The synopsis requirement under Subpart 5.2 is relevant to which procurement approach?

• A. Sealed bidding
• B. Negotiated procurement
• C. Micro-purchases
• D. Sole source awards

Answer: (B)

Publicizing proposed contract actions through a synopsis is a mechanism to give the market advance notice and encourage competition, and this is tied to the negotiated method of procurement. The synopsis requirement in Subpart 5.2 is invoked when a contract action will be pursued through negotiation, such as when using solicitations like requests for proposals and evaluating proposals to select the best value.

Sealed bidding relies on Invitations for Bids and the lowest bid, not on a negotiated notice, so it doesn’t hinge on the Subpart 5.2 synopsis. Micro-purchases are small, simplified acquisitions that don’t require the formal synopsis process, and sole-source actions fall outside the competitive synopsis framework because they aren’t seeking broad market competition.

So the synopsis is the mechanism used to alert potential offerors about negotiated procurements to foster competition, making negotiated procurement the best fit for this requirement.