How Do You Write A List Of Minimum Essential Characteristics?
Full and open competitions once were, and are again becoming, the preferred purchasing method for items such as supplies and equipment that are in excess of an institution’s monetary cut-off for small orders. The minimum essential characteristics (MECs) of an item represent the required specifications for said item when it is being solicited through a full and open competition. In other words, MECs are the crucial traits that the item must meet to be of any use to the requestor. This is in contrast to scenarios such as submitting Sole Source Justifications and Brand Name Only Purchase Requests where in the vendor or product is specifically petitioned and a lengthy rationalization is required. Consequently, it is vital that MECs be stated explicitly so that the desired qualifications of an item are obtained. Fortunately, effectively written MECs are able to help procure the needed item quickly while complying with institutional ordering policy. This article, using the pictured hammer as
