ACQUISITION ALERT 00-02
COMMITS PREFERRED SOURCE POLICY–By memorandum dated April 25, 2000, Secretary Daley has established the COMMITS program as the preferred source for fulfilling agency information technology (IT) requirements. Effective with the date of this memorandum, Department policy is that “ALL IT contracts are required to use the COMMITS program unless there is a legitimate reason not to do so. (A legitimate reason means, for example, that you need to purchase a service that no COMMITS company can provide).” Accordingly, all IT contract awards made to other than a COMMITS program contractor, must include documentation in the award file that reflects the basis for the decision to not use the COMMITS program. This documentation must be thorough and based on fact, not assumptions. Because of the high visibility of this program and pending issuance of departmental policy on waiver process, all such determinations shall be approved at the level of the NOAA Procurement Executive (Director, Acquisition and Grants Office). The determination should include, as a minimum, the following information: Requisition Number Description Line Office Value Basis for the recommendation (e.g., what market research has been done, a discussion of the specific requirement as it compares to COMMITS vendors’ capability to meet the need, any other factors affecting the decision, etc.) Contracting Officer Name and Phone Number Contracting Officer Technical Representative and Phone Number To keep the process as informal and expeditious as possible, determinations shall be submitted and final decisions will be issued via e-mail.