(a) The contracting officer must include the clause at 852.211-71, Special notice in solicitations, including those for construction, that are based on detailed purchase descriptions or formal specifications for telecommunications equipment, as defined in VA manual MP-6, Part VIII (available at any VA facility).
(b) The Telecommunications Support Service must review and approve the descriptive literature required by the clause in 852.211-71, Special notice, furnished by the contractor after award, before delivery or installation by the contractor. Promptly upon receipt of the descriptive literature, contracting officers will forward it, together with a copy of the contract, the formal specification, or the detailed purchase description, to the DSPE.
(c) Solicitations, including those for construction, for telecommunications equipment based on “brand name or equal” purchase description are subject to the following:
(1) Before award, contracting officers will forward to the DSPE the abstract of bids, one copy of each offer received, including descriptive literature and pertinent letters, and the comments and recommendations of the contracting officer.
(2) No commitments are to be made to contractors before receiving Central Office’s response.
(3) The solicitation must allow at least 30 calendar days for acceptance to allow sufficient time for the review required by this paragraph. (See FAR 52.214-16.)
