Understanding Proposal Evaluations: Socioeconomic Evaluations

Socio-Economic considerations are never far from a contracting agency’s thinking when awarding government contracts. As evidenced by FAR Part 19, Congress has decided that the contracting process should foster various social goals and, as a result, the socio-economic status of contractors (e.g., small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, 8(a)s, SDBs, HuBZones, ANCs, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned) is evaluated as part of contract award. In some instances contracting agencies set-aside procurements for certain groups, and the resulting evaluation must decide whether the contractor meets the status requirement. In other instances (especially where the procurement is not set-aside), the contracting agency may establish a socio-economic consideration factor, and evaluate the extent to which the offeror (large or small) proposes to promote the interests of socio-economic groups through contract performance. The extent to which an offeror meets or exceeds a solicitation’s socio-economic requirements can mean the difference between winning and losing a contract. But do contractors understand how to maximize their chances for success in this part of their proposal? And do government personnel know how to perform a proper evaluation? This virtual class is for both contractor and agency personnel who want, or need, to have a better understanding of the socio-economic evaluation process and will include PRACTICAL EXERCISES to enhance the learning process.

This virtual class will: 

• Review the statutory and regulatory provisions affecting socio-economic evaluations
• Examine when and why socio-economic evaluations are necessary
• Analyze the types of information offerors need to provide as part of their socio-economic proposals
• Explain the difference between a small business subcontracting plan and a small business participation plan
• Understand what a socio-economic evaluation is to achieve or accomplish
• Discuss the merits of socio-economic goals in solicitations and contracts
• Explain the role of the small business advocate in the socio-economic evaluation process
• Discuss various socio-economic evaluation schemes
• Analyze common socio-economic evaluation mistakes
• Include the use of practical exercises