After proposal evaluation, comparative analysis, and ranking of the proposals (including price proposals), and. after any final discussions and negotiations with selected suppliers, it must be determined which supplier (or suppliers) offer the best value to the Postal Service. The CO makes a recommendation to the purchase/SCM team after consideration of the information provided by the proposal evaluation team.
Information to be considered in the decision are:
These judgments must be consistent with the relative significance of the identified performance evaluation factors and the relationship of those factors to cost/price factors as established in the proposal evaluation strategy and described in the RFP.
The CO must present his or her recommendation accompanied by the findings of the proposal evaluation team and other relevant facts to the purchase/SCM team. All procedures, evaluation techniques, proposal evaluation team reports, record of negotiations, and the best value determination must be formally documented and maintained in the contract file. At a minimum, the contract file should include:
The contract award recommendation is the determination of which supplier offers the Postal Service the best value, and therefore should be awarded the contract. The CO is responsible for making the award recommendation after consulting with the purchase/SCM team, as necessary. The contract award recommendation is used as the basis for the Award Contract and Notify Suppliers of the Make Final Decisions task of USPS Supplying Practices Process Step 3: Select Suppliers. When consensus cannot be reached, the CO will make the best value decision.
Award documentation must be completed before notification of award.
