Decision Analysis Tool for the Source Selection Process

The source selection process for choosing a contractor does not incorporate a standardized objective decision analysis tool; therefore, the process is extremely subjective and provides little guidance to distinguish between highly competitive contractors. The Air Force Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineer Requirements (SABER) program selects contractors through a Low Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process and encounters the same problem of not being able to objectively distinguish between the competing contractors. The LPTA process rank orders the contractors based on price and evaluates the bidders in order until an exceptional contractor is discovered. However, the SABER source selection committee members wish to evaluate all contractors using all decision criteria with the ability to objectively compare all contractors to one another. Since there are several factors and guidelines to consider when awarding a SABER contract, a value focused thinking approach was used to create a structured decision making model that takes into account all values along with their desired weighting as specified by members of a SABER source selection team. The model was then used to evaluate seven contractors who recently competed for a SABER contract and perform deterministic and sensitivity analysis on the recommended decision outcome. The results of this research illustrate the valuable insight and practicality of applying a quantitative, objective, consistent, and defendable tool for SABER source selections. The value gained from this model will potentially aid the SABER source selection process, as well as other government and private/public source selections.