Contracting with the U.S. Air Force

Co-Written By Ms Dorothy Slovak

On October 5, 2001, the U. S. Air Force issued a memorandum calling for "rapid, agile contracting support" during "Enduring Freedom," and specifically identified the following authorities and methods available to Air Force "acquisition warriors" in support of the Campaign.

• A contracting officer need not submit a synopses of proposed contract action when such disclosure would compromise national security; or when contracting without full and open competition (or for purchases conducted using simplified acquisition procedures, if unusual or compelling urgency precludes competition to the maximum extent practicable) and the government would be seriously injured if an agency complies with proposed contracting action notice requirements. See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), §§ 5.202, 5.203, 6.302.

• A contracting officer may look to authorized exemptions to competitive contracting necessitated by an "unusual and