Myth-Busting is Still Alive: FAR Council Encourages Industry/Government Communications

To implement section 887 of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, the FAR Council, on November 29, proposed a rule to amend FAR 1.102-2 by adding language to clarify that the government may, and is encouraged to, communicate with industry as part of market research, if such exchanges comport with existing law and regulations and do not further an unfair competitive advantage. Continuing the conversation that the 2011 and 2012 Office of Federal Procurement Policy Myth-Busting memoranda commenced, the Council also requested suggestions about ways to “further enhance open communication between industry and the Federal acquisition community[,]” as well as information responding to specific questions – responses to which are due on or before January 30, 2017 (the same due date for submitting comments on the proposed rule).