FAR 52.216-28—Multiple Awards for Advisory and Assistance Services.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 52.216-28 is a solicitation provision used when the Government plans to make multiple awards for the same or similar advisory and assistance services. It tells offerors that the agency’s default intent is to award to two or more sources, not just one, and it also states the exception: the Government may decide after evaluating offers that only one offeror is capable of providing the required services at the needed quality level. In practice, this provision affects competition strategy, pricing, teaming, and proposal preparation because offerors must understand they may be competing for a multiple-award environment rather than a single-award contract. It also signals that award decisions will be based not only on price or technical merit, but on whether more than one source can meet the agency’s quality standard. The provision is short, but it is important because it sets expectations early and supports the agency’s acquisition strategy for advisory and assistance services.
Key Rules
Default intent is multiple awards
The Government states its intent to award multiple contracts for the same or similar advisory and assistance services under the solicitation. Offerors should assume the acquisition is structured for more than one award unless the solicitation or evaluation results show otherwise.
Single-award exception exists
The Government may decide, after evaluating offers, that only one offeror is capable of providing the services at the required level of quality. If that determination is made, the agency may award only one contract even though the solicitation initially contemplated multiple awards.
Applies to advisory and assistance services
This provision is limited to solicitations for advisory and assistance services. It is not a general multiple-award clause for all acquisitions, and it is used only when prescribed by FAR 16.506(g).
Capability and quality drive the exception
The key basis for deviating from multiple awards is whether only one offeror can meet the Government’s quality requirement. The focus is not merely on price or number of offers, but on the agency’s assessment of technical capability and service quality.
Inserted as a solicitation provision
This language appears in the solicitation, not the contract, so it informs competition and proposal preparation before award. It helps ensure offerors understand the Government’s intended award structure and the possibility of a single-award outcome.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Include the provision when prescribed by FAR 16.506(g), communicate the Government’s intent to make multiple awards, evaluate offers to determine whether more than one source can provide the required quality, and document any decision to make only one award.
Offerors/Contractors
Review the solicitation as a multiple-award competition, prepare proposals with the understanding that the Government may award to more than one source, and demonstrate capability to meet the required level of quality for the advisory and assistance services.
Agency/Source Selection Team
Assess the offers against the solicitation requirements and determine whether multiple capable sources exist. If only one offeror is capable at the required quality level, support that conclusion with the evaluation record.
Practical Implications
Offerors should not assume a single-award opportunity; they may need to price and structure proposals to remain competitive in a multiple-award environment.
A strong technical showing matters because the Government can still choose a single award if only one offeror is judged capable of meeting the required quality level.
This provision can affect teaming and market strategy, since firms may compete against multiple awardees rather than for one exclusive contract.
Contracting officers should make sure the solicitation and evaluation record clearly support either the multiple-award intent or the decision to award only one contract.
A common pitfall is treating the provision as a guarantee of multiple awards; it is only an intent statement, and the Government retains discretion to award one contract if justified by the evaluation.
Official Regulatory Text
As prescribed in 16.506 (g) , insert the following provision: Multiple Awards for Advisory and Assistance Services (Oct 1995) The Government intends to award multiple contracts for the same or similar advisory and assistance services to two or more sources under this solicitation unless the Government determines, after evaluation of offers, that only one offeror is capable of providing the services at the level of quality required. (End of provision)