How to Submit an Offer for Commercial-Item Purchases

Target Audience:  This workshop is intended for individuals who prepare offers (quotes, bids, or proposals) in reply to federal government solicitations and want to understand how to submit a compliant offer following commercial-purchase procedures.

This workshop does not apply to individuals in construction and construction-related fields.

Workshop Description: 

Have you read in a notice on FedBizOpps (www.fbo.gov) or in a federal government solicitation that the goods or service is being purchased in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 Commercial Acquisition Procedures?  Have you seen the SF Form 1449 Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items used in a solicitation; as well as the clause FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items?
Commercial procurement procedures are used when the goods or service being purchased is a commercial item.  A high percentage of the purchases made by the federal government are for commercial items, so you need to know how to submit a compliant offer when this purchasing procedure is used.
Often times when UH PTAC advisors review quotes, bids, or proposals prepared by our clients following the instructions in FAR Part 12 and its applicable clauses and provisions, we find that many things are missed; leading to submitting a noncompliant offer to the government.  A noncompliant offer can be placed aside and given no consideration for a contract award.

This hands-on workshop will educate you in:

• Understanding how to research the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency supplements.
• The procurement methods used by the federal government – Request for Quote, Invitation for Bid, and Request for Proposal and when they are used,
• How to know when FAR Part 12 commercial-purchase procedures apply,
• The clauses and provisions essential for you to know to prepare a compliant-commercial offer, and
• How to develop an outline of your offer for commercial purchases.

After the workshop is completed, each attendee will receive by email a copy of our Solicitation Review Guide.  It provides you a simple, structured process to follow for the initial steps you should take each time you locate a solicitation.  It gets you started on the right path toward making a bid / no-decision and submitting your offer.

Note:  This workshop does not apply to individuals in construction and construction-related industries for the construction, alteration, or repair of real property.  This workshop only applies to individuals who sell goods and provide services.

Presenter:

Tim Scarborough, Program Director, UH Procurement Technical Assistance Center 

Learning Objective:  The objective of the workshop is to teach you about the procurement methods used by the Federal Government and how to submit a compliant offer when commercial-purchase processes are used.

Please Note:

The Houston Center SBDC reserves the right to cancel a class if sufficient enrollment is not met.   

No one will be admitted to computer workshops later than 10 minutes past the start time. 

This training is conducted on PC computers - MAC computers are not used.

Please do not bring your laptops as we cannot offer assistance using them and the exercises used during the workshop cannot be loaded to personal laptops. Each participant will have a PC computer to work on during the workshop.


Satisfactory meeting room temperatures are difficult to maintain.  Always bring a sweater or jacket to ensure comfort.

No children under the age of 16 are allowed in the workshop.

Only service animals allowed - If you need to bring a service animal with you to a workshop please contact us ahead of time.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the Houston Center SBDC at (713) 752-8488 for accommodations, or if you have questions about this class.