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The Quintessential PR Package for an Extra Crazy Buying Season

Marissa Lindsay Blog 28 June 2022

This year, Government acquisition teams only have 6 months to award contracts in a financially responsible way before the end of the FY if they have 1-year funds. 6 months to do 12 months of work. Smartly, many agencies have been performing market research and planning their acquisitions while they waited for the budget to pass March 15th.

How do you as a Requirement Owner pull together your on-going efforts into a Purchase Requisition (PR) package that your boss will review and approve with ease for submission to your contracting office? What is your Contracting Officer looking for that will cause your PR Package to rise to the top above jumbled, incomplete PR packages submitted by others?

Here are the components of your PR Package with notes about the process that informs these components:

Market Research Report shares the findings from your Market Research. Check out our blog on The Streamlined Market Research Report (enlightenedsolutionssuite.com) that has a MRR template available
Source Restriction Justification, if applicable, following the conclusion of your Market Research. Our use of the term, Source Restriction Justification, includes:
1. - Brand-name justifications (FAR 6.305, 13.105, and 13.501)
  - Justifications limiting competition (FAR 6.305, 13.501, and 19.808)
  - Limited Sources Justifications (FAR 8.405)
  - Exceptions to the Fair Opportunity Process (FAR 16.505)
   
Statement of Need which can be in the form of a Statement of Objectives (SOO), Performance Work Statement (PWS), or Statement of Work (SOW)
Finalized Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) which is informed by conducting Market Research that makes you aware of what is available in the market and pricing considerations  
Source Selection Plan (Draft)
Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Nomination  
Small Business Coordination Document within your agency, if applicable 
Acquisition Plan – using agency-prescribed format based on dollar value or other criteria
SBA Offering Letter if you are electing to do an 8(a) sole source as part of your Acquisition Planning. Per Kiya Perrin of the SBA, the SBA has a five-day working acceptance, so if an agency does not hear back within that time, they “have the right to move forward,”

Be sure to check with your agencies’ Acquisition Manual to see if other documents are required for PR packages within agency. Hope this helps your PR packages smoothly sail through the procurement process during this especially crazy EOY.

If your agency would like to see a demo of our Facilitated Intelligent Needs Development (FIND) App that helps PMs develop their PR packages from the beginning, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Formal Acquisition Plan Format

Marissa Lindsay Blog 02 June 2022

Are you curious how our new product, Facilitated Intelligent Needs Development (FIND), provides pain-free and intelligent guidance through the maze of acquisition planning?

One way is the available FIND Library of over 70 formats, templates, samples and guides that cover the critical activities in any acquisition process. The FIND Library resources enable acquisition planning practitioners to prepare required acquisition planning documents that comply with Federal acquisition contents requirements presented in logical, suitable arrangements. Most document types are available in multiple formats and levels of complexity to enable users to never have to start from a “blank sheet of paper.” Users can select a suitable FIND Library resource that is easily tailorable to the size and complexity of any acquisition, while meeting agency-specific styles and content needs. Want to see? Download the Example Formal Acquisition Plan Format as a freely available FIND sample.

Are you new to working on an acquisition team? Are you working on a smaller, low complexity requirement for which your agency allows a simpler, less formal AP? Maybe a Template or an example of a more streamlined AP is what you need. The FIND Library also has many Templates that are much like a Format, but also include helpful guidance so newer users can understand the required information for each section of the document. The FIND Library also offers different AP Templates, both formal and informal, that may be more suitable for your agency’s needs.

Check out our video that provides an overview of FIND. Or better yet, request a demo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us at (301) 392-1895 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Make it an enlightened day,

Pat Shields

Director – Acquisition Practice

Example COR Nomination Package Format

Kito Bradford Blog 25 February 2022

Are you curious how our new product, Facilitated Intelligent Needs Development (FIND), provides pain-free and intelligent guidance through the maze of acquisition planning?

One way is the available FIND Library of over 70 formats, templates, samples and guides that cover the critical activities in any acquisition process. The FIND Library resources enable acquisition planning practitioners to prepare required acquisition planning documents that comply with Federal acquisition contents requirements presented in logical, suitable arrangements. Most document types are available in multiple formats and levels of complexity to enable users to never have to start from a “blank sheet of paper.” Users can select a suitable FIND Library resource that is easily tailorable to the size and complexity of any acquisition, while meeting agency-specific styles and content needs. Want to see? Download the Example COR Nomination Package Format as a freely available FIND sample.

Are you new to working on an acquisition team? Maybe a Template is what you need. The FIND Library also has many Templates that are much like a Format, but also include helpful guidance so newer users can understand the required information for each section of the document.

Make it an enlightened day,

Pat Shields

When to Use Which Type of Industry Exchanges

Marissa Lindsay Blog 26 April 2022

Are you curious how our new product, Facilitated Intelligent Needs Development (FIND), provides pain-free and intelligent guidance through the maze of acquisition planning?

One way is that FIND includes short video tutorials such as Best Practices on Industry Exchanges that are important to performing smart market research. These videos help you to decide which type of exchange to use based on your objectives.

Type of Industry Exchange	When to Use
Industry Days/Pre-solicitation Conferences	Broadcast important information to all interested parties simultaneously Communicate high level acquisition schedule Convey changes to scope, acquisition strategy, evaluation method, etc. from previous procurements Connect potential teaming partners
Request for Information (RFI)	If new or unique acquisition, seek insights into type of solutions and technological capabilities, geographic reach, costs for different solutions (more than which sources are capable and interested) Seek insights into potential commercial solutions and relevant price ranges, delivery timeframes and options Learn relevant marketplace business practices to help the government best articulate its need and determine the most appropriate acquisition approaches Provide potential suppliers with awareness that can be critically important for their planning efforts
Sources Sought (specifically focused type of RFI)	With a more maturely defined requirement, can be used to seek information from industry about the availability of capable and interested possible sources Improve small business access to acquisition information Enhance competition by identifying contracting and subcontracting opportunities
Due Diligence	Hold one-on-one conversations with industry, when appropriate, to gain information that may not be shared by industry in a more public setting Foster business partnerships while capturing industry feedback to improve acquisition planning and requirements definition Understand Industry’s perspective on what increases risk and/or cost Learn what would be show-stoppers that would prevent companies from proposing
Challenges (also called prize competitions, crowdsourcing challenges, or prize challenges)	Conduct prize competitions in order to stimulate innovation, solve tough problems, and advance your agencies’ core mission Encourages companies, organizations, and individuals to post their solutions so that government users that have needs become aware of solutions

Check out our video that provides an overview of FIND. Or better yet, request a demo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact me at (301) 392-1895 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Make it an enlightened day,

Lisa Akers

FIND your way through acquisition planning without having to navigate on your own.

Super User Blog 16 February 2022

Exciting news from Seventh Sense Consulting...we launched our second product in our Enlightened Solutions Suite. Our new product is called Facilitated Intelligent Needs Development (FIND). Find your way through the often confusing and sometimes challenging Acquisition Planning maze.

At Seventh Sense Consulting, we have a passion for acquisition that goes way beyond contracting. Enlightened solutions that deliver lasting value is not just a catchy tag line. Our diverse team of talented people are making that vision into a reality with our second product that complements our first product, Contractor Performance Intelligence® (CPI). FIND smoothly guides you through phase 1 acquisition planning and CPI simplifies your phase 3 post-award contractor performance management.

Check out our video that provides an overview of FIND. Or better yet, request a demo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact me at (301) 392-1895 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Make it an enlightened day,

Lisa Akers