Comment on a Draft Segment of the Federal Acquisition Regulation

GAO was asked to comment on a draft segment of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) covering specifications, standards, and other product descriptions, and acquisition and distribution of commercial products. While the proposed section indicates that product descriptions should not normally be furnished with solicitations, it does not indicate when it might be appropriate to do so. GAO believed that guidance similar to that in the Defense Acquisition Regulations for circumstances under which specifications may be provided with solicitations would appear to be an appropriate addition to the FAR.