Build an offeror's compliance and departures matrix
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- For each requirement the lawyer marks in the solicitation, record whether the offer's words state compliance, state a departure, or are silent, and quote the offer. Do not decide that the offer is acceptable.
- What the lawyer must review
- FAR 15.304 requires the solicitation to state the factors and significant subfactors against which offers are evaluated. A departure that would change a Government requirement or term is read with FAR 15.206. That section provides that when, either before or after receipt of proposals, the Government changes its requirements or terms and conditions, the contracting officer shall amend the solicitation. If an offer of interest involves a departure from the stated requirements, the contracting officer shall amend the solicitation, provided this can be done without revealing to other offerors the alternate solution or other information entitled to protection. The contracting officer decides whether a departure requires an amendment and whether the offer remains acceptable. The matrix records the offer's words. It does not score them.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Do not begin AI assistance until the responsible lawyer has defined and confirmed its permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Open each relied-on authority independently. Confirm its existence, current status, proposition and any quotation or pinpoint reference.
- Review operative clauses in the complete document, including definitions, cross-references, schedules and inconsistencies with the instructions.
- Verify the applicable jurisdiction and the version of each relevant law, rule or instrument in force at the material time.
- Confirm the output against the client’s instructions and the complete relevant source material, including omissions or contradictions.
- Resolve exceptions and record the responsible lawyer’s approval of the exact output and intended use.