Multistep solicitations

1. Solicitations for commodities or services may be a multistep process, in which an initial solicitation for unpriced technical bids or proposals may be used to develop a shortlist of qualified vendors and a subsequent solicitation may be limited only to those vendors that qualified for the shortlist. 2. The multistep sealed solicitation method may be used when it is not practical to prepare initially a definitive purchase description that will be suitable to permit an award. 3. During the first phase of a multistep sealed solicitation while evaluating unpriced technical bids or proposals, the procurement officer may have discussions with vendors or hold a conference of all potential bidders or offerors.