Guidance on Pre-Solicitation Status Update Inquiries.docx

This document is guidance on pre-solicitation status update inquiries for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) procurement opportunity. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Memorandum dated November 29, 2024, directs agencies to use the Forecast of Contracting Opportunities (FCO) tool on AcquisitionGateway.gov for providing opportunity status updates. The guidance explicitly prohibits one-on-one exchanges with interested parties solely for status updates, instead directing potential vendors to consult the FCO tool for the most current information about the opportunity.

The related federal contract opportunity is a Sources Sought notice (Solicitation Number: 36U10125Q0036) for Procurement Decision Maker (PDM) Facilitated Administration and Research Management (FARM) Support Service. The VA is conducting market research to identify capable service providers, with a specific requirement that all responses be submitted in EXCEL format to the primary point of contact. An amendment to the solicitation was issued to reference an additional NAICS code and reiterate guidance on pre-solicitation communication protocols, emphasizing that vendors' ability to follow explicit guidance could be an indicator of their performance potential.