Sort a clarification from a discussion after proposals are received
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- List each offeror who was contacted after receipt, what was asked, whether a proposal revision was invited, and whether a competitive range had been set. Do not decide that an error is minor and do not score the proposals.
- What the lawyer must review
- The lawyer decides which exchange is allowed. FAR 15.306(a) says clarifications are limited exchanges that may occur when award without discussions is contemplated. Offerors may be given a chance to clarify certain aspects, including past-performance information, or to resolve minor or clerical errors. Clarifications are not a duty to offer every offeror the same chance to correct a form error. If the solicitation says the Government intends to award without discussions and discussions are later held, the rationale shall be documented. Communications before the competitive range shall be held with offerors whose past performance is the determining factor keeping them out of the range, and may be held only with other offerors whose inclusion is uncertain. Those communications shall not cure deficiencies or material omissions, materially alter technical or cost elements, or otherwise revise the proposal. Discussions, under FAR 15.306(d), are negotiations after the competitive range is established, undertaken so the offeror may revise its proposal. The contracting officer must conduct them with each offeror in the range, and must at a minimum discuss deficiencies, significant weaknesses, and adverse past performance to which the offeror has not had a chance to respond, subject to the limits the section states. FAR 15.208 is the separate rule for whether a late submission is considered at all.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Consider narrowly defined preparation support after confirming the tool’s capability and 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.
- Review the original source set for relevant material absent from the output, including contrary evidence, qualifications and remaining gaps.
- 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.