Transportation Acquisition Manual   (Revised 11/2006)

CHAPTER 1207 - ACQUISITION PLANNING
SUBCHAPTER 1207.1--ACQUISITION PLANS
1207.103 Agency-head responsibilities.      

(d)(1) DOT's Acquisition Plans (APs) vary by dollar threshold, complexity, or criticality of the acquisition(s).   Regardless of the AP used, when bundling is planned, the requirements in TAM 1207.107-70 shall be addressed.  For all acquisitions, a written Acquisition Plan (AP) in accordance with (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 7.105 is required, except--

(i) A DOT Procurement Forecast (see DOT F 4220.12) may be used when the acquisition(s) is over the simplified acquisition threshold and less than $2 million.  A Forecast may be used when contract bundling is planned except if it involves bundling pursuant to (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 7.107(c) where the Deputy Secretary is the final DOT authority. 

(ii) An Acquisition Strategy Meeting Record (ASMR), as described in TAM 1207.103-70, may be used when the acquisition(s) is $2 million or more and up to $20 million.

(iii) An OMB Exhibit 300, Capital Asset Plan/Business Case, supplemented by any requirement of (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 7.105 not in the Exhibit 300, shall be used OMB Circular A-11 and, when applicable for information technology, the Department Information Resources Management Manual (DIRMM) are followed. 

(2) The estimated dollar amounts shall include all options, later phases of the same project or program, and follow-on contracts.  Contract modifications, adding of new work, or changes under the "Changes" clause, may require changes to the existing AP or the development of a new AP as determined by the contracting officer in coordination with the requiring office.

(3) Acquisition planning is not required for:

(i) Emergency acquisitions (i.e., when the need for the supplies/services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the Government would be seriously injured if the supplies/services were not immediately acquired);

(ii) Actions subsequent to the initial submittal of a plan which have already been included as part of an approved plan (e.g., exercise of options);

(iii) Procurements conducted under the Small Business Innovative Research Program; and

(iv) General Working Agreements and supporting Project Plan Agreements between RITA/Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and DOT Operating Administrations (OAs) (see (TAR) 48 C.F.R. 1202.1).  Acquisitions (pursuant to (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 2.101) resulting from General Work Agreements and Project Plan Agreements are subject to the acquisition planning requirements of this chapter.

(q) See TAM 1207.503 for implementing procedures regarding functions that are inherently governmental.

The Acquisition Strategy Meeting Record (ASMR) is an AP developed when an acquisition strategy meeting is held and its discussion and decisions recorded. At the meeting, the applicable AP topics and structure specified in (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 7.105 (and if applicable, (FAR) 48 C.F.R. 7.106 and 7.107) are presented in briefing format, charts, handouts, etc. and formal written minutes or a memorandum prepared to summarize the decisions, actions and conclusions made. Any documentation used to assist in the decision making process shall be made a part of the AP. Topics not applicable are to be annotated as such with the reason for non-applicability unless it is self-explanatory. The approved AP is to be included in the contract file.