|
The Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, is important to the make
sure that there are uniform policies in place for all executive
agencies when it comes to acquisitions. The FAR is designed to
deliver the best service or product to the consumer, and it is also
designed to maintain the public’s trust while still fulfilling
public policy objectives.
The FAR does not have an easy task especially since all the
participants involved in the acquisition process must work as a
team. However, they are empowered with the decision making
responsibility in there area of expertise, so the team process can
work a little more smoothly.
However, when we look at the FAR, it states that the participants
must look for the best value for the consumer. This is not an easy
task for any team. The FAR requires that for each service or
product, the team must look at both the least costly options and the
long term cost. In the FAR it is important to develop a system that
works, because in the long term it costs less.
The FAR requirement of customer satisfaction is measured by the
cost, quality, and timeliness of the product or service. Also, the
system that follows the FAR will be adaptive to customer needs, and
will implement procedures consistent with the FAR. Plus, the FAR
compliant system will choose contractors that have a history of
providing that same customer satisfaction and superior service.
The FAR encourages competition in the acquisition process, too. The
FAR recommends that the commercial sector be notified early in the
acquisition process in order to promote competition among vendors.
Meanwhile, all the members of the team are required by the FAR to
plan for the acquisition process appropriately and remain flexible
throughout the process.
One area that can get costly for agencies is the administrative
operating costs, so the FAR focuses on minimizing those costs. Also,
the FAR requires that all business be conducted with integrity,
fairness, and openness. The public’s trust is first and foremost
with the FAR, and the team must reflect those traits at all times.
Plus, the team must work toward risk management rather than risk
avoidance, because, according to the FAR, risk management is more
cost effective.
In the end, the FAR balances the fulfillment of public policy
objectives by the system in question and the responsibility to
regulate acquisitions for the public’s sake. Efficiency and
responsibility are integral to the FAR. The FAR promotes the use of
commercial business in the acquisition of services or products while
setting a universal standard for all federal agencies to follow.
|
