Creation of a Compliance Matrix - Assignment Example

 Creation of a Compliance Matrix Overview A majority of the proposals are often viewed to be structured within outlines that are based upon ‘Request for Proposal (RFP)’compliance matrix. This compliance matrix comprises a heading row along with multiple other rows wherein the links between proposal section and necessary RFP requirements are established. The compliance matrix proves to be highly beneficial in terms of providing appropriate information regarding the type of requirements that will be needed for preparing a Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) proposal (SBA.GOV, n.d.) . With this concern, the assignment tends to construct a compliance matrix and prepare a FAR-compliant proposal by taking into concern the RFP as portrayed in Assignment 2. Moreover, the application of the appropriate FAR clauses in contract formulation as well as awards relating to RFP as deciphered in Assignment 2 will also be discussed. 1. Creation of a Compliance Matrix and Preparation of a FAR-Compliant Proposal in Response to the RFP from Assignment 2 Clauses Title Purpose / Description FAR 15.203 Request for proposal This part of FAR will find applicability in the case of PrintMark Publication due to the fact that the organization will have to fulfill the requirement lists structured by the respective government FAR 15.204 Contract format This Part of FAR will also find applicability in the provided case, since PrintMark Publication has felt the necessity of shifting into a much advanced infrastructure and getting involved in the construction work FAR 15.209 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses Applicability of this FAR Part in the provided case of PrintMark Publication can also be held liable in situations wherein the organization might get indulged into any form of negotiation with the respective government FAR 15.207 Handling proposals and information This Part of FAR will find high applicability in the expansion procedure of PrintMark Publication. This is because proposals and related negotiation based information with the governmental authorities need to be kept safe once they get finalized FAR 15.208 Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals. This FAR Part might appear as a mandate for PrintMark Publication in cases if the organization desire to bring about certain changes in its proposal before it gets finalized and present the same to the respective government authorities FAR 13 Simplified acquisition procedures Due to the fact that PrintMark Publication will get involved in activities such as acquisition of supplies, constructions and services provision, thus Part 13 of FAR will also find applicability in the provided case FAR 36 Construction and architect-engineer contracts This Part of FAR will be applicable in the provided case for attaining contract agreements in terms of conducting construction along with other interior architectural works Source: (Acquisition Centrala, n.d.; Acquisition Centralb, n.d.) 2. Application of Appropriate FAR Clauses for Meeting the Compliance in Contract Formulation and Award The above matrix provides a detailed description of all the parts falling under FAR that will be applicable in the provided case of PrintMark Publication linked with the design of an appropriate FAR compliant proposal. Throughout the technical components list, which has been depicted in Assignment 2, majority of the subcomponents are observed to be associated with construction and architectural work. Moreover, Part 36 of FAR will also find applicability in the case, if the organization intends to recycle its waste materials for increasing its operational efficiency (Cornell University Law School, n.d.). In addition, multiple parts of FAR can be apparently observed to be applicable in the provided case. For instance, FAR 15.203 will find high applicability in the provided case due to the fact that since PrintMark Publication has aimed towards attaining government contracts, it will be a mandate for the organization to fulfill all the governmental requirements. Since this organization has involved itself into publication process, the use of ecommerce will be a necessity factor for it. With this concern, it can be stated that the FAR 15.203 will find gradual applicability in the provided case as depicted in Assignment 2 (Acquisition Centralb, n.d.). 3. Application of the Knowledge Gained From the Analysis of Government Accountability Office Reports / Decisions to Identify and Account for FAR Compliance Issues and Contributing Factors Apart from the above discussed aspects, PrintMark Publication will also need to attain uniform contract from the government officials for which it will have to present all the business related documents to the officials, failure to which might result in cancelation of the entire contract. This factor can be considered as a FAR Compliance issue and should be dealt appropriately with the support of appropriate guidelines. For instance, the organization will have to bring forward information relating to location, date, time, product or service information, cost per unit and performance of delivery among others. For attaining contract in this situation, Part 15.204 of FAR will play an imperative role based on the guidelines of which, the governmental contracting officials will prepare the solicitations and final contracts with PrintMark Publication (Acquisition Centrala, n.d.). The applicability of FAR 15.209 can also be duly considered as quite justified for the provided case of PrintMark Publication. The guidelines within this Part of FAR contain the alternative steps based on which, the respective government can directly deliver a contract to PrintMark Publication. However, for this organization to attain the governmental contract, the review provided by the offerors to the government officials must always turn up to be positive. However, another mandatory factor, which PrintMark Publication will have to keep in mind, is that, throughout the applicability of FAR 15.209, the organization’s annual reports will also get audited accordingly (U.S. Government Printing Office, n.d.). In addition, Part 15.208 of FAR will also find high level of applicability once the contract attainment and the report preparation processes get accomplished. This Part of FAR includes the guidelines regarding final records to be maintained and unauthorized data will be safeguarded from being disclosed. In precise, it can be affirmed that the applicability of FAR 15.208 will be a mandate for this organization in terms of maintaining the viability as well as the integrity of the contract (TSA, Inc., 1998). The guidelines relating to FAR 15.208 will also find applicability in the governmental contract attainment procedure of PrintMark Publication. The justification regarding this mandate can be provided in case if the organization desires to bring about certain modifications within the terms of the contract before it gets finalized by the governmental contracting officials. However, the time and the date for submitting the final contract terms will be specified by the government itself. Failure to the specified time and date are considered as late and this is often subjected to financial penalties as well (TSA, Inc., 1998). Moreover, the applicability of FAR 13 can also be held justified in this case, if PrintMark Publication gets involved in performing activities such as acquisition of supplies and conducting construction works. Since these mentioned activities are currently the prime focus of this organization, the guidelines mentioned within FAR 13 will form a prime necessity in this regard (General Services Administration Department of Defense, 2005). 4. Application of the Knowledge of Planned Actions in Soliciting and Awarding Contracts and Making Recommendations to Ensure the Government Agency Is In Compliance With the FAR Requirements By taking into concern the above discussed guidelines of FAR it can be stated that the government officials might turn up to be highly rigid in terms of judging the conditions of the guidelines to be correct for soliciting and awarding the contract to PrintMark Publication. Thus, the organization i.e. PrintMark Publication can be recommended to maintain transparency within its varied financial statements based on which the complexities of the contract attainment process might be mitigated by a certain degree. In the context of applying the knowledge of planned actions particularly in soliciting and awarding contracts, it is also recommended to the organization to recheck the contractual terms along with conditions, before it gets finalized by the governmental officials. Projection of incorrect data might result in delaying or even cancellation of the entire process. Apart from this, the organization will also have to abide the guidelines mentioned within FAR 36 that majorly cover the areas of architectural designing as well as construction (General Services Administration Department of Defense, 2005). References Acquisition Centrala. (n.d.). Subpart 15.2—solicitation and receipt of proposals and information. Retrieved from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2015_2.html Acquisition Centralb. (n.d.). 13.000 scope of part. Retrieved from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2013_1.html#wp1125361 Cornell University Law School. (n.d.). 48 CFR 36.001 - definitions. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/48/36.001 General Services Administration Department of Defense. (2005). Federal Acquisition Regulation. Subchapter A—General, 1, 1-186. SBA.GOV. (n.d.). Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Retrieved from http://www.sba.gov/content/federal-acquisition-regulations-far TSA, Inc. (1998). 15.208 Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals. Retrieved from http://www.farmaster.com/farmaster/data/idx/Far97/hist/1502080000.htm U.S. Government Printing Office. (n.d.). Federal Acquisition Regulation. 15. 209. Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses, 257-258. Read More