B-229729, B-229730, Feb 1, 1988

B-229729, B-229730, Feb 1, 1988

DIGEST: General Accounting Office has no objection to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Case No. 87-37, a proposal to amend FAR Subparts 14.2, 15.4, 52, and 53 to provide for a new Standard Form in connection with a simplified contract format and annual representations and certification or to FAR Case No. 87-42, a proposal to permit the synopsizing of advance notice of agency interest in potential research and development programs.

Ms. Margaret A. Willis

This responds to your letter of November 19, 1987, requesting our comments on two proposed amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

The first, FAR Case 87-37, concerns FAR Subparts 14.2 (Sealed Bidding) and 15.4 (Contracting by Negotiation) and Parts 52 (Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses) and 53 (Forms). The proposed amendment provides for a new Standard Form 14XX to be used in connection with a simplified contract format for fixed-price acquisitions. The amendment would also provide for offeror submission of annual representations and certifications under the simplified format. These changes are intended to improve contracting efficiency, expand industry participation and reduce costs.

The second proposed change, FAR Case 87-42, alters FAR Sec. 5.205 to make optional the synopsizing of advance notices of an agency's interest in potential research and development programs and to clarify the purposes of such notices.

We have no objection to either of these proposed amendments.