What Is Source Selection in Government Procurement?

Source selection is the comprehensive government process of evaluating proposals submitted in response to a solicitation and selecting the contractor that represents the best value to the government. The process is governed by FAR Part 15 and agency-specific procedures.

The source selection process involves a Source Selection Authority (SSA) who makes the final award decision, a Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) that evaluates proposals, and subject matter advisors. The process includes initial evaluation, competitive range determination, discussions (if applicable), final proposal revisions, and the award decision.

The SSA documents the rationale for the award decision in a Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD). Unsuccessful offerors are entitled to a debriefing, which provides valuable feedback on their proposal's strengths and weaknesses. Understanding source selection procedures helps proposal teams anticipate how their proposals will be evaluated and optimize their approach accordingly.