Oasa(ALT) Bulletin (February 2004): Acquisition Source Selection Interactive Support Tool source selection evaluations.

The Acquisition Source Selection Interactive Support Tool (ASSIST) is an automated source selection application that is used to manage and evaluate information in the context of a competitive acquisition. The tool is highly sophisticated and can be used for formal or informal source selection evaluations of any dollar value. The ASSIST tool is seamlessly integrated with the Army Single Face to Industry, formerly known as the Interactive Business Opportunities Page.

For Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) members, the ASSIST tool provides easy online access to the proposal and solicitation (including cross-references), as well as online generation of evaluation reports and items for negotiation. It also incorporates an evaluation rollup capability, online negotiations, workflow tracking throughout the processes, and a standardized format with which to correspond with offerors and other evaluators on or off site. In addition, for Source Selection Advisory Councils (SSACs) it provides "management views" for full insight into all aspects of the evaluation process and the status of the overall evaluation process. The ASSIST tool utilizes commercial Web application, as opposed to the current source selection process, which is dependent upon a consecutive series of reviews, assessments, and communication exchanges amongst and between SSEB and SSAC members. As the ASSIST tool is collaborative and interactive, sequential actions may be conducted in parallel potentially resulting in significant time and dollar savings.

While this tool has now been institutionalized for use, it is the product of an initiative developed by the U.S. Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) Acquisition Center and the Office of Command Counsel for use by the Wholesale Logistics Modernization Program in 1999. The tool implements a large number of acquisition reform concepts devised in recent years. It also embodies those fundamental changes occasioned by the Federal Acquisition Regulation 15 rewrite and source selection practices perfected at CECOM.

The ASSIST tool was used by Program Executive Officer Command, Control, Communications Tactical for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Cluster five-source selection evaluation board. ASSIST will also be used by the Program Executive Officer Intelligence-Electronic Warfare and Sensors for the pending Aerial Common Sensors source selection evaluation. There is also potential for the some of the Iraq reconstruction source selections to be conducted using the tool.

ASSIST Points of Contact

JoAnn Moller, Contract Specialist CECOM Acquisition Center, DSN: 992-3974, [e-mail]

Kimberly Kolb, Contract Specialist CECOM Acquisition Center, DSN 992-6771, [e-mail]

Colleen Sweeney, Contract Specialist CECOM Acquisition Center, DSN: 992-1530, [e-mail]

(JoAnn Moller/AMSEL-AC-CS/DSN 992-3974/[e-mail])