Consolidation of DOL's Annual Acquisition and Small
Business Plans
DOL's
Electronic Commerce Acquisition Automation Project
In order to
modernize our small purchase system, the Department has purchased an
off-the-shelf software package (PRISM). In implementing this system, DOL will
be capable of streamlining our procurement function, as well as other related
administrative functions, such as accounts receivable and invoice payments.
This plan covers the entire procurement process for buys greater than the
micro-purchase threshold (up to $2,500) from the end user (customer) to
purchasing agents and contracting officers, and finally to our trading
partners.
Performance-based Contracting
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) emphasizes
performance-based contracting and has established several pilot procurement
programs to demonstrate the effectiveness of this contracting mechanism. This
contracting method holds contractors responsible to an agreed upon
outcome.
ETA Contractor Mentoring Program
The number of contractors
available nationwide to operate ETA Job Corps facilities is limited. To
increase the competition among them ETA Job Corps has initiated a process to
successfully expand the number of contractors available to perform such
contracts. Job Corps has established a contractor mentor/protege program for
contractors indicating the potential to successfully operate a facility
independently after mentoring with an experienced, successful operator. Upon
contract award, the protege is given a portion of the contractual
responsibilities followed by a gradual phasing in of total responsibility as
contract performance continues successfully. The mentor-firm ensures its future
by demonstrating its ability to perform such tutorial responsibilities, the
protege-firm makes its entry into the marketplace at a higher level and under
optimum conditions, and DOL expands the number of competitors.
Use of Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) in Select ETA Procurement Disputes
DOL began
using ADR procedures to resolve disputes arising out of contracts and grants in
1992. In fact, DOL's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) implemented a
pilot program to test the applicability of ADR procedures in the areas of audit
resolution and debt collection for contracts and grants. ETA expanded the pilot
to include contract disputes. To place these contracts in perspective, in ETA
Job Corps contracts comprised over 72% (over 562 million) of the total DOL
procurement dollars. ETA initiated a pilot to test the applicability of ADR
with disputes in ETA grants and contracts. The pilot had a strong evaluation
component and results indicated that all parties were pleased with the results.
Consolidation
of DOL's Annual
Acquisition (AAP) and Small Business Plans
In an effort to
streamline procurement planning requirements on DOL agencies, the Procurement
Executive and the Office of Small Business Programs joined forces and
redesigned the required AAP form so all information necessary for both FAR
acquisition planning and OSBP's forecast will be gathered in one submission.
Although OASAM does not approve or disapprove of the plans submitted, OASAM
does not have the authority to preempt the FAR planning requirement. OASAM will
assist agencies by maintaining copies of AAPs to promptly respond to
information requests (e.g., FOIAs) from outside organizations and to provide
the aforementioned OSBMA forecast input. The new
Annual Acquisition Plan and
Procurement Forecast is now available within the DOL Homepage.
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DOL Procurement Initiatives