Who acts as the primary business advisor during a source selection process?

The Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) serves as the primary business advisor during the source selection process. This role is crucial because the PCO is responsible for ensuring that the procurement process adheres to all applicable laws, regulations, and policies while also maximizing the value received for the government.

In this capacity, the PCO guides the source selection team, providing insights into procurement strategies and configurations that enhance competition among bidders. This includes structuring the request for proposals, overseeing the evaluation process, and helping to ensure that all factors are considered in the decision-making process. The PCO's expertise ensures that the evaluation process is fair, transparent, and aligned with the agency's goals.

While the other roles also contribute significantly to the procurement process, they do not carry the same level of responsibility for advising on the overall direction and administration of the source selection. For instance, the Source Selection Authority makes the final decision after the evaluations are complete, the Contracting Officer Representative manages contract performance but does not directly influence the selection process, and Proposal Evaluators conduct assessments of proposals but operate within the framework provided by the PCO.