What does the term "source selection" refer to?

The term "source selection" refers to the process used by federal agencies to determine the best value for procurements, which involves evaluating the proposals submitted by vendors against a set of criteria. This process is crucial in ensuring that the government not only gets the lowest possible price but also evaluates other factors such as quality, technical capabilities, and past performance. The goal is to make informed decisions that meet the agency's requirements while maximizing the value received from taxpayers' dollars.

In contrast, the first option, which focuses solely on awarding contracts based on the lowest price, does not encompass the broader evaluation process that source selection implies. Similarly, while determining which suppliers are eligible is part of the procurement process, it does not fully capture the essence of "source selection," which goes beyond eligibility to include performance and value assessments. Lastly, although assessing contractor performance history is a component of evaluating proposals, it is only one aspect of the comprehensive analysis involved in source selection, which ultimately aims to identify the best overall proposal rather than solely relying on past performance.