Call for demonstrations in response to realistic scenarios. Can use both FAR and Non-FAR authorities.
A Challenge-Based Acquisition (ChBA) presents a real-life challenge scenario inviting vendors to conduct technical demonstrations with the capability for the government to test or interact with the technology and select the challenge-proven solution with award to the best suited working prototype or functional automated solution. ChBA uses the Federal Acquisition Regulation or Other Transaction authorities and in both the pre-award and post-award phases.
- ChBA uses challenges to communicate the needed capability, encourage innovation in a minimally prescriptive environment, assess candidate offerings, and ultimately purchase solutions in quantity.
- ChBA is especially appropriate in situations where the Government"s need is urgent and time critical, where no traditional solution seems viable, or where emerging technologies have the potential to provide non-traditional solutions.
- Focus (encourages Government understanding of sought capability gaps)
- Innovation (communicates needs without constraining the solution space)
- Risk Management (understanding the range of solutions without a major commitment of resources)
- Verification (if you don"t see it, you don"t buy it, no more paper proposals only)
- Synergy (incentivizes industry participation and engages user community)
- Fairness (levels the playing field for small, innovative companies)
- Procurement (at the end, unlike prize competitions, you can buy the solution in quantity, not just the prototype)
FAR and Non FAR
