Reference no: EM132265868

Scenario 1 #2

HCA: I called this meeting so that we can discuss the GAO report that was critical  of some of our buying practices. They really hit us for paying $300 each for a quantity of 500 trash cans from an Indonesian-based company! What happened with this acquisition?

CO (to the HCA): I didn't get competition because the requiring activity said that the trash cans are custom designed for hazardous materials for the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, and that only Dispose and Go was willing to meet their requirements in time to get the trash cans to VA.

HCA: Did the engineer in the requiring activity justify that to you in writing?

CO: I didn't ask him to. I felt he knew more about his needs than I do.

Engineer (to the HCA: That's right! We know what we need and when we need it. Dispose and Go was the only company that could deliver when we needed it.

HCA: So you admit the requirement could have been competed? How long have you known the trash cans would be needed?

Engineer: What is this -- the third degree? So I've known for 9 months, but I have other work to do. I just didn't have time to work on a purchase request until a couple months ago.

During what part of the acquisition process should the contracting officer have reacted to the engineer's demand for custom trash cans?

1. Contract planning
2. Funding appropriation
3. Acquisition planning
4. Contract execution

During what part of the acquisition process should the contracting officer have reacted to the engineer's demand for custom trash cans?

1. Contract planning
2. Funding appropriation
3. Acquisition planning
4. Contract execution