General provisions for negotiations

1. Discussions may be conducted in connection with competitive sealed proposals, noncompetitive, or emergency procurements. This means an exchange of information or other manner of negotiation during which the offeror and the procurement officer may alter or otherwise change the conditions, terms, and price of the proposed contract. 2. Negotiation of proposals, noncompetitive, and emergency purchases provides the procurement officer an opportunity to make certain that the bidder or offeror fully understands the solicitation requirements and provides an opportunity to make clarifications, when necessary, to ensure responsiveness to the solicitation. Price discussions can best be conducted when there is a mutual understanding of the contractual requirements. 3. Clarifications are intended to promote exchanges between the procurement officer and an offeror that may occur when an award is contemplated without discussions, for example, to resolve minor or clerical errors or ambiguities in proposals.