An Analysis of Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts at the Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground

Abstract : This purpose of this project is to review and analyze the changes that have been made in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) over the past few years to place a preference on the award of multiple contracts in the case of an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. An IDIQ contract is initially awarded as a base contract that establishes the scope of services or goods that can be ordered against it. The base contract has no funding associated with it and merely lays out the terms and conditions applicable to any orders placed against the base contract. It also establishes the ordering procedures to include maximum and minimum order requirements. These base IDIQ contracts can be awarded to a single vendor or multiple vendors. In the event the solicitation results in award to multiple vendors, each base contract has the same terms and conditions and is for the same scope of services or goods. When the need arises to place orders against multiple award contracts, all vendors holding a base contract are requested to provide a proposal. This proposal request also details how selection of the order will be made. Unlike this multiple award scenario that maintains competition over the life of the contract, single award contracts only have competition when the base IDIQ contract is solicited and awarded. The project examines these changes in the FAR and their impact on the contracting workforce. Following this examination, the project looks at multiple award information from the Army Contracting Command--Aberdeen Proving Ground to determine whether anything can be learned from the data. The project also examines the minimum quantity requirements of IDIQ contracts to determine whether there is a quantity that could be so low it would not represent a binding contract. The project concludes with a summary and recommendations based on the research conducted.