For example, in a research and development contract the cost driver will probably be engineering labor. Cost discriminators are the components of cost that distinguish one offeror s proposal from the proposals of other offerors. Cost discriminators are often related to technical discriminators and reveal areas for cost trade offs. For example, one offeror proposes to use a computer that is twice as expensive as what the other offerors have proposed. The cost of the computer is a cost discriminator.
Discriminators are very important to the source selection process.
It is the analyst s responsibility to determine the cost discriminators. The following sections will discuss the purpose, nature, and content of the documentation. The universal key to all documentation is to keep it concise. The documentation should be tailored to correspond with the dollar value and the complexity of the procurement. Too much or too little will obscure the value of the documentation by making it difficult to follow and understand.