How did the Coast Guard ensure competition throughout the selection process?
Early on, the Coast Guard made a decision to rely on competition in the Sentinel Class patrol boat acquisition process to ensure best value for the government through a trade-off process. The Request for Proposal (RFP) did not exclude any potential offeror and all proposals were evaluated using the same criteria – which were clearly outlined in the RFP – against unchanging requirements. During the evaluation process, the Coast Guard responded to many questions from offerors as they developed their proposals. Following receipt and evaluation of initial proposals the Coast Guard established a competitive range which is comprised of the most highly rated proposals. Discussions were held with these offerors to facilitate the submission of comprehensive proposal revisions.
