ART - Federal Advertising Contracts Agencies have Discretion in Setting Work Scope and Requirements 2002

The document is a selected reprint from the Journal of Public Procurement, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2002. It discusses the discretion that federal agencies have in setting the scope of work and requirements for advertising contracts. The document explains that agencies have broad discretion in determining the scope of work and requirements for contractors, which can impact which contractors are able to bid on and win contracts. This discretion is particularly important in the context of advertising campaigns that have specific target locations or audiences. Contractors who do not have the capability to meet these specific requirements may effectively be eliminated from competition. The document also mentions that acquisition reforms give contracting officers additional discretion in source selection. It states that legislation and regulations encourage contracting officers to use their discretion to satisfy agency requirements regarding cost, quality, and timeliness while conducting business with integrity, fairness, and openness. The document provides information on the types of solicitation procedures used to award advertising contracts and the total obligations for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. It also discusses the agencies' discretion in establishing criteria for contracts and the steps involved in the federal procurement process. Overall, the document highlights the importance of agencies' discretion in setting work scope and requirements for advertising contracts, particularly in relation to specific target locations or audiences.