The Debrief

In Episode 3 of the TAC Podcast we have an exciting topic that’ll surely invoke some strong emotions no matter what side of the table you sit on. And the topic for this episode is “The Debrief”. If you have been involved at all in government contracting you are more than likely familiar with debriefings, but the question is, are we getting as much out of them as possible? Debriefings are an important part of the acquisition process to show transparency and an opportunity for both sides to receive feedback. Debriefs are so important, and an area the federal government can improve, that OMB released a myth busting memo in 2017 devoted to discussing aspects of the debrief. As stated in the memo, debriefings afford offerers on a competitive solicitation an explanation of the evaluation process, an assessment of their proposal in relation to the evaluation criteria, a general understanding of the basis of the award decision and the rationale for exclusion from competition. While this explanation of the debriefing seems relatively straight forward, there are many nuances to what information must be provided. This information may vary significantly depending on the acquisition strategy followed, as there are differences based upon how you evaluated proposals and even what Federal Acquisition Regulations section you’re following.

This episode gives a peak into what goes through a contracting officer’s mind in preparation and during a debrief. We even get perspective from one of our esteemed attorneys. This episode will surely give you some great insight as we discuss the difficulty of providing more information than required, where that has helped, and where that might have hurt.

This episode's panel includes:

• Charles Ross, Director, Procurement Service B
• Debra Clayton, Contracting Officer, Technology Acquisition Center
• Mellany Alio, Attorney, VA Procurement Law