§ 1871.604-2 - Determination of “Finalists”.

(a) All acceptable offers will be evaluated against the requirement and the value characteristics. Based on this evaluation, the team will identify the finalists from among the offers submitted. Finalists will include the most highly rated offerors in accordance with FAR 15.306(c)(1) and 1815.306(c)(2). Generally, finalists will include the offer having the best price (or lowest most probable cost) and the offer having the highest qualitative merit, plus those determined to have the best combination of price and merit. Offers not qualifying as finalists will be excluded from the balance of the evaluation process.

(b) The selection official may elect to make selection in lieu of determining finalists, provided it can be clearly demonstrated that

(1) Selection of an initial offer(s) will result in the best value for the Government, considering both price and non-price qualitative criteria;

(2) Discussions with other acceptable offerors are not anticipated to change the outcome of the initial evaluation relative to the best value offer(s), and

(3) The solicitation contains a provision permitting award without discussions.

(c) Documentation. If finalists are identified as discussed in paragraph (a) of this section, the documentation expected and required to result from this phase of evaluation is approximately one-quarter of a page for each finalist. The documentation shall succinctly describe how the value characteristics in the RFO were provided by the offeror and cost/price considerations that caused the offer to qualify as a finalist. The evaluator(s) shall not be required to justify why other offers provided less qualitative merit. It is expected that, should the decision be challenged, the documented reason for selection, when compared with the non-selected offer, shall clearly demonstrate the difference that resulted in non-selection. It is expected and recommended that all informal worksheets used in the evaluation process be included in the contract file. When selection of the successful offeror(s) is made, the buying team shall document the selection in accordance with 1871.604-4(c).

(d) Offerors determined not to be finalists or not selected for contract award will be electronically notified.