MP5306.5 - COMPETITION ADVOCATES

The objective of the DAF Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program is to promote and support full and open competition and commercial practices to the maximum extent possible. In addition to the requirements at FAR 6.501, DAF Competition and Commercial Advocate(s) must:

1.1. Have extensive qualifications and knowledge of the types of acquisitions of the activity.

1.2. Be in a contracting position, commensurate in grade or rank with the senior level program, product, or laboratory personnel with whom the Advocate interacts.

1.3. Have direct access to the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/DAFRCO or Center/Installation commander, as applicable, on matters relating to competition, the acquisition of commercial items and services, and must not have duties or responsibilities inconsistent with Competition and Commercial Advocate duties and responsibilities.

In addition to the duties and responsibilities identified at FAR 6.502, DAF Competition and Commercial Advocates are responsible for the following:

2.1. Support the DAF Competition Advocate General in formulating, managing, and providing oversight of the DAF Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program.

2.2. Promote commercial practices and competition in acquisition programs managed by their procuring activity. Identify, track, and follow-up on actions to remove impediments to commercial practices and competition. Emphasize competition strategies for creating and maintaining competitive environments. Seek to improve the overall competitive performance and increase the use of commercial practices.

2.3. Support the DAF Competition Advocate General in formulating, managing, and providing oversight of the DAF Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program.

2.4. Promote commercial practices and competition in acquisition programs managed by their procuring activity. Identify, track, and follow-up on actions to remove impediments to commercial practices and competition. Emphasize competition strategies for creating and maintaining competitive environments. Seek to improve the overall competitive performance and increase the use of commercial practices.

2.5 Ensure the organization's policies and procedures: encourage full and open competition whenever possible, promote the use of commercial practices. Review acquisition planning documents and ensure market research demonstrates that competitive and commercial opportunities were considered.

2.6 Participate in acquisition strategy planning through forums such as the Acquisition Strategy Panel process.

2.7. The Competition Advocate General will establish and assign fiscal year competition goals based on annual projections utilizing Project Management Resource Tools (PMRT) or other data provided by the Competition and Commercial Advocates.

2.8. Encourage contracting professionals to complete the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Contracting course (CON) CON 0161, Competition in Contracting and other related training that may be provided.

2.9. Convey to program managers, contracting personnel, and senior leaders the advantages of full and open and effective competition, share success stories, and assist contracting officers in doing the same. Competition advocates should provide training to the various functionals involved in acquisition. Competition advocates are encouraged to use resources available in the 5306 DAFFARS Library and training template developed by OUSD(A&S) DPCAP.

2.10. Identify the potential for full and open competition and effective competition and commercial opportunities through the sole source or limited source and acquisition planning document review process. Review and approve sole source/limited source Justification and Approval (J&A), Limited Sources Justifications (LSJ), and Exception to Fair Opportunity (EFO) justifications in accordance with DAFFARS 5306.304(a), DAFFARS 5308.405-6(d), and DAFFARS 5316.505(b)(2). When SAF/AQ is the approval authority, ensure the enhanced instructions have been considered and appropriately addressed in the written justification per SAF/AQ memo, Ensuring J&As Adequately Describe Efforts Taken to Promote Competition First, dated 22 Nov 2022.

2.11. Work with Government and industry to eliminate barriers to competition and the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services.

2.12. The procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate must ensure operational contracting Squadrons/Flights have access to an Installation/Center Competition and Commercial Advocate.

2.13. Establish a competition and commercial advocacy program for activities within the procuring activity. The activities’ Competition and Commercial Advocacy Program must meet the oversight and management and reporting requirements identified throughout this MP.

2.14. Ensure that requirements are stated in the least restrictive manner to maximize competition and the use of commercial practices.

2.15. Review and provide appropriate comments on determinations made in accordance with FAR 9.202(b) that it would be unreasonable to specify the standards for qualification that a prospective offeror (or its product) must satisfy in order to meet established qualification requirements.

2.16. Provide support as required for the preparation of the annual competition and commercial report in accordance with FAR 6.502(b)(2) and Paragraph 4 of this MP.

3.1. Procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate Appointments.

3.1.1. The DAF Competition Advocate General appoints procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocates for the procuring activities identified in 5306.501(a)(1) via certificate. SCOs must nominate a primary and alternate Competition and Commercial Advocate. The AFICC SCO or civilian deputy must be the primary Competition and Commercial Advocate for the MAJCOM they support. SCOs must submit nominations via the Competition and Commercial Advocate Nominations SharePoint site, unless otherwise directed by SAF/AQCP.

3.1.2. The Heads of Contracting Activity for the procuring activities identified in DAFFARS 5306.501(a)(2) appoint their primary and alternate Competition and Commercial Advocates in writing.

3.1.3. Once appointed, he competition action officer updates the Competition and Commercial Advocates list with the required information.

3.2. Subordinate Contracting Activity Competition and Commercial Advocate Appointments.

3.2.1. For any subordinate procuring activity designated IAW DAFFARS 5306.501(b), the procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocates must appoint a subordinate primary and alternate Competition and Commercial Advocates. Designations and appointments must be in writing.

3.2.2. The names and telephone numbers of the subordinate procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate, the procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocate, and the DAF Competition Advocate General must be displayed on a poster in a prominent location in each unit.

3.2.3. Once appointed, the competition action officer updates the Competition and Commercial Advocate list with the required information.

3.2.4. The following subordinate organizations are designated "procuring activities" in AFMC:

3.2.4.1 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Hanscom Operating Location, Eglin Operating Location

3.2.4.2 Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC), Hill Operating Location, Robins Operating Location

3.2.4.3 Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Rome Research Site, Phillips Research Site, Wright Research Site, and Eglin Research Site.

3.2.4.4 Air Force Test Center (AFTC) --- AFTC is the competition advocate for Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC).

3.2.4.5 Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC)

3.2.4.6 Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC)

4.1. SAF/AQCP is responsible for submitting the annual report required by FAR 6.502(b)(2).The procuring activity Competition and Commercial Advocates must provide support as requested in the preparation of the annual report and provide supplementary information at any time in support of requests for information or other tasks regarding competition and the use of commercial practices.