Standard Process for Contract Award - Sole Source - Release of RFP to Contract Award

Sep 2, 2026

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The AFLCMC Standard Process for Contract Award, Sole Source defines end-to-end activities required to award a non-competitive (sole-source) government contract after issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP). It aligns execution with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and supplements, organizing work into six high-level phases: RFP release, fact-finding and evaluation, business clearance, negotiations, contract clearance, and contract award. Entry begins with RFP release and includes pre-planning via approved acquisition strategy and proposal evaluation team plan.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages20

Reading Time7 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose

Process overview and phases

Entry and exit criteria

Process workflow and key artifacts (SIPOC, WBS, PETP)

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Standard Process for Contract Award Sole Source (Release of RFP to Contract Award) Process Owner: AFLCMC/PK Date: 18 August 2022 Version: 4.4 Standard Process for Contract Award Sole Source (Release of RFP to Contract Award) Record of Changes: Standard Process for Contract Award Sole Source (Release of RFP to Contract Award) Description. The AFLCMC Standard Process for Contract Award, Sole Source (Release of RFP to Contract Award) includes the activities necessary to award a sole-source (non-competitive) contract following a Request for Proposal (RFP) release. The process is consistent with processes laid out in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Supplements. The process is organized into six high-level activities or phases, as follows: Release of RFP (Letter/Formal) to Receipt of Adequate Proposal Fact-Finding and Evaluation Business Clearance Negotiations Contract Clearance Contract Award Purpose. The purpose of this standard process is to consistently, efficiently and effectively plan and execute the activities necessary to place government requirements on a sole-source contract to deliver a cost effective and timely acquisition solution. The process requires both Government and Joint Acquisition Teams (defined in Paragraph 6.13 and 6.14) to focus on planning sessions to ensure each team member understands and agrees to the total team and individual tasks, events, and schedule in order to get to contract award. Entry/Exit Criteria. The entry point for this process begins with RFP release for a sole-source acquisition. The assumption is the RFP reflects the approved acquisition strategy and includes validated requirements, appropriate terms and conditions. Pre-planning activities must occur as part of the HYPERLINK "https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/21710/gov/APDSP/Forms/AllItems.aspx" AFLCMC Standard Process for Pre-Award Acquisition Strategy (AS) and RFP Development prior to release of the RFP and entry into this Standard Process for Contract Award, Sole Source (Release of RFP to Contract Award). The recommended format for capturing these pre-planning activities is the HYPERLINK "https://usaf.dps.mil/:x:/r/sites/21596/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B5E59CA73-0869-4627-902A-032B51974419%7D&file=PETP%20Template%20for%20Sole%20Source%20Contract%20Award.xlsx&action=default&mobileredirect=true" Proposal Evaluation Team Plan (PETP) from the Pre-Award AS and RFP Development process. The program manager, working with the Joint Acquisition Team to the extent necessary, should complete a PETP prior to RFP release and update it throughout the negotiation and award process. The program manager technical evaluation leads are encouraged to request the Acquisition Center of Excellence (ACE) to provide technical evaluation training/workshop. (See HYPERLINK "https://usaf.dps.mil/:w:/r/teams/21710/gov/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BBB89E3D2-4D78-4017-B9F6-EB27B552A3F4%7D&file=Conducting%20Sole-Source%20Technical%20Evaluation%20and%20Training.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true&DefaultItemOpen=1&cid=eb08493e-7b37-4562-95c4-6d6d9c00e658" AFLCMC Process Guide for Conducting Sole-Source Technical Evaluation and Training.) The exit point is the award of a contract/contract action (referred to for ease of reading as “contract award”) reflecting the negotiated agreement within the approved Business Clearance, the approved Contract Clearance, and final congressional notification as required by HYPERLINK "http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmdfara.htm" DFARS Part 205.303, as supplemented. Process Workflow and Activities. Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs and Customers (SIPOC), Table 1. Table 1. SIPOC Process Flow Chart. Figure 1 represents the contract award process at a high level and provides a timeline for contract actions valued within two ranges: $1M - $50M and $50M - $500M. Figure 2 provides a more detailed view of the contract award process. Steps in Figure 2 may vary

FAQs

What is the purpose of the AFLCMC standard process for sole-source contract award?

It standardizes planning and execution to place requirements on a sole-source contract consistently, efficiently, and effectively so the acquisition solution is cost effective and timely.

Which phases make up the sole-source contract award process?

The process covers six phases: RFP release, fact-finding and evaluation, business clearance, negotiations, contract clearance, and contract award.

When does the process start and what must the RFP include?

It starts at RFP release for a sole-source acquisition. The RFP should reflect the approved acquisition strategy and include validated requirements and appropriate terms and conditions.

Sep 2, 2026

Upload by Kyle