Proposal Development

Proposal Adequacy Checklist (PAC)

A Proposal Adequacy Checklist (PAC) helps government personnel and contractors meet all policy statutory requirements in developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) or seller’s proposal. The goal of the checklist is to ensure that contractors submit thorough, accurate, and complete proposals.  Contractors will be able to self-validate the adequacy of their proposals by completing the checklist.

Proposal Adequacy Checklist (PAC) DFARS

The Department of Defense (DoD) published a PCA as a proposed rule under its DFARS 252.215–70XX “Proposal Adequacy Checklist”. This checklist supports one of DoD’s “Better Buying Power” initiatives by incorporating the requirement for a proposal adequacy checklist into the procurement regulations. As drafted, the proposed rule requires that contractors complete the checklist and submit it together with their proposals whenever cost or pricing data is required and at the discretion of the contracting officer.

Checklist: DoD Proposal Adequacy Checklist

Website: DoD DFARS 252.215-7009 Proposal Adequacy Checklist

Proposal Adequacy Checklist (PAC) Checklist Items

The DoD checklist includes 47 items divided into eleven (11) sections:

  1. General instructions
  2. Materials and services
  3. Subcontracts
  4. Commercial item determinations
  5. Adequate price competition
  6. Interorganizational transfers
  7. Direct labor
  8. Indirect costs
  9. Other costs
  10. Formats for submission of line item summaries
  11. Other

Current Proposal Adequacy Checklists (PAC)

There are three (3) Proposal Adequacy Checklists that are in circulation. The majority are the same with minor differences between each. These PACs are:

  1. DoD: In the DFARS it says “The offeror shall complete the following checklist, providing the location of the requested information, or an explanation of why the requested information is not provided. Completion of this checklist in no way reduces the responsibility to fully comply with all of the requirements of 41 U.S.C. chapter 35, Truthful Cost or Pricing Data, and any other special requirements of the solicitation.”
  2. Defense Contract Audit Agency (DAA): is used to evaluate the adequacy of a contract price proposal when the proposal is based on certified cost or pricing data.
  3. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA): is a useful tool designed to assist the DCMA Cost/Price Analyst to determine the adequacy of a contractor’s proposal.  This checklist is to be used for sole source proposals that are over the threshold of $700,000 and no exception to the submission of certified cost and pricing data exists.

AcqLinks and References:

Updated: 6/12/2021

Rank: G2.5

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