41 U.S.C. § 3311 Qualification Requirement

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 41 U.S.C. § 3311

(a) DEFINITION.-In this section, the term "qualification requirement" means a requirement for testing or other quality assurance demonstration that must be completed by an offeror before award of a contract.

(b) ACTIONS BEFORE ENFORCING QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT.-Except as provided in subsection (c), the head of an agency, before enforcing any qualification requirement, shall-

(1) prepare a written justification stating the necessity for establishing the qualification requirement and specify why the qualification requirement must be demonstrated before contract award;

(2) specify in writing and make available to a potential offeror on request all requirements that a prospective offeror, or its product, must satisfy to become qualified, with those requirements to be limited to those least restrictive to meet the purposes necessitating the establishment of the qualification requirement;

(3) specify an estimate of the cost of testing and evaluation likely to be incurred by a potential offeror to become qualified;

(4) ensure that a potential offeror is provided, on request, a prompt opportunity to demonstrate at its own expense (except as provided in subsection (d)) its ability to meet the standards specified for qualification using-

(A) qualified personnel and facilities-

(i) of the agency concerned;

(ii) of another agency obtained through interagency agreement; or

(iii) under contract; or

(B) other methods approved by the agency (including use of approved testing and evaluation services not provided under contract to the agency);

(5) if testing and evaluation services are provided under contract to the agency for the purposes of paragraph (4), provide to the extent possible that those services be provided by a contractor that-

(A) is not expected to benefit from an absence of additional qualified sources; and

(B) is required in the contract to adhere to any restriction on technical data asserted by the potential offeror seeking qualification; and

(6) ensure that a potential offeror seeking qualification is promptly informed whether qualification is attained and, if not attained, is promptly furnished specific information about why qualification was not attained.

(c) APPLICABILITY, WAIVER AUTHORITY, AND REFERRAL OF OFFERS.-

(1) APPLICABILITY.-Subsection (b) does not apply to a qualification requirement established by statute prior to October 30, 1984.

(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.-

(A) SUBMISSION OF DETERMINATION OF UNREASONABLENESS.-Except as provided in subparagraph (C), if it is unreasonable to specify the standards for qualification that a prospective offeror or its product must satisfy, a determination to that effect shall be submitted to the advocate for competition of the procuring activity responsible for the purchase of the item subject to the qualification requirement.