Interagency Acquisition

The Department of Defense (DoD) encourages, when done properly, the use of assisting agencies such as the General Services Administration (GSA), the Department of Interior, the Treasury Department, NASA and others, for acquisition and contracting support.

In some cases, the assisting agency provides customized acquisition and contracting support to a DoD customer (assisted acquisitions). In other cases, a DoD contracting officer places an order against an assisting agency's contract vehicle (direct acquisition).

This Web page will provide you the latest policy and information on Interagency Acquisitions, as well as links to recent and relevant audit reports, acquisition tools, and presentations.

On September 24, 2010, the DoDIG issued a memorandum to the MILDEPS and the Defense Agencies asking for their assistance in improving the interagency acquisition process. The memorandum summarizes the findings of the IG in their audit of DoD purchases made through non-DoD agencies from FY 2004 through FY 2009.

OFPP Policy on Business Cases for Certain Interagency and Agency-Specific Acquisitions

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy issued a memorandum to the Chief Acquisition Officers and the Senior Procurement Executives on September 29, 2011 entitled "Development , Review and Approval of Business Cases for Certain Interagency and Agency-Specific Acquisitions." The memorandum outlines required elements of business case analysis as well as a process for developing, reviewing, and approving business cases to support the establishment and renewal of GWACs, multi-agency contracts, BPAs, and agency specific contracts. For acquisitions that enter the solicitation phase after December 31, 2011, the agency which is responsible for the acquisition shall develop a business case using the procedures outlined in the memorandum to support the establishment or renewal of a GWAC, multi-agency contract or agency specific contract or agency specific BPA. The thresholds established are as follows:

For any GWAC regardless of estimated dollar value.

"Covered" multi-agency contract or multi-agency BPA or "covered" agency-specific contract or agency specific BPA in Calendar Year 2012 with an estimated value of the acquisition vehicle is equal to or greater than $250M.

"Covered" multi-agency contract or multi-agency BPA or "covered" agency-specific contract or agency specific BPA in Calendar Year 2013 with an estimated value of the acquisition vehicle is equal to or greater than $100M.

"Covered" multi-agency contract or multi-agency BPA or "covered" agency-specific contract or agency specific BPA in Calendar Year 2014 with an estimated value of the acquisition vehicle is equal to or greater than $50M.

The OMB POC is Curtina Smith at casmith@omb.eop.gov

The DoD POC is Michael Canales at Michael.Canales@osd.mil

Encouraging Small Business Interaction

The Department of Defense is committed to removing any barriers that impede the maximum utilization of small businesses in performing our requirements. In keeping with the spirit and direct intent of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics memorandum of September 14, 2010, entitled "Better Buying Power: Guidance for Obtaining Greater Efficiency and Productivity in Defense Spending," attached is a list of government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) set aside exclusively for small businesses. Each of these GWACs is for information technology-related products and services. Contracting officers are encouraged to use these resources to maximize small business prime contracting opportunities. Further information is provided within the memorandum.

Use of Government-wide Acquisition Contracts Set Aside Exclusively for Small Businesses

Doing Business with the Department of Energy

The Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, has executed on behalf of the Department, a standardized Interagency Agreement Part A that covers all DoD requirements going to any DoE activity. If you have any questions about the IA Part A please e-mail your question to Mike Canales at michael.canales@osd.mil.

Standard Interagency Agreement Part A for DoD Components and all DoE activities

Policy Memo on Doing Business with DoE

Sec 801 Determination for FY2012

Section 801 of the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), "Internal Controls for Procurements on Behalf of the Department of Defense by certain Non-Defense Agencies," required the heads of all non-DoD agencies that provide acquisition support to the Department certify that their respective non-Defense agencies will comply with defense procurement requirements for FY 2013 for assisted acquisitions executed on behalf of DoD in FY 2013.

  • The Following non-DoD agencies have certified for FY 13:
    • General Services Administration (which includes FSS)
    • Department of the Interior
    • NASA
    • Office of Personnel Management
    • Health and Human Services
    • Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service
    • Department of Energy

On September 24, 2010, Mr. Assad signed an “801 Determination” for requirements going to the Department of Energy’s laboratories and other facilities for FY 2011. The ceiling for assisted acquisition support or direct support by DoE to DoD in FY 2011 is $2.5B. The September 24, 2010, determination and companion policy memo can be found here. Component single focal points (see DPAP memorandum of September 18, 2009 http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA004969-09-DPAP.pdf ) are required to contact Michael Canales of DPAP/CPIC (Michael.Canales@osd.mil 703-695-8571) to discuss reporting requirements.

DoD organizations should follow the procedures outlined in DPAP memorandum of September 18, 2009 for "waiver" requests if the agency you are obtaining acquisition support from has not certified and the dollar value of your requirement exceeds $100,000.

PDF DocumentOn August 28, the USD(C) Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer issued the attached letters to the General Services Administration and the Department of the Interior respectively, to clarify DoD policy related to the delivery of goods on non-Economy Act orders. The corresponding change to the Financial Management Regulations (FMR) can be found at Volume 11A, Chapter 18. http://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/fmr/11a/11a_18.pdf
This change applies to all non-Economy Act orders issued on behalf of DoD.

PDF DocumentOn October 31, 2008, the Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, issued the following memo which requires the use of an Interagency Agreement for any interagency acquisition regardless of the dollar value. The memo also provides clarifications on DoD policy regarding Interagency Acquisition (signed October 31, 2008).

PDF DocumentSample Interagency Agreement taken from OFPP Guide of June 2008 (Appendices 2 and 3)

PDF DocumentOn June 6, 2008 the Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget, Mr. Paul A. Denett, issued guidance on "Improving the Management and Use of Interagency Acquisitions."

PDF DocumentDirector, DPAP Letter to DoD Components Lifting Restrictions, With Minor Exceptions, on DoD's use of the Contracting Services of the Department of
the Interior (signed March 28, 2008)

PDF DocumentDirector, DPAP signed memo for following the DoE’s Work for Others Program (WFO) to Access DoE-Owned Research, Development and production facilities through Interagency Agreements (IAs) in Fiscal Year 2011

Acquisition Policy Memos

Back to Top

Training Courses and Presentations

  • CLC 030 Essentials of Interagency Acquisitions/Fair Opportunity

    • Description: This Continuous Learning Module (CLM) replaces CLC010, Proper Use of Non-DoD Contracts and CLC017, Section 803 Competition Requirement.

    This CLM is designed to provide DoD acquisition professionals with a better understanding of the need to ensure that non-DoD contracting instruments are appropriately used by the Department. It provides an overview of current policy; key concepts and requirements on scope, competition, and fiscal law; and the roles and responsibilities of the requesting activities and assisting agencies.

    It should take you approximately 2.5 hours to complete this CLM. In order to receive credit; you must achieve a score of 100% on the final exam. However, you can take the exam as many times as you like. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate and 2.5 continuous learning points.

  • CLE 044 Intragovernmental Transactions

    Description: This module provides an introduction and overview of Intragovernmental Transactions (IGTs). The module will introduce the basics of IGTs and the root causes of certain challenges, while introducing strategies for addressing problems. This module will also allow for the in-depth study of the intragovernmental process through the Business Enterprise Architecture (BEA) and the Intragovernmental Value Added Network (IVAN) system.

    This module takes approximately three hours to complete. It contains an end of module test that must be passed with a 100% score. You will have unlimited attempts to pass the test.

    Upon completion of this module, you will receive 3 Continuous Learning Points (CLP), an electronic certificate of completion in your ATLAS account and a record of completion entered into your DAU Transcript.

  • Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP)

    NASA SEWP Provides Free On-Site Training at no cost to DOD Installations worldwide. The onsite training provides a full overview of the SEWP contracts and online web tools. The on-site training provides 2 continual learning points for attendees. Contact events@sewp.nasa.gov to obtain further information or to schedule a 2 Hour Training session. Additionally, a 15 minute training video is available to provide a quick high-level overview of the contracts. The video is located at: https://www.sewp.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/register.pl?ACTION=EVENT&EVENT=training_video. SEWP has a customer service staff ready to assist with any DOD questions, send emails to help@sewp.nasa.gov or call the SEWP helpline at 301-286-1478.

Back to Top

Fiscal Policy Memos

Back to Top

Agency Policies and Procedures

Back to Top

DoD/DoE

Back to Top

DoD/GSA

Back to Top

DoD/DoI

Back to Top

DoD/NIH

Back to Top

DoD/NASA SEWP

Back to Top

DoD/Treasury

Back to Top

Links to Assisting Agency Websites

Back to Top

Audit Reports

Back to Top
This page last updated: January 31, 2013
Privacy and Security Notice