For proposed contract actions expected to exceed what amount must the contracting officer synopsize in the Governmentwide point of entry (GPE)?

The correct threshold for synopsizing proposed contract actions in the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) is set at $25,000. This requirement is established to promote transparency and public awareness of government procurement opportunities, ensuring that potential bidders can have access to relevant contracting information.

When a proposed contract action is anticipated to exceed this amount, the contracting officer must release a synopsis of the action. The synopsis is intended to provide interested parties with enough information about the contracting opportunity, thereby facilitating competition and encouraging a broader range of bidders, which ultimately can lead to better value for government expenditures.

Choosing a threshold of $25,000 instead of lower amounts, such as $10,000, is based on the goal of balancing the need for public notification against the administrative burden that would come with synopsizing lower-value contracts, which might not warrant the same level of public disclosure. Higher thresholds, such as $50,000 and $100,000, would limit the amount of opportunities that are publicly announced, which could impede small businesses from participating in governmental contracts and exclude them from valuable market opportunities. This structured approach allows for more effective market engagement by notifying potential contractors of opportunities that meet a substantial threshold indicative of government spending.