Federal Contracting Glossary
Negotiated Procurement
A federal acquisition conducted under FAR Part 15, where the agency may hold discussions and award on a best-value basis rather than price alone.
Definition
A negotiated procurement is an acquisition conducted under FAR Part 15, used when the government needs flexibility beyond sealed bidding — for example to evaluate non-price factors, hold discussions with offerors, or make a best-value tradeoff. The agency issues an RFP with Section L instructions and Section M evaluation factors, evaluates proposals, may establish a competitive range and conduct discussions, and then makes a documented source-selection decision.
Negotiated procurements support both best-value tradeoff and LPTA awards and are the norm for complex or higher-value requirements. They typically run on longer timelines and with more formal procedures than simplified acquisitions, including the possibility of discussions, proposal revisions (final proposal revisions), debriefs, and protest rights.
How this affects your proposal
Negotiated procurements have longer timelines and formal Part 15 procedures — including possible discussions and final proposal revisions. Plan your proposal resourcing accordingly; these are not opportunities you can knock out in a week.
Common questions about negotiated procurement
What is a competitive range?
When an agency conducts discussions, it may narrow the field to the most highly rated proposals — the competitive range — and hold discussions only with those offerors before requesting final proposal revisions.
How is a negotiated procurement different from sealed bidding?
Sealed bidding (FAR Part 14, IFB) awards to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder on price with no discussions. A negotiated procurement (FAR Part 15, RFP) allows non-price factors, discussions, and best-value tradeoffs.
Related terms
Simplified Acquisition
A streamlined federal buying process under FAR Part 13 for requirements at or below the…
SAM.gov
The U.S. federal government's official system for contract opportunities and entity reg…
GAO Bid Protest
A challenge to a solicitation or award filed with the Government Accountability Office,…
NAICS Code & Size Standard
The industry classification code assigned to a solicitation and its associated SBA size…
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