Subpart 13.5 - Simplified Procedures for

Certain Commercial Products and

Commercial Services

Parent topic: Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures

13.500 General.

(a) This subpart authorizes the use of simplified procedures for the acquisition of supplies and

services in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $7.5 million

($15 million for acquisitions as described in 13.500(c)), including options, if the contracting officer

reasonably expects, based on the nature of the supplies or services sought, and on market research,

that offers will include only commercial products or commercial services. Contracting officers may

use any simplified acquisition procedure in this part, subject to any specific dollar limitation

applicable to the particular procedure. The purpose of these simplified procedures is to vest

contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial

acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified

manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for

both the Government and industry (10 U.S.C. 3205-3208 and chapter 241 and 41 U.S.C.3305, 3306,

and chapter 37, Awarding of Contracts).

(b) When acquiring commercial products or commercial services using the procedures in this part,

the requirements of part 12 apply subject to the order of precedence provided at 12.102(c). This

includes use of the provisions and clauses in subpart 12.3.

(c) Under 41 U.S.C. 1903, the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in this subpart may be

used for acquisitions that do not exceed $15 million when-

(1) The acquisition is for commercial products or commercial services that, as determined by the

head of the agency, are to be used in support of a contingency operation; to facilitate the defense

against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; to support a

request from the Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for

International Development to facilitate provision of international disaster assistance; or to support

response to an emergency or major disaster, or

(2) The acquisition will be treated as an acquisition of commercial products or commercial services

in accordance with 12.102(f)(1).

13.501 Special documentation requirements.

(a) Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions.

(1) Acquisitions conducted under simplified acquisition procedures are exempt from the

requirements in part 6. However, contracting officers must-
(i) Conduct sole source acquisitions, as defined in 2.101, (including brand name) under this subpart

only if the need to do so is justified in writing and approved at the levels specified in paragraph

(a)(2) of this section;

(ii) Prepare sole source (including brand name) justifications using the format at 6.303-2, modified to

reflect that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with 41 U.S.C.1901 or the

authority of 41 U.S.C.1903;

(iii) Make publicly available the justifications (excluding brand name) required by 6.305(a) within 14

days after contract award or in the case of unusual and compelling urgency within 30 days after

contract award, in accordance with 6.305 procedures at paragraphs (b), (d), (e), and (f); and

(iv) Make publicly available brand name justifications with the solicitation, in accordance with

5.102(a)(6).

(2) Justifications and approvals are required under this subpart for sole-source (including brandname) acquisitions or portions of an acquisition requiring a brand-name. If the justification is to

cover only the portion of the acquisition which is brand-name, then it should so state; the approval

level requirements will then only apply to that portion.

(i) For a proposed contract exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, but not exceeding

$750,000, the contracting officer’s certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the

best of the contracting officer’s knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher

approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.

(ii) For a proposed contract exceeding $750,000 or the thresholds in paragraph (1) of the definition

of simplified acquisition threshold in 2.101, but not exceeding $15 million, the advocate for

competition for the procuring activity, designated pursuant to 6.501; or an official described in

6.304(a)(3) or (a)(4) must approve the justification and approval. This authority is not delegable.

(iii) For a proposed contract exceeding $15 million but not exceeding $75 million or, for DoD, NASA,

and the Coast Guard, not exceeding $100 million, the head of the procuring activity or the official

described in 6.304(a)(3) or (a)(4) must approve the justification and approval. This authority is not

delegable.

(iv) For a proposed contract exceeding $75 million or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, $100

million, the official described in 6.304(a)(4) must approve the justification and approval. This

authority is not delegable except as provided in 6.304(a)(4).

(b) Contract file documentation. The contract file must include-

(1) A brief written description of the procedures used in awarding the contract, including the fact

that the procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used;

(2) The number of offers received;

(3) An explanation, tailored to the size and complexity of the acquisition, of the basis for the contract

award decision; and

(4) Any justification approved under paragraph (a) of this section.