With whom must the acquisition plan be coordinated if other than full and open competition is anticipated?

The acquisition plan must be coordinated with the competition advocate when other than full and open competition is anticipated because the competition advocate is responsible for promoting full and open competition and ensuring that any exceptions to this standard are properly justified. The advocate plays a critical role in reviewing the rationale for seeking a non-competitive procurement and in safeguarding the principles of competition within federal acquisition processes.

In scenarios where full and open competition is not feasible, the competition advocate provides guidance on compliance with regulations and helps in assessing whether the conditions justifying limited competition are valid. This coordination is vital to adhere to statutory requirements and to maintain transparency and fairness in the procurement process.

While the budget officer, legal counsel, and project manager are important stakeholders in the acquisition process, they share different responsibilities that do not involve the specific focus on competition issues. The budget officer deals with financial aspects, legal counsel addresses legal requirements and risks, and the project manager oversees project implementation. Therefore, the essential coordination regarding competition rests specifically with the competition advocate.