Absolutely not, if you could avoid it! Why:

1. Public bids are inordinately expensive and the amount of time it takes to acquire the good or service in question is ridiculously long. 
2. They consume impractical amounts of staff time, assuming staff is available (which is rare). 
3. Because public bids are so visible, they result in increased vendor scrutiny, debriefings, complaints, and protests. 
4. Public bids, by design, result in the filing of multiple proposals! This adds to more evaluation work, more material to read, more material to score… you get the gist.
5. They are responsible for the death of many trees.

Why do public bids exist? For the sake of appearances, political reasons and, in the case of large projects involving complex solutions, they are often in the best interest of the American taxpayer. 

Multiple award contracts are rapidly becoming the buying mechanism of choice, at least until the system is reformed (maybe by 2050).  Also called Indefinite Duration Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, multiple award contracts are awarded to an unlimited number of vendors.  Federal buyers then purchase from the list of awarded vendors, sometimes referred to as the "annointed" by outsiders trying to get in. Competition for the task orders issued to multiple award contract holders ranges from none to fierce and everything in between.

How do I get one of these magic contract mechanisms if I am an outsider? Call 888 661 4094, Ext.2

June 15, 2011 Webinar: Understanding IDIQ, BPA, BOA, GWAC and GSA Contracts

Fedmarket can help you get ahead in the federal marketplace. 

Fedmarket's Seminar and Event Calendar

Fedmarket's Proposal Services and Products
Full-Service Proposal Preparation/Full-Service Government Price Proposal Preparation
Proposal Architect
Proposal Templates and Software
Proposal Seminars

Fedmarket's GSA Schedule Products and Services:
Fedmarket GSA eLabPlus
Virtual GSA Proposal Preparation eLab
Full Service GSA Proposal Preparation
GSA Proposal Preparation Assistance
GSA Seminars

Call Fedmarket's sales staff at 301 652 9504, Ext 2 if you have questions concerning these or any other products or services Fedmarket offers.

Regards,
Richard White
President
Fedmarket
rwhite@thefederalmarketplace.com
301 652 9504 Ext. 118 (office)
301 908 0546 (cell)

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For inquiries, call 301 652 9504. Press 2.