DOD Official Backs Dialogue With Industry Defense Department acquisition officials are being instructed to maintain an ongoing dialogue with contractors throughout the source selection process. “Communication is a key element in the department’s ability to conduct reliable and successful source selections,” Shay Assad, director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, wrote in a Jan. 2 memo. “We need to encourage government participants involved in source selections to fully engage with industry at all stages of the competitive process.” He said contract awards without discussions should be rare and limited to areas where requirements are well understood, such as purchases of spare parts. Assad urged contracting officers to communicate with prospective offerors through industry days, requests for information and draft RFPs. He said the dialogue should continue after proposals are submitted, so source selection officials can understand and evaluate proposals and contractors can have an opportunity to address any questions about their proposals. “Such dialogue can only lead to more efficient, effective and improved source selections,” he wrote. Assad’s memo is available at www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/2007-1480-DPAP.pdf.