Content
Requests For Contract Action
This page is an extract from the full topic guidance on Requests for Contract Action [51KB PDF]. It details any Constraints associated with Requests for Contract Action (RCAs), provides a summary of the Authoritative Guidance and lists any essential reading, further reading or associated documents.
If you have any queries on this topic, please contact the Sponsor by email: DGDC CS-2D-ASST-HD.
Commercial officers must not commit Ministry of Defence (MOD) in any way until the Request for Contract Action (RCA) has received technical and financial approval by the appropriately authorised personnel within the acquisition team.
On completion the RCA should detail all the essential information required to plan and execute procurement. It is normally initiated by a technical acquisition team member and may be manual or computerised (e.g. ASPECT).
'Advance Copy' RCAs may be provided to commercial officers in order that they can commence preparatory work. Any discussions or correspondence with potential contractors must be on a ‘without commitment’ basis.
A summary of the key issues to be addressed [26KB PDF] is included at Annex A. In particular, commercial officers should consider the requirement, procurement proposals, potential tender list, advertising, economic order quantities, quantity discounts and the feasibility of the contract placement date.
All RCAs should be processed in a timely fashion and action taken by commercial officers to advise relevant team members if this is not possible within four (4) weeks of receipt. Associated RCA records should be rigorously maintained.
Associated Documents
Annex A - Information Required In An RCA [26KB PDF]
Annex B - Verification of Standards in MOD Contracts, A Mandatory Requirement [28KB PDF]
Further Reading
Commercial Delegations and Mentoring topic
Enabling Contracts topic
Options topic
Supplier Selection topic
Tender - Preparation topic
Tender - Assessment topic
Advertising topic
Quality Assurance In Contracts topic
