[Comments on Proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation]

GAO was asked to comment on proposed sections of a Federal Acquisition Regulation relating to small business and small disadvantaged business concerns. GAO found that a limitation on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) investigation of a firm's responsibility was too restrictive and recommended that the section be revised to allow SBA to investigate any element of responsibility under its authority. GAO recommended that a second proposed section be reworded to indicate that modifications beyond the scope of contracts are not normally appropriate. Regarding a third section about post-bid-opening matters, GAO stated that the determination involved was a matter of bidder eligibility rather than responsiveness and recommended revised wording. GAO recommended that another proposed section should provide that a contracting officer perform a cost analysis of a firm's proposal when he is unable to estimate fair market price. A final suggested revision was that a proposed section be reworded to encourage, rather than discourage, a contracting officer to conduct a preaward survey if it is considered useful.