 - Competition Requirements

MP5306.502 Air Force Competition and Commercial

Advocacy Program

This Mandatory Procedure (MP) implements, in part, AFPD 64-1, The Contracting System, and 41

USC 1705. This MP provides guidance and procedures for personnel implementing the Air Force

Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program.

MP5306.502-1. Objectives.

The objective of the DAF Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program is to promote and support

full and open competition and commercial practices to the maximum extent possible. In addition to

the requirements at FAR 6.501, DAF Competition and Commercial Advocate(s) must:

1.1. Have extensive qualifications and knowledge of the types of acquisitions of the activity.

1.2. Be in a contracting position, commensurate in grade or rank with the senior level program,

product, or laboratory personnel with whom the Advocate interacts.

1.3. Have direct access to the MAJCOM/DRU/AFRCO/SMC/SpRCO or Center/Installation

commander, as applicable, on matters relating to competition, the acquisition of commercial items

and services, and must not have duties or responsibilities inconsistent with Competition and

Commercial Advocate duties and responsibilities.

MP5306.502-2. Duties and Responsibilities.

In addition to the duties and responsibilities identified at FAR 6.502, DAF Competition and

Commercial Advocates are responsible for the following:

2.1. Support the DAF Competition Advocate General in formulating, managing, and providing

oversight of the DAF Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program.

2.2. Promote commercial practices and competition in acquisition programs managed by their

procuring activity. Identify, track, and follow-up on actions to remove impediments to commercial

practices and competition. Emphasize competition strategies for creating and maintaining

competitive environments. Seek to improve the overall competitive performance and increase the

use of commercial practices.

* SEE DEFINITION PROVIDED IN OUSD/AT&L DPAP Memo, dated 16 Dec 2010 .

2.3. Ensure the organization's policies and procedures: encourage full and open competition

whenever possible, promote the use of commercial practices. Review acquisition planning

documents and ensure market research demonstrates that competitive and commercial

opportunities were considered.
2.4. Participate in acquisition strategy planning through forums such as the Acquisition Strategy

Panel process.

2.5. The Competition Advocate General will establish and assign fiscal year competition goals based

on annual projections utilizing Project Management Resource Tools (PMRT) or other data provided

by the Competition and Commercial Advocates.

2.8. Encourage contracting professionals to complete the Defense Acquisition University (DAU)

Continuous Learning Module (CLM) CLC 055, Competition Requirements and other related training

that may be provided.

2.9. Convey to program managers, contracting personnel, and senior leaders the advantages of full

and open and effective competition, share success stories, and assist contracting officers in doing

the same. Competition advocates should provide training to the various functionals involved in

acquisition. Competition advocates are encouraged to use the Competition Training template

developed by OUSD(A&S) DPC.

2.10. Identify the potential for full and open competition and effective competition and commercial

opportunities through the sole source or limited source and acquisition planning document review

process. Review and approve sole source/limited source Justification and Approval (J&A), Limited

Sources Justifications (LSJ), and Exception to Fair Opportunity (EFO) justifications in accordance

with DAFFARS 5306.304(a), DAFFARS 5308.405-6(d), and DAFFARS 5316.505(b)(2). Ensure the

enhanced instructions have been considered and appropriately addressed in the written justification

prior to coordination or approval (See PM 22-C-02).

2.11. Work with Government and industry to eliminate barriers to competition and the acquisition of

commercial products and commercial services.

2.12. The procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate must ensure operational

contracting Squadrons/Flights have access to an Installation/Center Competition and Commercial

Advocate.

2.13. Establish a competition and commercial advocacy program for activities within the procuring

activity. The activities’ Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program must meet the oversight and

management and reporting requirements identified throughout this MP.

2.14. Ensure that requirements are stated in the least restrictive manner to maximize competition

and the use of commercial practices.

2.15. Review and provide appropriate comments on determinations made in accordance with FAR

9.202(b) that it would be unreasonable to specify the standards for qualification that a prospective

offeror (or its product) must satisfy in order to meet established qualification requirements.

2.16. Provide support as required for the preparation of the annual competition and commercial

report in accordance with FAR 6.502(b)(2) and Paragraph 4 of this MP.

MP5306.502-3. Appointment of the Competition and Commercial Advocate.

3.1. Procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate Appointments.

3.1.1. The DAF Competition Advocate General appoints procuring activity Competition and
Commercial Advocates for the procuring activities identified in 5306.501(a)(1) via certificate. SCOs

must nominate a primary and alternate Competition and Commercial Advocate. The AFICC SCO or

civilian deputy must be the primary Competition and Commercial Advocate for the MAJCOM they

support. SCOs must submit nominations via the Competition and Commercial Advocate Nominations

SharePoint site, unless otherwise directed by SAF/AQCP.

3.1.1.1. Procuring Activity

3.1.1.2. Primary and alternate nomination

3.1.1.3. Name of the nominated Competition and Commercial Advocate or alternate

3.1.1.4. E-mail address of the nominated Competition and Commercial Advocate or alternate

3.1.1.5. Telephone number of the nominated Competition and Commercial Advocate or alternate

3.1.1.6. Candidate resume

3.1.1.7. Competition action officer contact information, if applicable

3.1.2. The Heads of Contracting Activity for the procuring activities identified in 5306.501(a)(2)

appoint their primary and alternate Competition and Commercial Advocates in writing.

3.1.3. Once appointed, he competition action officer updates the Competition and Commercial

Advocates list with the required information.

3.2. Subordinate Contracting Activity Competition and Commercial Advocate Appointments.

3.2.1. For any subordinate procuring activity designated IAW DAFFARS 5306.501(b), the procuring

activity Competition and Commercial Advocate must appoint a subordinate primary and alternate

Competition and Commercial Advocates. Designations and appointments must be in writing.

3.2.2. The names and telephone numbers of the subordinate procuring activity Competition and

Commercial Advocate, the procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate, and the DAF

Competition Advocate General must be displayed on a poster in a prominent location in each unit.

3.2.3. Once appointed, the competition action officer updates the Competition Advocate list with the

required information.

3.2.4. The following subordinate organizations are designated "procuring activities" in AFMC:

3.2.4.1 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Hanscom Operating Location, Eglin

Operating Location

3.2.4.2 Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC), Hill Operating Location, Robins Operating Location

3.2.4.3 Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Rome

Research Site, Phillips Research Site, Wright Research Site, and Eglin Research Site.

3.2.4.4 Air Force Test Center (AFTC) 3.2.4.5 Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC)

3.2.4.6 Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC)
MP5306.502-4. Annual Competition and Commercial Reporting

Requirements.

4.1. SAF/AQCP is responsible for submitting the annual report required by FAR 6.502(b)(2).The

procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocates must provide support as requested in the

preparation of the annual report and provide supplementary information at any time in support of

requests for information or other tasks regarding competition and the use of commercial practices.