Which regulation outlines the requirement for 15 days of publicizing a contract action prior to solicitation issuance?

The regulation that mandates the requirement for publicizing a contract action for 15 days prior to the issuance of a solicitation is FAR 5.203(a). This section specifies the time frame and process for agencies to announce their intention to solicit offers for contracts over a certain dollar threshold. The intent behind this requirement is to promote transparency and competition by ensuring that potential offerors are given adequate notice of upcoming opportunities, which can lead to better pricing and innovation.

Agencies are required to publicize their contract actions to enable a broad range of suppliers and contractors to anticipate procurement opportunities and prepare to submit proposals. The emphasis on a 15-day public notification period is intended to allow sufficient time for interested parties to prepare their bids in response to the upcoming solicitation, thereby fostering a competitive marketplace.

Other options relate to different aspects of publicizing contract actions but do not establish the 15-day pre-solicitation notification requirement central to this question.