ACQUISITION ALERT 00-02

	COMMITS PREFERRED SOURCE POLICY–By memorandum dated April 25, 2000,
	Secretary Daley has established the COMMITS program as the preferred source for
	fulfilling agency information technology (IT) requirements.  Effective with the
	date of this memorandum, Department policy is that “ALL IT contracts are required
	to use the COMMITS program unless there is a legitimate reason not to do so.  
	(A legitimate reason means, for example, that you need to purchase a service that
	no COMMITS company can provide).”

	Accordingly, all IT contract awards made to other than a COMMITS program contractor,
	must include documentation in the award file that reflects the basis for the decision to not
 	use the COMMITS program.  This documentation must be thorough and based on fact,
	not assumptions.  Because of the high visibility of this program and pending issuance of
	departmental policy on waiver process, all such determinations shall be approved at the
	level of the NOAA Procurement Executive (Director, Acquisition and Grants Office).  

	The determination should include, as a minimum, the following information:
	
		Requisition Number
		Description
		Line Office
		Value
            	Basis for the recommendation (e.g., what market research has been done,
		a discussion of the specific requirement as it compares to COMMITS
		vendors’ capability to meet the need, any other factors affecting the
		decision, etc.)
		Contracting Officer Name and Phone Number
		Contracting Officer Technical Representative and Phone Number

	To keep the process as informal and expeditious as possible, determinations shall be
	submitted and final decisions will be issued via e-mail.