Procurement Administrative Lead Time(PALT)
The time between the initiation of a procurement action and the contract award, a key metric for acquisition efficiency.
Overview
Procurement Administrative Lead Time (PALT) measures the elapsed time from when a procurement request is initiated to when the contract is awarded. It is a key performance indicator for acquisition organizations, reflecting the efficiency of the procurement process including requirements development, solicitation, evaluation, and award.
Why It Matters in GovCon
Understanding PALT helps contractors set realistic expectations for when awards will be made after a solicitation closes. Agencies with long PALTs may experience funding challenges or require contractors to extend proposal validity periods. PALT awareness also helps in capture planning and cash flow forecasting.
Key Details
- NDAA Requirement: Section 886 of the FY2018 NDAA established PALT reporting requirements for DoD.
- Benchmarks: DoD targets vary by dollar threshold, with simplified acquisitions expected to award in under 90 days.
- Phases: PALT includes pre-solicitation, solicitation, evaluation, and award phases.
- Tracking: Agencies track PALT in procurement management systems like FPDS and agency-specific tools.
- Improvement Initiatives: Reducing PALT is a recurring priority in federal acquisition reform efforts.
Related Terms
- Acquisition Plan
- Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS)
- Contract Award
- Solicitation
More Acquisition Terms
A payment method where the government transfers funds electronically to contractor bank accounts.
A 1994 law that simplified federal procurement by raising thresholds, reducing paperwork, and promoting commercial item acquisition.
The predecessor to SAM.gov; the legacy system where federal solicitations were posted (replaced by beta.SAM.gov).
A formal review gate in the acquisition process where senior leadership decides whether a program may proceed to the next phase, requires changes, or should be terminated.
Written narrative responses that describe a candidate or contractor capability in specific areas, historically used in federal hiring and some proposal evaluations.
Goods and services used to maintain, repair, and operate facilities and equipment — a major category of government procurement.
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