Acquisition Planning
Acquisition planning is necessary in order to acquire supplies, services and other resources competitively in the most effective, economical and timely manner. The objectives of this section are to:
- Define the steps and participants in acquisition planning;
- Identify acquisitions for which an acquisition plan is required; and
- Provide information to help develop a realistic acquisition plan.
A formal acquisition plan shall be prepared for every acquisition with an estimated value of $100,000 or more. Some degree of planning adjusted to the circumstances should also be performed on acquisitions valued below $100,000.
Acquisition planning efforts are variable and should be tailored considering such things as:
- Availability of price competition.
- Dollar value, type and complexity of the requirement.
- Urgency of the requirement.
- Period of performance or length of production run.
- Acquisition history.
An "acquisition plan" is a multi-faceted document which covers the overall technical, business, management and other significant factors necessary for accomplishing and managing an acquisition. The plan formally documents the approach to fill the need, optimize resources, and satisfy policy requirements for a proposed acquisition. It answers the "who-what-when-where-why-how" of the acquisition strategy planning process. Good acquisition planning ensures that materials and services will be available to the project when needed and at the most economical cost. It also helps with the overall planning effort by identifying costs, funding sources, and milestones. Each plan will vary, depending on the circumstances of the acquisition.
For additional information about the contents of an Acquisition Plan, click here for an acquisition plan outline which may be used as a template.
For additional information unique to the acquisition of services click here.
For additional information unique to the acquisition of Architect and Engineering (A/E) services click here.
For additional information unique to the acquisition of construction click here.