ACE (Acquisition Contracting Expert) is a specialized AI agent designed to support Federal, State, and Local acquisition professionals across the full procurement lifecycle. This guide explains how to use ACE effectively, with ready‑to‑use prompts, workflows, and best practices aligned to FAR and public‑sector procurement standards.
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All outputs are advisory and instructional and must be reviewed by a warranted Contracting Officer or authorized official before use.
Use ACE early in the acquisition lifecycle to support FAR Part 10 market research and acquisition planning.
Example prompts:
“Help me perform market research for a government procurement:
Jurisdiction: Federal (FAR)
Requirement: [describe requirement]
Estimated value: [$X]
NAICS: [code if known]
Please outline: likely vendor pool (small vs large business), common contract types, recommended set‑aside strategy, and risks.”
“Draft a market research report outline for this requirement:
[Paste requirement or SOW/SOO text]
Organize it into standard government sections and identify data gaps I still need to collect.”
“Given this requirement:
[Paste text]
Recommend a primary NAICS, 2–3 alternates, PSC/FSC suggestions, and whether a small business set‑aside is appropriate (with FAR 19 references).”
“Compare using a GSA Schedule order vs an open‑market procurement for this requirement:
[Describe requirement]
Summarize pros/cons, timeline, competition, and documentation required.”
ACE helps determine the correct solicitation type and applicable FAR parts.
Example prompts:
“Read the following draft solicitation language and classify it as RFQ, RFP, IFB, or Other. Explain your reasoning with FAR references and key text signals:
[Paste excerpt].”
“I want to run a simplified acquisition under the SAT. Should I use an RFQ, RFP, or IFB for this requirement:
[Describe requirement and value].
Explain the tradeoffs and applicable FAR parts.”
ACE generates compliant, structured solicitation templates with placeholders and FAR references.
Example prompts:
“Generate an RFI template for this requirement:
Agency level: [Federal/State/Local]
Requirement summary: [text]
NAICS: [code]
Estimated value: [$X]
Include FAR Part 10 disclaimers.”
“Create an RFQ skeleton for a firm‑fixed‑price purchase:
Commodity/service: [text]
Estimated value: [$X]
Delivery/PoP: [dates]
Include line items, LPTA evaluation, instructions, and key FAR clauses (high‑level).”
“Draft an RFP template for competitive negotiated procurement:
Requirement: [text]
Contract type: [FFP/T&M/IDIQ]
Estimated value: [$X]
Reference FAR Part 15 and include evaluation factors and weights.”
“Draft IFB language for a sealed‑bid construction project:
Project description: [text]
Magnitude: [$ range]
Include bid submission/opening and bond placeholders.”
ACE supports performance‑based acquisition development and review.
Example prompts:
“Convert this requirement into a PWS outline with performance outcomes and metrics:
[Paste requirement].”
“Draft a Statement of Objectives (SOO):
Agency: [name]
Mission objective: [text]
Key outcomes: [list].”
“Evaluate this PWS draft for clarity, measurability, and risk:
[Paste PWS text].”
ACE helps design evaluation schemes and draft defensible award rationale.
Example prompts:
“For this RFP:
[Describe requirement]
Propose evaluation factors and weights for a FAR Part 15 tradeoff.”
“Given these evaluation factors and weights:
[Paste table]
Check if totals equal 100% and flag overlaps.”
“Draft an LPTA evaluation approach consistent with FAR 15.101‑2.”
“Using these proposal scores and prices:
[Paste data]
Compute weighted totals and draft an award recommendation with FAR citations.”
ACE supports FAR 15.4 pricing analysis and negotiation documentation.
Example prompts:
“Help me outline an Independent Government Estimate (IGE) for this requirement:
[Describe scope and LOE].”
“Using these offeror prices and my IGE:
[Paste values]
Assess price reasonableness and applicable FAR 15.404‑1 techniques.”
“Draft bullet content for a Price Negotiation Memorandum (PNM):
[Provide contract and pricing details].”
ACE assists with limited‑competition documentation.
Example prompts:
“Help me structure a sole source justification under FAR 6.302‑1:
[Describe requirement].”
“Review this J&A draft and flag weaknesses or protest risk:
[Paste text].”
ACE identifies major regulatory considerations and solicitation gaps.
Example prompts:
“For this procurement:
[Details]
Identify major compliance areas and representative clauses to research.”
“Given this IT/cloud requirement:
[Describe]
Summarize applicable security standards and how they appear in solicitations.”
“Review this draft solicitation excerpt and flag conflicts, missing elements, or ambiguous language:
[Paste text].”
ACE supports FAR Part 19 analysis and documentation.
Example prompts:
“Given this requirement:
[Describe]
Advise on small business set‑aside suitability and applicable programs.”
“Draft synopsis/solicitation language indicating a small business set‑aside for this requirement.”
ACE can switch into training mode for new or developing acquisition staff.
Example prompts:
“Act as a contracting mentor. Explain RFQ vs RFP vs IFB with FAR references and examples.”
“Walk me step‑by‑step through the federal acquisition lifecycle for a competitive services contract over the SAT.”
“Create a 2–3 week study plan to learn the FAR basics, competition, small business programs, and pricing.”
Disclaimer: ACE outputs are advisory and do not constitute legal advice. All acquisition decisions and documents must be validated through official channels and by authorized personnel.